Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics
Career Snapshot
Emergency medical technicians, often known as 'EMTs,' are the men and women who are usually the first to arrive on the scene when there is a heart attack victim, a near-drowning, automotive injuries, gunshot wounds, or anything else that requires emergency medical attention.
EMTs drive their ambulances or rescue squad cars to the incident in two-person teams, assess the situation, and carry out the necessary procedures. These techniques may involve performing CPR or using defibrillators to treat heart attack victims, providing medicines, bandaging wounds, and assisting in childbirth - an EMT must be prepared for anything.
Basic, intermediate, and paramedic training are available. Police, fire, and health departments, as well as hospitals and institutions, provide training. Municipal fire, police, and rescue squad departments, as well as hospitals and private ambulance services, are all potential employers.
If this is something you're interested in, don't miss the many unpaid 'volunteer' rescue squads and fire departments that serve so many sections of the country. Few jobs are as demanding or gratifying as that of an EMT.
Characteristics
Activities
Areas of Study
Degrees
Key Abilities
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Arm-Hand Steadiness
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Deductive Reasoning
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Finger Dexterity
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Inductive Reasoning
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Information Ordering
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Oral Comprehension
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Oral Expression
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Problem Sensitivity
Colleges
Top Skills