|
EMS
Working Conditions l
EMS Employment Info
 Nature Of The Work
People’s lives often depend on the
quick reaction and competent care of emergency
medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics—EMTs with
additional advanced training to perform more
difficult prehospital medical procedures.
(Photo: EMT-B Class practices spinal
immobilization - click on photo to enlarge)
Incidents as varied as automobile accidents, heart
attacks, drownings, childbirth, and gunshot wounds
all require immediate medical attention. EMTs and
paramedics provide this vital attention as they care
for and transport the sick or injured to a medical
facility.
In an emergency, EMTs and paramedics typically are
dispatched to the scene by a 911 operator, and often
work with police and fire department personnel. Once
they arrive, they determine the nature and extent of
the patient’s condition while trying to ascertain
whether the patient has preexisting medical
problems. Following strict rules and guidelines,
they give appropriate emergency care and, when
necessary, transport the patient. Some paramedics
are trained to treat patients with minor injuries on
the scene of an accident or at their home without
transporting them to a medical facility. Emergency
treatment for more complicated problems is carried
out under the direction of medical doctors by radio
preceding or during transport.
EMTs and paramedics may use special equipment, such
as backboards, to immobilize patients before placing
them on stretchers and securing them in the
ambulance for transport to a medical facility.
Usually, one EMT or paramedic drives while the other
monitors the patient’s vital signs and gives
additional care as needed. Some EMTs work as part of
the flight crew of helicopters that transport
critically ill or injured patients to hospital
trauma centers.
At the medical facility, EMTs and paramedics help
transfer patients to the emergency department,
report their observations and actions to emergency
room staff, and may provide additional emergency
treatment. After each run, EMTs and paramedics
replace used supplies and check equipment. If a
transported patient had a contagious disease, EMTs
and paramedics decontaminate the interior of the
ambulance and report cases to the proper
authorities.
Beyond these general duties, the specific
responsibilities of EMTs and paramedics depend on
their level of qualification and training. To
determine this, the National Registry of Emergency
Medical Technicians (NREMT) registers emergency
medical service (EMS) providers at four levels:
First Responder, EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate, and
EMT-Paramedic.
The lowest-level workers—First Responders—are
trained to provide basic emergency medical care
because they tend to be the first persons to arrive
at the scene of an incident. Many firefighters,
police officers, and other emergency workers have
this level of training. The EMT-Basic represents the
first component of the emergency medical technician
system. An EMT-B is trained to care for patients at
the scene of an accident and while transporting
patients by ambulance to the hospital under medical
direction. The EMT-B has the emergency skills to
assess a patient’s condition and manage respiratory,
cardiac, and trauma emergencies.
The EMT-Intermediate has more advanced training that
allows the administration of intravenous fluids, the
use of manual defibrillators to give lifesaving
shocks to a stopped heart, and the application of
advanced airway techniques and equipment to assist
patients experiencing respiratory emergencies. EMT-Paramedics
provide the most extensive prehospital care. In
addition to carrying out the procedures already
described, paramedics may administer drugs orally
and intravenously, interpret electrocardiograms
(EKGs), perform endotracheal intubations, and use
monitors and other complex equipment.
Employment
EMTs and paramedics held about 192,000 jobs in 2004.
Most career EMTs and paramedics work in metropolitan
areas. Volunteer EMTs and paramedics are more common
in small cities, towns, and rural areas. These
individuals volunteer for fire departments,
emergency medical services (EMS), or hospitals, and
may respond to only a few calls for service per
month or may answer the majority of calls,
especially in smaller communities. EMTs and
paramedics work closely with firefighters, who often
are certified as EMTs as well and act as first
responders. A large number of EMTs or paramedics
belong to a union.
Full-time and part-time paid EMTs and paramedics
were employed in a number of industries. About 4 out
of 10 worked as employees of private ambulance
services. About 3 out of 10 worked in local
government for fire departments, public ambulance
services, and EMS. Another 2 out of 10 were found in
hospitals, working full time within the medical
facility or responding to calls in ambulances or
helicopters to transport critically ill or injured
patients. The remainder worked in various industries
providing emergency services.
Working
Conditions
EMTs and paramedics work both indoors and outdoors,
in all types of weather. They are required to do
considerable kneeling, bending, and heavy lifting.
These workers risk noise-induced hearing loss from
sirens and back injuries from lifting patients. In
addition, EMTs and paramedics may be exposed to
diseases such as hepatitis-B and AIDS, as well as
violence from drug overdose victims or mentally
unstable patients. The work is not only physically
strenuous, but can be stressful, sometimes involving
life-or-death situations and suffering patients.
Nonetheless, many people find the work exciting and
challenging and enjoy the opportunity to help
others.
EMTs and paramedics employed by fire departments
work about 50 hours a week. Those employed by
hospitals frequently work between 45 and 60 hours a
week, and those in private ambulance services,
between 45 and 50 hours. Some of these workers,
especially those in police and fire departments, are
on call for extended periods. Because emergency
services function 24 hours a day, EMTs and
paramedics have irregular working hours
|
