Nature of Work |
Working as an emergency medical
technician (EMT) or as a paramedic is one of the most rewarding careers
possible. While the pay may not be the best in the world, the
benefits are certainly worth it. This article will highlight some of
the benefits and drawbacks of working as an EMT or paramedic, and it will
also provide average salary information, training requirements, training
centers in Region I, and more.
If you are looking for employment in
Region I, and if you are already an EMT or paramedic, then click the link
titled "Current Employment Opportunities in Region I," which is on the
left side of your screen. This is the most up-to-date listing of
jobs that are available within our 16-county region.
KEY POINTS . . .
-
Emergency medical services (EMS)
is a demanding job field, both mentally and physically
-
Working as an EMT or paramedic
often requires long shifts, including holidays, nights, and
weekends
-
Mental stability is required to
deal with the multitude of emergencies that an EMT or paramedic sees in
his or her lifetime
-
Patient interaction requires
superb interpersonal skills
-
Specific training is required to
become an EMT or paramedic - sole ambulance drivers do not exist in
Georgia
-
A license is required to work as
an EMT or paramedic in the State of Georgia
-
Employment is expected to grow
faster than average as the population grows significantly in each of the
16 counties comprising Region I
NATURE
OF WORK . . . People’s lives often depend on
the quick reaction and competent care of emergency medical technicians (EMT's) and paramedics. Incidents as varied as automobile accidents,
heart attacks, drownings, childbirth, and gunshot wounds all require
immediate medical attention. EMT's and paramedics provide this vital
attention as they care for and transport the sick or injured to a medical
facility.
Depending on the nature of the emergency, EMT's
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 pre-existing 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. Many EMS agencies in Region I utilize
standing orders, which allow EMT's and paramedics to provide treatment,
including medications, without a direct consult with a physician.
Usually, one EMT or paramedic drives while the
other monitors the patient’s vital signs and gives additional care as
needed. Some EMT's work as part of the flight crew of helicopters
that transport critically ill or injured patients to hospital trauma
centers.
At the medical facility, EMT's and paramedics
help transfer patients to the emergency department, report their
observations and actions to staff, and may provide additional emergency
treatment. After each run, EMT's and paramedics replace used
supplies and check equipment. If a transported patient had a
contagious disease, EMT's and paramedics decontaminate the interior of the
ambulance and report cases to the proper authorities.
Beyond these general duties, the specific
responsibilities of EMT's and paramedics depend on their level of
qualification and training. To determine this, the National Registry of Emergency Medical
Technicians (NREMT) registers emergency medical service (EMS)
providers at four levels: First Responder, EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate,
and EMT-Paramedic. Georgia will only allow an EMT-Intermediate or an
EMT-Paramedic to work on an ambulance. Georgia also maintains the
level of Cardiac Technician, which is a level above EMT but below that of
paramedic.
The lowest level—First Responders—are trained
to provide basic emergency medical care because they tend to be the first
persons to arrive at the scene of an incident. Many firefighters,
police officers, and other emergency workers have this level of
training. The EMT-Basic represents the first component of the
emergency medical technician system. An EMT-B is trained to care for
patients on accident scenes, but in Georgia he or she cannot transport a
patient. The EMT-B has the emergency skills to assess a patient’s
condition and manage respiratory, cardiac, and trauma emergencies.
The EMT-Intermediate has more advanced training
that allows administration of intravenous fluids, use of automated
defibrillators to give lifesaving shocks to a stopped heart, and use of
basic airway techniques and equipment to assist patients experiencing
respiratory emergencies. EMT-Paramedics provide the most extensive
pre-hospital care. In addition to the procedures already described,
paramedics may administer drugs orally and intravenously, interpret
electrocardiograms (EKGs), perform manual defibrillation and synchronized
cardioversion, perform endotracheal intubations, perform chest
decompression, and use complex equipment.
WORK
CONDITIONS . . . EMT's and paramedics
work both indoors and outdoors, in all types of weather. They are
required to do considerable kneeling, bending, and heavy lifting.
These workers risk noise-induced hearing loss from sirens and back
injuries from lifting patients. In addition, EMT's and paramedics
may be exposed to diseases such as Hepatitis-B and HIV (AIDS), as well as
violence from drug overdose victims or mentally unstable patients.
The work is not only physically strenuous, but also stressful, involving
life-or-death situations and suffering patients. Nonetheless, many
people find the work exciting and challenging and enjoy the opportunity to
help others.
EMT's and paramedics should be emotionally
stable, have good dexterity, agility, and physical coordination, and be
able to lift and carry heavy loads. They also need good eyesight
(corrective lenses may be used) with accurate color vision. Many
employers will conduct extensive background checks on their
applicants. These background checks may include information on your
criminal history, education, and possibly your credit information.
In addition, many may require you to submit to psychological, physical
agility, and other forms of testing.
TRAINING
AND CONTINUING EDUCATION . . .
Formal training is required to become an EMT or
paramedic. To become an EMT, one must complete an EMT course, which
includes classroom and clinical time. To become a paramedic, one
must already be certified as an EMT and must complete a formal paramedic
program.
The following schools in Region I offer EMT and
paramedic training programs:
Emergency Medical Technician Programs in
Region I:
Appalachian Technical College
Jim Weaver & Damon
Wisdom, EMT Instructors
100
Campus Dr
Jasper, GA 30143
(706) 253-4500
Chattahoochee Technical Institute - Paulding Campus
Becky Tyler & Tim King,
EMT Instructors
400 Nathan Dean
Blvd
Dallas, GA 30132
(770) 443-3600
Coosa Valley Technical College
Glen Downes & Randall Pierson,
EMT Instructors
1 Maurice Culberson Dr
Rome, GA 30161
(706)
295-6963
Dalton State College
David Newton & Johnny Cowart EMT
Instructors
213 N College Dr
Dalton, GA 30720
(706) 272-4436
North Metro Technical College
Don Servais, EMT & Paramedic
Instructor
5198 Ross Rd
Acworth, GA 30102
(770) 975-4000
Northwestern Technical College
Bud Hattaway, EMT Instructor
265 Bicentennial Trail
Rock Spring, GA 30739
(706) 764-3510
West Central Technical College
Todd Robinson, EMT Instructor
176 Murphy Campus Blvd
Waco, GA 30182
770-537-6037
Paramedic Programs in Region
I:
Coosa Valley Technical
College
Larry Vandegriff, Paramedic Instructor
1 Maurice
Culberson Dr
Rome, GA 30161
(706) 295-6963
Dalton State College
David
Newton, Paramedic Instructor
213 N College Dr
Dalton, GA
30720
(706) 272-4436
North Metro Technical
College
Don Servais, Paramedic Instructor
5198 Ross
Rd
Acworth, GA 30102
(770) 975-4000
West Central Technical College
Keith Miller, Paramedic Instructor
176 Murphy Campus Blvd
Waco, GA 30182
770-537-6037
It is not necessary to attend an EMT and/or
paramedic course in Region I in order to work in Region I. Any EMT
and/or paramedic course that is approved by the State Office of EMS will
allow you to work in Region I provided you become registered by the
National Registry of EMT's.
Advancement beyond the EMT-Paramedic level
usually means leaving fieldwork. An EMT-Paramedic can become a
supervisor, operations manager, administrative director, or executive
director of emergency services. Some EMT's and paramedics become
instructors, dispatchers, or physician assistants, while others move into
sales or marketing of emergency medical equipment. A number of
people become EMT's and paramedics to assess their interest in healthcare
and then decide to return to school and become registered nurses,
physicians, or other health workers.
CERTIFICATION
& LICENSURE . . . Certification is needed to become an EMT or paramedic. All 50
states possess a certification procedure. In 38 states and the
District of Columbia, registration with the National Registry of Emergency Medical
Technicians (NREMT) is required at some or all levels of
certification. Other states administer their own certification
examination or provide the option of taking the NREMT examination.
Georgia requires registration with NREMT prior
to certification by the State of Georgia. Individuals must pass the
NREMT-administered EMT-Intermediate (1985) or EMT-Paramedic examination
before he or she will be granted a certificate/license by the State of
Georgia.
The following is required to become certified
as an EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate or EMT-Paramedic by the State of
Georgia:
EMT-Basic:
- Attend a formal EMT-Basic course that
includes 120 hours of classroom time.
- No formal clinical training is
required.
- This certification does NOT allow one
to staff an ambulance at many EMS agencies. Check with your local
provider or where you wish to be employed to see if they hire EMT-Basics
as ambulance attendants.
EMT-Intermediate:
- Attend a 377-hour EMT course offered at an
available school. (includes 345 hours of classroom time and 32 hours of
clinicals)
- Pass the NREMT-Intermediate (1985)
exam.
- Apply for certification by the State of
Georgia using the results of your NREMT-Intermediate exam.
Cardiac Technician:
Cardiac technician courses are no longer
offered in Region I. Therefore, their certification requirements
will not be listed.
EMT-Paramedic:
- Be a certified EMT-Intermediate with at
least six (6) months of work experience and an endorsement by your
employer to attend paramedic school.
- Attend a formal paramedic course that
includes a minimum of 934 hours of instruction time (634 hours of this
in a classroom).
- Perform 300 hours of clinical time to
include rotations in the emergency department, intensive care
unit/critical care unit, operating room, labor and delivery, psychiatric
institutions, pre-hospital, and other areas.
- Pass the NREMT-Paramedic exam.
- Apply for certification by the State of
Georgia using the results of your NREMT-Paramedic exam.
To maintain certification, EMT's and paramedics
must earn continuing education units (CEU's) and must recertify every 2
years. In order to recertify, an EMT must earn 24 hours of CEU's and be
certified in CPR. Paramedics and cardiac technicians must earn 40
hours of CEU's and be certified in CPR and advanced cardiac life support
(ACLS). Individual EMS agencies may require more training and
continuing education requirements before their EMT's or paramedics are
allowed to practice under the license of their medical
director.
EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES . . . EMT's and paramedics employed in Region I work a regular shift that
is 24 hours on-duty followed by 48 hours off-duty. Employees are
usually provided with sleeping quarters. However, individuals may
get no sleep during their 24-hour shift.
The typical work week is two 24 hour shifts (48
hours total), but every third week the employee will work 72 hours.
This is because the shifts fall on Sunday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Many county EMS agencies and fire departments will allow this, but many
hospitals do not. The advantage of working 3 24-hour shifts in one
week is the 32 hours of overtime. The advantage of not needing to
work your third shift is that you will get a 5-day vacation every third
week. Each has its own benefits. Those who work the 72-hour
workweek will average 56 hours per week (when all weeks are
figured). Those that do not work the 72-hour workweek will only
average 48 hours per week.
The average salaries for EMT's and paramedics
in Region I are:
| Emergency Medical
Technician |
$28,300 |
| Paramedic |
$34,900 |
| Supervisor |
$37,500 |
These salary estimates are based on an average
56-hour work week (24/48 shift with the 72-hour work week every third
week).
EMPLOYMENT
OUTLOOK . . .
Employment of EMT's and paramedics is expected
to increase nationally over many years. Population increases will
cause more communities to transition from volunteer ambulance corps to
paid ambulance services. Region I EMS does not contain any volunteer
ambulance services, but the projected population increases in all of our
counties will cause increases in the number of ambulances in
operation. This will result in the need for more EMT's and
paramedics.
If you are interested in becoming an EMT or
paramedic, call your local EMS agency. They will be able to provide
you with further information. Many EMS agencies will allow
prospective students to ride on the ambulances to see first-hand what it's
like to be an EMT or paramedic. For a list of ambulance services in
Region I, please see our EMS Providers
section.
We are indebted to the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics for their permission to use and modify their EMT job
outlook information. |
