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Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics (also called Emergency Mobile Intensive Care Technicians) are employed by hospitals, ambulance services and fire departments. Working through physician control, EMT's and EMICT's deliver emergency treatment at the site of an accident or other medical emergency. Training within the hospital from physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other specialized personnel enables EMT's and EMICT's to deal with the first minutes of any emergency situation. These would include heart attacks, diabetic reactions, strokes, seizures, traumatic injuries such as fractures, head injuries, bleeding, shock and extrication of victims from automobiles.
The primary objective of the emergency medical program is evaluation of need and delivery of definitive treatment rapidly and efficiently to acutely ill or injured persons, thereby reducing mortality outside the hospital. EMT/EMICT education includes an extensive background in anatomy, physiology and cardiology. This enables the EMT/EMICT to evaluate patients and relay their findings via radio and telemetry to a physician or nurse in the hospital. This information is then used as the basis for treatment.
The technician must have emotional stability to deal with life-threatening situations, be in good mental and physical health. He or she must be adaptable, creative, and interested in working with people. The intensive training requires above average academic capabilities.
A one semester training program (138 hours minimum in Missouri) from a community college with successful completion of the written and practical state certification examination is required to become an EMT.
Before being eligible for certification in the EMICT (Paramedic) program, one must complete a twelve month college program. Kansas state certification requirements include 1200 to 1400 hours spent in didactics, clinical rotations and field internships. Associate degree completion programs are available.
For Missouri state certification, one must complete 200 hours of ambulance practicum in addition to successfully completing the required 12 month program. Credits obtained may also apply to other health related fields; i.e., nursing, inhalation therapy, or physicians assistant programs.
- Less than 2 years
- 2 year Associates Degree
Most job openings will occur because of this occupation’s substantial replacement needs. Turnover is quite high, reflecting this occupation’s stressful working conditions, limited advancement potential, and the modest pay and benefits in the private sector.
Employment of EMT’s is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations through the year 2005. Driving the growth will be an expanding population. Also, the number of older people, who are more likely to need emergency services, is increasing rapidly.
Opportunities for EMT’s are expected to be excellent in hospitals and private ambulance services, where pay and benefits usually are low. Competition for jobs will be keen in fire, police, and rescue squad departments because of attractive pay and benefits and good job security
Other workers in occupations that require quick and level-headed reactions to life-or-death situations are police officers, firefighters, air traffic controllers, health professionals in an emergency room setting, and members of the Armed Forces.
$22,460
*NATIONAL MEDIAN SALARIES CITED COURTESY OF ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SOURCES:
- UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
- 2003 ASHA Omnibus Survey
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