People’s lives often depend on the quick reaction and competent care of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics—EMTs with additional advanced training to perform more difficult prehospital medical procedures. Incidents as varied as automobile accidents, heart attacks, drownings, childbirth, and gunshot wounds all require immediate medical attention. EMTs and Paramedics provide this vital attention as they care for and transport the sick or injured to a medical facility.
In an emergency, EMTs and Paramedics typically are dispatched to the scene by a 911 operator, and often work with police and fire department personnel. Once they arrive, they determine the nature and extent of the patient’s condition while trying to ascertain whether the patient has preexisting medical problems. Following strict rules and guidelines, they give appropriate emergency care and, when necessary, transport the patient. Some paramedics are trained to treat patients with minor injuries on the scene of an accident or at their home without transporting them to a medical facility. Emergency treatment for more complicated problems is carried out under the direction of medical doctors by radio preceding or during transport.
Paramedics may use special equipment, such as IV therapy, cardiac monitoring, endotracheal intubation and medication adminstration. Some Paramedics work as part of the flight crew on helicopters or fixed wing aircraft that transport critically ill or injured patients to hospital trauma centers.
At the medical facility, EMTs and Paramedics help transfer patients to the emergency department, report their observations and actions to emergency room staff, and may provide additional emergency treatment. After each run, EMTs and paramedics replace used supplies and check equipment. If a transported patient had a contagious disease, EMTs and Paramedics decontaminate the interior of the ambulance and report cases to the proper authorities.
EMT-P, LP (Paramedic): Acceptance to Blinn College
Current EMT-B certification or ability to gain certification within 30 days of the begining of the paramedic academy.
BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I
THEA Scores: 270 in Math, 230 in Reading, and a 6 in Writing (or appropriate remediation sequence)
Acceptance into first semester of the Paramedic Program (competitive entry-must first have completed above prerequisites)
Current on all immunizations to include Hep B prior to starting clinical rotations.
Applications available online below or at EMS Program Office.