How to Become a Certified EMT. Becoming an EMT can be a rewarding experience and a stepping stone into many other careers. First and foremost, you should know that becoming an EMT is not a simple process and requires you to have a passion for helping others in their time of need.
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EMTs are the backbone of emergency medical services, they are responsible not only for providing advanced life support to patients but also for transporting them from place to place. To become a paramedic in California you will need to attend a state-approved EMT program and then pass both written and practical examinations.
WHAT DOES AN AVERAGE EMT’S DAY LOOK LIKE?
EMT shifts can run from 8 to 48 hours (with a couple of days off after), but their rotations are rarely the same week-to-week. The schedule can be refreshing for people who don’t like working a standard 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. job.
While transporting a patient to the hospital, EMTs must communicate with medical staff about their patient’s condition and what treatments they have provided. For example, it must be reported when an emergency EpiPen is given to a patient suffering a severe allergic reaction.
After responding to a call, EMTs fill out a report describing the incident. These records are stored in case a call must be investigated for medical or legal reasons.
In between responding to emergencies, EMTs are required to clean and disinfect their ambulance and replace any supplies they used.
Otherwise, the downtime in between calls and administrative duties can be filled with reading, Netflix, making meals, or sleeping.
WHAT DOES EMT TRAINING LOOK LIKE?
Many community colleges offer EMT courses that last about five months, the length of a semester. These classes are taught by former EMTs, paramedics and firefighters who will share their career experiences and knowledge with new students. Aspiring EMTs will also learn practical skills such as working with an oxygen tank and how to splint broken bones.
EMT certification could happen in as little as three weeks if you find a very intensive, abbreviated course. However, students without background knowledge in medicine or anatomy may struggle to learn all of the material in such a short amount of time.
Once you pass a practical skills exam and work about 48 hours at a hospital or fire department, you will be cleared to take the standardized NREMT test. The NREMT exam is computer-based, and you must schedule an appointment with a local testing center.
WHAT TRAITS DO EMTS NEED TO HAVE?
EMTs must be able to maintain their composure in extremely stressful situations. It’s important to keep a clear head and remain objective about medical situations so that emergency lifesaving procedures can be performed.
Many people who are drawn to EMS possess Type A personality traits, which allows them to take control of a scene. However, it’s important to know that being too aggressive with patient handling and care may be counteractive to our profession.
Physically, EMTs must also be strong enough to safely transfer patients onto a stretcher in the event the patient needs to go to the hospital. You don’t need to be an athlete, but practicing proper lifting mechanics at the gym will help prevent injuries and make your partner happy they’re not doing all the work.
DO I NEED TO HAVE A STRONG STOMACH TO BE AN EMT?
EMTs may be exposed to every bodily fluid you’ve heard of, and perhaps some you haven’t, like ‘meconium’ and ‘coffee ground emesis’ (Google in private).
But here’s the thing: in the heat of the moment, things that would disgust you in regular life won’t stop you from helping a patient in their time of need. Your training kicks in, and the desire to help another person will win out over any squeamishness you might have.
EMTs are provided with a lot of gear to help prevent exposure to biohazards and contagious diseases. Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes gloves, gowns and particle-filtering masks.
WHAT IS AN EMT’S SALARY?
EMT pay will be different for everyone depending on where you live and which agency you work for, but you will probably never get rich on an EMT salary alone.
Government services like Boston EMS may pay its BLS EMTs between $27-29 per hour to work in a very busy metropolitan system. While this seems like a lot of money at first glance, cost of living is high and employees are required to live within city limits.
EMTs in Los Angeles make an average of $26,700 annually.
Career EMTs are known to work more than 40 hours a week to get paid overtime, and many take second jobs to make ends meet.
HOW CAN I ADVANCE MY EMT CAREER?
Firefighting is also a very popular choice for career EMTs. Some fire departments have evolved to become the main EMS providers in their area, so their personnel are able to respond to medical calls in between fighting fires. While not all departments require EMT certification, it will certainly help your chances of getting a job with one.
EMTs can earn additional certifications to advance their skills and career. Depending on the area, some EMTs are able to work at the hospital as emergency room technicians.
EMTs who pursue their paramedic certification will greatly expand their skillset. This opens up doors to other exciting career paths, such as flight paramedic or tactical EMS.
