What Emergency Medical Technicians Do

Emergency medical technicians with the designation handle critical situations, respond to emergencies, and stabilize injured patients on the way to the hospital. They are certified to take various steps to stabilize patients during pre-hospital care, which occurs in a ground ambulance or ambulatory helicopter. This includes splinting fractured limbs, immobilizing and moving a patient with spinal injuries, creating a tourniquet, and staunching heavy blood flow.

Types of Work Environments

  • Ambulances and ambulatory helicopters.
  • Sporting events.
  • In tandem with policemen and firefighters to manage critical environments.

Education and Training Requirements

The State of Ohio has established minimum requirements for EMT programs, which include at least 150 hours of classroom and lab-based coursework in anatomy, physiology, and the treatment of medical and trauma patients.

Salary

According to salary.com, the median salary for emergency medical technician - basic is approximately $37,691 per year.

Professional Organization

The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
Ohio Division of Emergency Medical Services

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