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what do i need to do if i want to become an emt a paramedic ?
#medical field #medicine #first responders
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Jack’s Answer
To become a paramedic, you need to first become an EMT. You should reach out to your local Fire Department or EMS station to ask about EMT classes being offered in the area! An EMT class is typically about 150 hours, and can either be completed in 2-3 months full-time, or over the course of a full school year if you're still in school. An EMT class focuses on the basics of patient assessment, lifesaving interventions such as bleeding control, airway management, artificial ventilation of people who cannot breath on their own, and CPR.
Once you complete your EMT class, you can take two tests administered by your state (one written test and one hands-on test) to become licensed to work as an EMT in your state. Once you've passed those, your ready to work as an EMT!
There are two main types of EMT jobs: 911 services, and interfacility-transfer services (or IFT). 911 services respond to 911 calls, usually for life-threatening emergencies. Interfacility-transfer services perform scheduled transfers for patients between two medical facilities. Those usually aren't emergencies because the transfers are planned in advance. This could mean taking someone from one hospital to another or from a nursing home to the hospital.
Once you've worked as an EMT, if you enjoy it, you may want to become a paramedic. Paramedics can do more advanced skills, like intubation (putting a tube all the way down a person's airway to help them breath), start IVs, administer a lot of medications, and use heart monitors to examine cardiac rhythms. To become a paramedic, you'll have to already be an EMT, and you can either go through paramedic school as an associate's degree (2-year degree), or a certification program, which is sometimes faster.
Reach out to your local fire or EMS department to ask about EMT classes in your area
Take an EMT class
Take the written and hands-on tests to become certified as an EMT
Apply to EMT jobs, and get a bit of experience working as an EMT
Apply to paramedic school, attend paramedic school, get certified, and start working as a paramedic!
Once you complete your EMT class, you can take two tests administered by your state (one written test and one hands-on test) to become licensed to work as an EMT in your state. Once you've passed those, your ready to work as an EMT!
There are two main types of EMT jobs: 911 services, and interfacility-transfer services (or IFT). 911 services respond to 911 calls, usually for life-threatening emergencies. Interfacility-transfer services perform scheduled transfers for patients between two medical facilities. Those usually aren't emergencies because the transfers are planned in advance. This could mean taking someone from one hospital to another or from a nursing home to the hospital.
Once you've worked as an EMT, if you enjoy it, you may want to become a paramedic. Paramedics can do more advanced skills, like intubation (putting a tube all the way down a person's airway to help them breath), start IVs, administer a lot of medications, and use heart monitors to examine cardiac rhythms. To become a paramedic, you'll have to already be an EMT, and you can either go through paramedic school as an associate's degree (2-year degree), or a certification program, which is sometimes faster.
Jack recommends the following next steps:
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Marsha’s Answer
You should stop by your local fire department or EMS station and find a mentor in the particular field who could provide further details with you. You could also reach out to your local community college to determine the steps you need to take to achieve your dream of becoming an EMT or paramedic.