Paramedic / EMT

What is a Paramedic? A paramedic is a trained professional who is responsible for giving injured patients treatment before they get to the hospital. Paramedics are also responsible for transporting patients to the hospital. When a medical emergency arises, seconds really do count. That is why it is important for patients to get medical attention prior to getting to the hospital. Being a paramedic gives a person a chance to become a hero.

What training is required to become a paramedic? Paramedics are required to complete training at a community or technical college before practicing. Paramedic school usually last about two years. Anatomy, physiology and medical terminology are just a few of the paramedic school courses. High school students who are interested in this profession should take courses in biology, chemistry and algebra to prepare for it.

Paramedic school is quite rigorous. Students are required to spend several hours in the classroom and apply the knowledge that they learned in a clinical setting. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be awarded an associates degree. All states require that students pass a certification exam before they are legally allowed to practice. It is important to note that paramedics are required to keep up with the changes in the medical field by taking continuing education courses. Most states require that paramedics take refresher courses every two or three years.

What other skills are needed to become a paramedic? It takes much more than intelligence to become a successful paramedic. Paramedics often work long and irregular hours so people in this profession must be able to manage stress. Paramedics should also be emotionally stable because they will also have to deal with dying patients. Physical fitness is a must because this job requires lifting heavy patients and equipment. Additionally, this job also requires good hearing and vision.

What is the job outlook like for a paramedic? According to the 2008 Occupational Handbook, job opportunities for a paramedic are expected to grow by about 9 percent. That is about the national average for all occupations. Paramedics will always be needed because the sick and injured will always need to be transported to the hospital. Additionally, paramedics also get to enjoy the personal satisfaction that comes along with saving lives.

Get started by finding paramedic schools in your area.


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Paramedic Training

Those who wish to become paramedics will find that this particular job title comes with specific training and abilities. This type of emergency personnel worker is different from that of a first responder or the basic emergency management technician (EMT) and regardless of where the individual is employed, additional training and skills are required. In order to obtain this knowledge and proficiency, paramedic training at an approved institution is necessary.

Paramedic Training and License Requirements

In order to actively practice as a paramedic, training and successful completion of an approved program is required. A specified number of hours must be completed that includes hands on experience. Training requirements prior to licensure will vary from state to state. The graduate is then expected to take an exam in order to determine whether or not he is competent enough to practice and thus become licensed.

Paramedic Schools Offering Training

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EMT Certification

Emergency Medical Technicians or EMTs are heath professionals trained to provide emergency medical services. EMTs respond quickly to the scenes of accidents and other traumatic events and perform specialized procedures to stabilize victims. They also help transport individuals to hospitals while adhering to strict protocols established by physicians. EMTs work on ambulance teams, rescue squads and even fire departments.

Because of the varied responsibilities and high-stress environments, EMTs undergo extensive training. The EMT certification process is monitored by each individual state, but all programs must meet the requirements established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians designs most of the examinations utilized on the state level, even those administered as part of a college program.

EMT certification occurs at three levels: EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate and EMT-Paramedic. EMT-Basic remains the initial level of certification and includes non-invasive procedures such as splinting, bleeding control and oxygen … Read the rest

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EMT Training

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) work in situations as diverse as inner-city/urban environments to high altitude mountain worlds. EMTs are a hybrid of first-responder and rescuer. This medical discipline requires between 200 and up to 1000 hours of professional education and training, depending on the level of certificate desired.

EMT-B

The Emergency Medical Technician Basic (EMT-B) is a nationally recognized certificate of training. This is the entry level EMT position and requires 200 hours of classroom and hands-on training. EMT-Bs work for local ambulance corps, fire and rescue departments or urban search and rescue teams (SAR). As an EMT-B you are required to pass a comprehensive written exam along with hands-on skill-demonstration tests.

EMT-P

Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic certifications require extensive training. This level of training gives license to administer IV drugs on the scene and dole out certain controlled prescriptions for pain management. Prepare to train in class and simulated … Read the rest

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Paramedic Salary

A paramedic is an individual that is responsible for emergency medical care for individuals that are involved in a wide variety of accidents or going through some form of natural ailment. Paramedics are typically the first people on the scene of the accident after the call to 911 is placed.  Once on the scene, the level of care that a paramedic can give will range significantly by the state in which they work in.  This can typically include giving CPR to the victim, giving some oral medication, diagnosing a condition, and reading an EKG.

On a national basis, the average annual salary for a paramedic is about $38,000 per year.  The majority of paramedics earn between $35,000 and $45,000 per year although the top five percent have reported earning closer to $60,000.  Paramedics typically do not earn any additional bonus income, but they do normally qualify for benefits such as … Read the rest

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Paramedic Jobs

The paramedic is usually the first medical staff to respond to an emergency ailment, accident or heart attack. Every state requires a qualified paramedic to have special kinds of certifications. It normally takes two years of formalized education for one to complete all the stages required to become a qualified and recognized paramedic.

Educational Requirements:

Anyone with a special interest in becoming a technician that handles emergencies in medicine must be at the least eighteen years of age. He or she must have attained a high school diploma, GED or a diploma that has got an equivalent grade. Those that are still in high school should lay special emphasis on subjects such as biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics. The applicants must also be medically fit since they will be expected to undergo screening for tuberculosis and hepatitis B. Many states will also require one to undergo a criminal activity background … Read the rest

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Paramedic School Costs

With the demand for skilled health care workers on the rise, the time to attend paramedic school has never been better. Going to school to study to become a paramedic could lead a person to a lucrative career in the health care industry. Attending school, however, comes at a price. Because most people cannot afford to pay for specialized training themselves, they rely on financial aid to help pay their tuition, books, and related expenses.

The largest cost for going to paramedic school would be the tuition itself charged by the university or college. Most schools charge by the hour for their tuition rates. In most states, tuition exceeds $100 an hour per course. Most courses count as 3 hours of study. Thus, if a person signed up for one 3 hour paramedic course, the tuition for that course would be $300. Each school has a different rate of tuition; … Read the rest

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