Emergency Medical Technician

An Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is a medical first responder trained in Basic Life Support (BLS) and, depending on the training level, Advanced Life Support (ALS). EMT's most often work on ambulance or fire rescue teams, either for privately-owned ambulance services, publicly-operated ambulance services, or fire departments. EMT's may also be employed by private organizations with a need for on-scene medical expertise.

Certification levels

In the United States, three levels of EMT exist nationally, the EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate, and EMT-Paramedic, though states may create additional levels or types of certifications. The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians manages EMT registration and testing at the national level, and most states accept the National Registry exam for state certification.

Training

EMT-Basic

The EMT-Basic specializes on immediate life-saving treatment to amintain a patient's life for and during transport to a medical facility. This includes "The ABC's": Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. EMT-Basic training focuses on maintaining the patency of a patient's airway and maintaining breathing and blood circulation and, when these are stable, attending to other life-threatening injuries (such as shock) and lesser injuries (such as bone fractures or minor-to-moderate bleeding). Training also includes transport procedures, vital signs such as blood pressure and respiratory rate, attaining a medical history, emergency childbirth, cervical (neck) immobilization, rapid extracation, blood glucose measurement, and advanced first aid interventions. Generally speaking, an EMT-Basic is very limited in administration of medications, but is trained and - depending on local protocols - authorized to administer or assist in the patient's administration of epinephrine, albuterol and other inhalers, glucose, activated charcoal, nitroglycerin, and others.

EMT-Intermediate

The EMT-Intermediate is further divided into two types of EMT-I, the I85 and the I99, with the latter a higher rating. An I85 EMT may, as allowed by state regulations and local protocols, administer limited IV therapy or perform advanced airway techniques. An I99 EMT is very near to a Paramedic in training, and is able to perform most of the procedures and interventions of a Paramedic.

EMT-Paramedic

A Paramedic is the top-level Emergency Medical Technician and most often the highest-trained medical provider to treat an emergency patient prior to arrival at a hospital. Paramedics are trained in advanced airway techniques, medication delivery, and other procedures that otherwise would only be available at the hospital.

State certifications

Different states may add or adjust levels of training or certifications. For instance, the "EMT-Critical Care" in the state of New York.