Paramedics are highly trained medical professionals who function in various austere environments. They must be well versed in a variety of specialties. Paramedics must also be prepared to handle themselves in the situation that is presented. This includes rescue skills, knowledge of fire scene operations, hazardous materials response, vehicle extrication, and self defense.
One benefit of being a paramedic is that you always are doing something different. No two emergency calls are exactly alike.
A paramedic is charged with providing emergency on-scene treatment, crisis intervention, life-saving stabilization and transport of ill or injured patients to definitive emergency medical and surgical treatment facilities, such as hospitals and trauma centers.
The use of the specific term paramedic varies by jurisdiction, and in some places is used to refer to any member of an ambulance crew. In countries such as Canada and South Africa, the term paramedic is used as the job title for all EMS personnel, who are then distinguished by the terms primary or basic (e.g. Primary Care Paramedic) intermediate, or advanced (e.g. Advanced Care Paramedic). This approach may be completely appropriate in such jurisdictions, where primary care staff receive more than double the classroom and clinical training of an EMT, and in fact more than those in some jurisdictions permitted by law to call themselves paramedics. In countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, the use of the word paramedic is restricted by law, and the person claiming the title must have passed a specific set of examinations and clinical placements, and hold a valid registration, certification, or license with a governing body. Even in countries where the law restricts the title, lay persons may incorrectly refer to all emergency medical personnel as 'paramedics', even if they officially hold a different qualification, such as emergency medical technician-basic.
Once a person is credentialed as a paramedic they are then able to train to gain other specialties. Examples of these are rescue teams, supporting law enforcement, wildland fire suppression, critical care, incident command, and many more. Many of these will test a paramedics skills due to the complex setting they are placed into.
Most paramedics are employed by an emergency medical services (EMS) system. This can be county ran system, a private ambulance system, or a regional system. Some paramedics are also firefighters and work for a fire department. In other areas of the country paramedics are employed by law enforcement agencies.
Paramedics perform advanced procedures such as endotracheal intubation, surgical airways, chest needle decompression, medication administration, IV fluid resuscitation, etc. They learn to operate many types of advanced equipment such as cardiac monitors, 12-lead EKG machines, defibrillators, capnometers, and external pacemakers.
