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Paramedic

A paramedic, is a highly trained medical professional who responds to medical & trauma emergencies out in the field (pre-hospital) for the purpose of stabilizing a patient's condition before and during transportation to an appropriate medical facility. Paramedics most often will transport patients to an Emergency Department, often times in a trauma center.

The paramedic is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), designated as an EMT-P. A Paramedic can also be a NREMT-P(Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic). In the United States, emergency medical technicians are classified according to their level of training. The National Registry of EMTs is a private, central certifying entity, with individual states, and counties usually setting their own standards of licensure. All EMTs must meet the minimum requirements as set forth in the Department of Transportation's standards for EMT curriculum. The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians recognizes three levels of EMT: EMT-B (Basic), EMT-I (Intermediate) and EMT-P (Paramedic). In the field, the levels of training are seperated into BLS (Basic Life Support) and ALS (Advanced Life Support) units. The paramedic level is the highest level of nationally registered positions. In addition to the basic-level skills CPR, first aid, airway management, oxygen administration, spinal immobilization, traction splinting, bleeding control and splinting, as well as the intermediate skills of IV therapy, endotracheal intubation and initial cardiac drug therapy, the paramedic is also educated in EKG interpretation, advanced respiratory support and airway skills possibly including RSI, drug therapies pharmacology, trauma resuscitation, pediatric life support and advanced cardiac life support. Most states require ongoing continuing education and verification of clinical skills capability to maintain a paramedic certification