A day in the life of an EMT - Tech Connection

Car accidents, gunshot wounds, heart attacks, and other life-threatening emergencies--they're all part of an Emergency Medical Technician's job. No matter the situation, it is always about caring for people.

The call comes in. A 65-yearold female is having trouble breathing. Time for action.

Sirens activated. Maps checked. It is lightly snowing in Minnesota as the ambulance speeds toward the scene at about 80 miles per hour.

A Call to Action

Dave Page, a paramedic-level emergency medical technician (EMT) with 17 years experience, is in the ambulance. His heart rate is a bit higher than normal. He wonders what they will find when they arrive.

What Page found was a little boy's grandmother (the boy was asleep on the couch) with a case of pneumonia. "We had to convince her to go in to the hospital, because she had an appointment for the next day," says Page.

Page and his crew gave the grandmother oxygen that night. They also started an IV that dripped in medication to open her lungs. They monitored her heart rate and checked her blood pressure. They chatted with her while they "worked her up" in the ambulance.

On-the-Spot Care

Emergency medical service (EMS) workers provide pre-hospital assessment and care to sick or injured people at the scene or on the way to the hospital. They must stay levelheaded at all times to quickly evaluate the emergency and the patient's condition.

The first goal is to stabilize the patient. EMS workers administer emergency medical treatment as needed. They also prepare the patient for the ride to the medical facility.

When an ambulance arrives at the hospital, EMTs transfer the patient to the care of the Emergency Room staff. After the patient handoff, EMTs make sure any supplies they used are restocked and that the vehicle is ready to go when the next call comes in.

Different Levels, Different Responsibilities

The type and amount of medical treatment administered depends on the level of training the EMS worker has. Four levels are recognized by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT), the organization that administers the EMT certification exams.

The first level, First Responders, are qualified to provide basic emergency medical care but generally do not transport patients. You may know people in your community who are First Responders--your local police, volunteer rescue squad members, or your town's firefighters.

The other EMT levels are Basic, Intermediate, and Paramedic. Additional training and job experience are required at each level. Hours of training vary from 40 hours for a First Responder to 1,000 to 2,000 hours for a Paramedic. With each level comes increased duties and responsibilities.

Paramedics

Paramedic EMTs perform more advanced pre-hospital care. They may administer drugs, read EKGs, or perform invasive procedures such as opening airways and advanced cardiac life support.

Page feels that 10 to 20 percent of calls require actual paramedic attention, but he said what people don't know is that 99.9 percent require someone with paramedic training to evaluate the patient's medical condition. "Almost all of our calls would benefit from having a paramedic-level assessment," he says.

Not All High Points

EMTs respond to emergency calls such as the call Page was on. But an EMT's job is also about the everyday care of patients.

"What you see on the different TV shows, like ER, are the high points, the dramatics," says Doyle Glennon, an EMT in Louisiana. "But you don't see the nursing home patients. If you're in it for the glory, you're in it for the wrong reason.

"It's a wonderful feeling to jump out there in the middle of chaos and try to bring some order to it," he adds. "But it takes a lot more training and thinking when you're dealing with the medical side of it"

"People get disillusioned with our career. They think it's always like ER."

Michael Amstein, director of human resources for American Medical Response, the largest national private medical transportation service, says that most of their people thrive on the excitement.

"You must be able to handle 23 hours of boredom followed by an hour of pure adrenaline," says Amstein. "You never know what you're going to get."

Extreme Conditions

On top of the mental stress EMTs face, the adrenaline rushes, or the up-and-down nature of the job, can cause physical stress. "Being prepared and being ready to jump into action from standing around while having a cup of coffee can cause burnout from the physical wear and tear on your body," says Amstein.

EMTs also spend a lot of time bending, kneeling, and lifting. They work indoors and outdoors, regardless of weather conditions.

"You must be physically fit to carry people... pull them out," says Page. "Staying in shape and being healthy over the years is challenging."

And, because emergency room services and nursing horn? care operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, EMTs work irregular hours- nights, weekends, and holidays.

EMTs also face the added stress of possibly being exposed to diseases such as AIDS. However, the risk of infection is small, and EMTs are aware of and follow procedures to minimize these risks.

Salary Variations

Salary ranges given for this occupation can be misleading because they tend to lump all EMTs together. "It confuses the issue for people who want to make this a career," says Page. "The salaries are misrepresented. Guidance counselors tend to look at the lowest level, and at the lowest level of about $16,000, they steer kids away."

Salaries vary according to level, location, and type of employer. The average salary for an EMT-Basic is $22,848 while the average salary for the highest level, EMT-Paramedic, is $28,079. Those working for police or fire departments usually earn more than those working for hospitals or private ambulance companies.

EMT Shortage

The future job outlook for EMTs is good and is expected to grow faster than the average through 2010.

"We're desperately looking for good people," says Page. "There is an extreme shortage of paramedics, and there is recruitment going on all over now."

Early Opportunities for Students

There are opportunities for high school students to get involved in the field early by volunteering as a junior member. "Almost every rescue squad has some Explorer Post or some other type of junior program," says Page, who got his start that way.

While in high school, focus on courses in health and science. Get a valid driver's license, and maintain a clean driving record.

If you want to become involved in the emergency medical services profession, the NREMT suggests you speak with your local EMS providers.

Are You Ready?

Read and consider the following physical and mental traits. If you feel
these traits describe you, you might be right for a career as an
emergency medical technician.

Yes  No

[]   []  Physically fit
[]   []  Good coordination
[]   []  Good eyesight
[]   []  Desire to serve people
[]   []  Common sense
[]   []  Critical thinker
[]   []  Efficient
[]   []  Can work as part of a team
[]   []  Compassionate
[]   []  Patient
[]   []  Problem solver (can make good decisions)
[]   []  Can take charge
[]   []  Cool head
[]   []  Sense of humor (to deal with the stress)
[]   []  Good communicator
[]   []  Good listener

For More Information

The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) is the national certifying agency for EMTs. For an overview of EMS, certification information, and links to state EMS offices (for training information), take a look at their Web site www.nremt.org.

For general information on emergency medical technicians, check out www.naemt.org. The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians represents the profession.

American Medical Response hires and trains employees for EMT certifications. They also work with various Explorer Post programs. For employment information about American Medical Response, visit them at www.amr-inc.com.

RELATED ARTICLE: Tech Connection (pp. 18-20)

A Day in the Life of an EMT

Students will become familiar with careers in emergency medical service.

REVIEW/DISCUSS

* What do EMTs do? (provide assessment and care of sick and injured people at the scene or on the way to the hospital)

* What kind of training is required for EMTs? (certification at four levels through National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, with training varying from 40 hours for the first level to more than 1,000 hours for the highest level)

* What type of person is best suited for the job of EMT?

ACTIVITIES

* Ask students to describe emergency situations that EMTs deal with.

* Ask students to write down questions they have concerning a career as an EMT. Have them pose those questions to an EMT, or encourage students to research the answers.

* Invite an EMT to class to talk about a typical day, responsibilities of the job, work environment, equipment, and training options.

* Ask task forces to investigate training programs in your locale, checking www.nremt.org for further information.

* To put the job into perspective, assign students to watch a TV show or film featuring EMTs and report on what is realistic and what isn't.

* Ask students to draw a chart or diagram representing their views of a career as an EMT in these areas:

a. motivations

b. skills

c. challenges

d. rewards

teacher resource

"Exploring Health Occupations: EMTs, Nurses, Therapists and Assistants," video, $79; "Firefighter/Paramedic," video $54 Paramedic/Restauranteur," video, $35; Meridian Education Corporation, (800) 727-5507. "Kathy Doughty: Emergency Technician," video, $49.95; Cambridge Educational, (800) 468-4227.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Weekly Reader Corp.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group