Emergency Medical Technician

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Work Tasks

• Drive ambulances to the location of an emergency
• Figure out what the problem is, give emergency care, and call police, firefighters, or others if needed
• May open airways, give CPR, treat for shock, give oxygen, give medications, use defibrillators, or give other emergency help to patients
• Take patients to the emergency department and tell doctors what they have done
• Work indoors and outdoors where there is an emergency for police, fire, or rescue squads, ambulance companies, and hospital emergency departments
• Work with ambulances, stretchers, blankets, first aid supplies, radio equipment, traffic control equipment like flares, and life support equipment

Salary, Size & Growth

• $34,000 average per year ($16.25 per hour)
• A large occupation (241,200 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (0.9% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: Training at three progressive levels, EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate, and EMT-Paramedic.
• Skills/Courses: Courses are offered by police, fire, and health departments; in hospitals; and as a non-degree courses in colleges and universities.
• Certification/Licensing: All states require certification and registration.