EMT Job Description – Duties and Responsibilities of an EMT

EMTs or Emergency Medical Technicians are the health care professionals who initially assess the condition of the patients and determine the necessary course of action. These workers provide medical support to the patients while they are carried to the hospitals. They respond to the emergencies arising out of causalities like criminal violence, natural disasters, fires, air and land accidents, etc. Most of them render their services on a land ambulance but may also work on an air ambulance plane or helicopter. To know more about what other duties and responsibilities EMTs perform, continue reading the article.

Prerequisites for Becoming an EMT

Candidates who look forward to making their career as an emergency medical technician must meet the following conditions:

  • You must have attained the age of 18 years and possess a high school diploma or GED.
  • Complete the program of the required number of hours from the state-approved program.
  • Qualify the certification exam, in order to obtain a license issued by the state.
  • You are expected to have a clean criminal background.
  • Acquire CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) certification.

Skills Required

Besides meeting the above requirements, candidates are supposed to possess the following qualities:

  • Excellent communication skills
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Physical strength
  • Listening skills
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Compassion

Duties and Responsibilities of an EMT

  • Drive to the scene and provide basic life support to the victims before they are transported to the hospital.
  • Determine the right course of action after evaluating the patient’s condition.
  • Provide medical aid such as AED, CPR, prevent spinal damage, ventilation, control severe bleeding, prevent shock, bandaging wounds, etc., to stabilize their condition.
  • Clean the equipments. Check and replace the used and damaged supplies.
  • Transfer patients to the emergency units of the hospital.
  • Administration of activated charcoal, oral glucose, and oxygen.
  • Prepare a patient care report and take notes of the medical treatment given to them.
  • Sterilize the ambulance’s interior, if it is used to carry a patient suffering from infectious disease.
  • Restock all supplies in the ambulance and replace used blankets, linens, and other supplies.
  • Calm down the victims’ family members.
  • Attend refresher program and continuing education as required by medical control, employers, certifying or licensing agencies.

Work Environment

The job of an EMT is emotionally as well as physically demanding. They have to work on weekends and in odd hours, and in conjunction with emergency care assistants, paramedics, police, and firefighters. These workers are generally employed by inter-hospital transport services, ambulance services, rescue and fire departments, and healthcare facilities. At times, the job of EMTs seems to be stressful as they have to shoulder a lot of responsibilities during emergency conditions. Their profession involves bending, kneeling, and moving and lifting the patients. They are exposed to injuries and contagious diseases. But, this career gives you a mental satisfaction as you save the lives of several people going through a critical phase.

Also know, How Much Does An EMT Make Annually

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