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| Emergency response Photo by David Schultz on Unsplash |
EMTs and paramedics are uniformed men and women whose lives are dedicated to treating victims of accidents, sudden illness, and disasters. They are found in ambulances, fire trucks, helicopters, and hospitals. But how are they different from each other?
EMTs and paramedics are skilled and knowledgeable in transporting patients and in providing them with emergency care. However, they differ from each other in the amount of education they have obtained and in their scope of practice.
Before they are certified, EMTs complete a course that runs between 120 and 150-hours long, consisting of lectures, hands-on training, and field internships. EMTs are trained to provide treatments such as CPR, administering glucose to diabetes patients, giving oxygen to patients, and helping those with allergic reactions or asthma attacks. However, EMTs are not allowed to provide treatment that requires the use of hypodermics.
Paramedics, on the other hand, complete a course that is about 1,200 to 1,800-hours long, consisting of topics such as cardiology, physiology and anatomy, medications, and medical procedures. Paramedics build on the EMT’s education and learn more advanced skills such as giving medications, inserting intravenous lines, managing the airways of asthma patients, and resuscitating patients who have experienced a heart attack or trauma.
