Emergency medical technician

The Star of Life, a global symbol of the emergency medical service

Learning to evacuate an injured person

An emergency medical technician (EMT) is someone who works on an ambulance and takes care of sick and hurt people. EMTs used to be called "ambulance drivers," since much of their work is bringing people to an emergency room. Their other main duty is first aid including:^[1]

Doing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and give electric shocks to a person's chest if their heart is beating in a way that could kill them
Giving oxygen (or force oxygen into a person's lungs) if they stop breathing or are not breathing well enough to survive
Inserting an airway adjunct into a persons mouth in the case of unconsciousness
Stopping hemorrhaging (bleeding so bad that it will kill a person if not stopped)
Treating burns
Treat very bad physical trauma (injuries)
Helping people who are pregnant give birth
Treating broken bones, dislocated joints, sprains, and wounds

In the United States

In the United States, each state decides what their EMTs can do. EMTs in every state are allowed to perform first aid. Each state has different rules for exactly what their EMTs can do. These rules are called treatment protocols. For example:

In Massachusetts, EMTs can give medicines to treat heart attacks, breathing emergencies (like asthma attacks), anaphylaxis, very low blood sugar, and overdoses on opiates like heroin and oxycodone.^[2]
In New Hampshire, EMTs are allowed to place a rescue airway in a patient who cannot breathe. This means they will place a tube down the patient's throat, then force oxygen into the lungs through the tube.^[3]

Emergency Medical Technician Media

EMTs loading an injured skier into an ambulance
A Toronto critical care ambulance

Related pages

Emergency medical services in the United Kingdom

References

↑ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (January 8, 2014). "Occupational Outlook Handbook: EMTs and Paramedics, 2014-2015 Edition". www.bls.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
↑ Massachusetts Office of Emergency Medical Services. "Emergency Medical Services Statewide Treatment Protocols". www.mass.gov. Executive Office of Health & Human Services. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
↑ New Hampshire Department of Safety (January 2013). "State of New Hampshire Patient Care Protocols" (PDF). www.mass.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2015.

Other websites

National EMS Memorial Service Archived 2008-02-05 at the Wayback Machine

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[1] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (January 8, 2014). "Occupational Outlook Handbook: EMTs and Paramedics, 2014-2015 Edition". www.bls.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2015.

[2] Massachusetts Office of Emergency Medical Services. "Emergency Medical Services Statewide Treatment Protocols". www.mass.gov. Executive Office of Health & Human Services. Retrieved December 14, 2015.

[3] New Hampshire Department of Safety (January 2013). "State of New Hampshire Patient Care Protocols" (PDF). www.mass.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2015.

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