Whats the difference between an EMT and a Paramedic?
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), Advanced EMTs (AEMTs), and Paramedics are vital first responders trained to provide progressively advanced levels of pre-hospital emergency medical care. EMTs master fundamental skills, focusing on patient assessment, basic life support (BLS) interventions like CPR and bleeding control, administering oxygen, assisting with specific patient medications, and ensuring safe transport.
AEMTs build upon the EMT foundation, adding crucial advanced skills such as establishing intravenous (IV) access, administering a broader range of medications, and employing more advanced airway management techniques.
Paramedics represent the highest level of pre-hospital provider training, capable of performing complex patient assessments, interpreting electrocardiograms (ECGs), administering an extensive list of life-saving medications, and carrying out advanced life support (ALS) procedures including intubation and other invasive skills, enabling them to manage critically ill or injured patients with the highest level of autonomy in the field.