Introduction to Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

In the state of Massachusetts there are four levels of emergency care providers: First Responder Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Basic EMT – Intermediate EMT - Paramedic

CPR trained at the health care professional level Required minimum training for all police and firefighters in Massachusetts Usually the first on the scene in an emergency Trained to treat life-threatening emergencies with a minimum amount of equipment First Responder

All of the skills of the first responder plus: –Trained in the use and operation of the ambulance –Certified to administer oxygen, glucose, epinephrine and some other medications at the on-line or off-line direction of the closest emergency department’s lead physician Called the “medical control” physician EMT - Basic

EMT - Intermediate All of the skills of the EMT-Basic plus: –Capable of starting an intravenous line and infusing volume-replacing normal saline –Trained to place an endotracheal tube in a patient’s windpipe to create a secure means of ventilating the lungs

All of the skills of the EMT-Intermediate plus: –Administration of intravenous medications for cardiac, diabetic and other medical conditions under either off-line or on-line direction –Many other optional and advanced skills such as chest decompression and needle crichothyrotomy, etc. EMT - Paramedic

Basic or Advanced? Basic life support called BLS describes the care given by First Responders and EMT- Basics Advanced life support, called ALS, is the higher level of care performed by EMT- Intermediates and Paramedics –Permitted to perform invasive procedures Procedures that introduce foreign substances or equipment into the patient’s body

Training The EMS provider is legally prohibited from performing skills that are beyond his or her level of training Each group of skills requires the proper certification The length of time required for learning the advanced skills is considerable

First Responder Training Prerequisite: Health Care Professional level CPR –8 hours 24-hour class Three-year certification period –Certification is maintained with a refresher course 12 hours

EMT Basic Training Prerequisite: Health Care Professional level CPR –8 hours 110-hour class plus –Five patient contacts State certification application and fee –$ Two-year certification period –24-hour refresher course –28 hours of continuing education –$ recertification fee

EMT Intermediate Training Prerequisite: Health Care Professional level CPR –8 hours 180-hour class plus –100 hours of clinical observations and skills 30 i.v. starts 10 intubations –100 hours of field observations and skills 10 i.v. starts 1 intubation

EMT Intermediate Training State certification application and fee –$ State administered exam –Minimum passing grade: 70% Two-year certification period –24-hour refresher course –28 hours of continuing education –$ recertification fee

EMT Paramedic Training Prerequisite: Health Care Professional level CPR & EMT-B certification X contact hours as an EMT-B 400-hour class plus –200 hours of clinical observations and skills 60 i.v. starts 10 intubations –200 hours of field observations and skills 30 i.v. starts 1 intubation

EMT Paramedic Training State certification application and fee –$ State administered exam –Minimum passing grade: 70% Two-year certification period –24-hour refresher course –28 hours of continuing education –$ recertification fee

How Far Do You Want to Go? HCP CPR –Written and practical tests Minimum passing grade 84% Unlimited repeat attempts are allowed First Responder –Written and practical tests Minimum passing grade 80% Unlimited repeat attempts are allowed

How Far Do You Want to Go? EMT Basic –EMT-B is no longer part of the regular curriculum –Apply to take the summer course Classes held at Mohawk Evenings and alternate Saturdays from June – Aug. Free to qualified Mohawk students

Mohawk Evening Class Do you want to become an EMT?

What is Involved? Lectures & written tests –Called the didactic portion –Subjects are similar to the first responder curriculum but everything is covered in more depth

What is Involved? Practical skills demonstrations

What do the participants say?

The choice is up to you Applications are available Ask me for more information