EMTs:
EMTs are doctors or clinicians who are trained to quickly respond to medical emergencies such as traumatic injuries and accidents.
EMTs will usually be found working in ambulances and are normally recruited by private ambulance services, the government and hospitals; however, they are totally different from ambulance drivers! EMTs work under a specific range of practice and they are also observed by a doctor.
Some EMTs are paid workers while others are volunteering workers.
EMT Daily Duties:
These are just some of the roles that EMTs perform on a daily basis…
- Swift evaluation of a patient’s condition
- Maintaining a patient’s breathing
- Prevent external bleeding, further injury etc.
- Quicken transport of patient to a hospital
- Ensure that the designated ambulance is well equipped
- Stay in touch with dispatchers
EMT jobs are generally full time and may also exceed to overtime occasionally; therefore, EMT employees work on 24 hour shifts. An EMT’s job is quite risky too, a situation may arise where an EMT is injured or affected by a rough patient or a patient who is mentally ill.
The advantages that EMTs provide for patients:
- They are the first ones to arrive in an emergency situation and keep patients alive until medical help can arrive.
- EMTs provide basic life support services such as CPR or preventing further injuries.
- An EMT, in simple words, is a life saver!
- An EMT never gets bored of their job, always ready to help others and save lives.
- Making a Positive Difference to Society
Being an EMT can also bring about challenges such as:
- Work challenges including situations where there might be a patient with a disease that could easily spread through touch, you could be infected if you don’t take the right precautions.
- Long working hours could be a major challenge that an EMT faces every single day! Losing their precious sleep just to save lives! That’s not easy at all!
- Tackling emotional trauma! Various traumatic situations may arise such as severe injuries and deaths. EMTs have to face these traumas and look for strategies to deal with them. It is essential to keep in mind that an EMT needs to take care of their own health, both physical and mental, first in order to be able to take care of others.
Working as an EMT, despite its numerous rewards, can also be a very stressful job. The following are some possible ways of dealing with the stress;
The first step is to let it out/talk it out. It is a very helpful method and guess what? You don’t necessarily need to talk to a professional individual; it could even be your mum, sister, best friend or co-worker! Talk and explain to them and seek their advises.
Another very useful method could be,
To Exercise and Live Balanced Life.
Frequent workouts, socializing other than work, meditation, personal favorite hobbies too such as swimming could be a key to stress relief!
Paramedics:
A paramedic is a professional individual who gives help to patients outside a hospital such as in emergency situations.
Paramedics are more educationally qualified and are distinct from EMTs. Paramedics also have greater responsibilities and tasks compared to EMTs.
Duties of a Paramedic:
- Paramedics carry a great responsibility of decision making in medical emergency situations.
- Paramedics are coexistent with physicians/doctors.
- A paramedic can sometimes prescribe medicines or refer a patient to a specialist without the patient needing to go to a hospital.
Common skills that paramedics possess include:
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)- this treats cardiac injuries such as cardiac arrest.
- They can control profuse bleeding.
- Managing spinal injuries; immobilization and safe transport
- Fractures and splinters
- They can also recognize and treat serious burns.
Medications that Paramedics are permitted to direct;
Paramedics are allowed to control and prescribe certain medication to patients. These are;
- Painkillers such as paracetamol and aspirin
- Drugs used to speed up slow heart rates
- Drugs used to slow down rapid heart rates/palpitations
- Pills that can be used to relieve symptoms of seizure/irritability in patients
- Solutions used to treat low blood sugar
- Respiratory drugs to treat an asthma attack
- Drugs to treat excessive intake of drugs
- Medicines to prevent nausea
- Intravenous injections for patients
The Importance of Paramedics to Society;
- Serving the society. Paramedics are very helpful during emergency medical situations.
- They are always ready to help others and save lives!
- Paramedics are life savers in the most dangerous situations.
- Paramedics are well equipped in handling traumatic situations
- Paramedics are responsible for safely transporting patients to the hospital
- Paramedics are able to report to the doctor about the patient’s condition since he/she was the first to tend to the patient.
- Paramedics deserve respect and honor from societies because they are our heroes!
The Difference between an EMT and a Paramedic:
- A Paramedic possesses higher educational qualifications compared to an EMT.
- Paramedics carry more experience whereas EMTs are mostly under training and may advance to paramedics or physicians later in their studies.
- Paramedics are usually allowed to do more for patients compared to EMTs. This means that their levels of experience and practice are quite different.
- EMT courses are shorter and are educated on various skills including CPR, giving patients’ oxygen, providing glucose supplements for diabetic patients and helping asthmatic patients. However; EMTs aren’t allowed to use needles.
On the other hand, paramedics’ courses are longer and include attending lessons, hands on learning and field internships.
- Paramedics provide advanced medical attention in emergencies and are highly educated in fields such as cardiology, physiology and anatomy. They can also prescribe medications and take up medical procedures. Their course can go on for up to two years while EMT courses only last for 2 weeks though it depends on the learner’s speed in learning.
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