Introduction to Emergency Medical Services EMS In the

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

First Responder • 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

EMT - Basic • 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 - 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

EMT - Paramedic • 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.

Basic or Advanced? • Basic life support called BLS describes the care given by First Responders and EMTBasics • Advanced life support, called ALS, is the higher level of care performed by EMTIntermediates 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 – $150. 00 • Two-year certification period – 24 -hour refresher course – 28 hours of continuing education – $150. 00 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 – $150. 00 • State administered exam – Minimum passing grade: 70% • Two-year certification period – 24 -hour refresher course – 28 hours of continuing education – $150. 00 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 – $150. 00 • State administered exam – Minimum passing grade: 70% • Two-year certification period – 24 -hour refresher course – 28 hours of continuing education – $150. 00 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