EMT Basic Training

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EMT Basic training is the first training level of every Emergency Medical Technician, this level is where everyone starts. EMT-B needs emergency skills required in the field to transport patients to higher medical providers. These emergency skills involve assessing the patient for various issues in cardiac, circulatory, and respiratory in an emergency response. They will be trained for responding to choking, heart attack, stroke, bleeding, fracture, childbirth, and asthma attacks. They will also be able to use stretchers, stethoscopes, backboards, oxygen devices, and other medical items. EMT-B training also involves time in emergency departments and ambulance for practical experience. EMT Basics works with other EMT’s, paramedics, nurses, and physicians.

The training for EMT-B is required if you want to get state or national certification as an EMT Basic and/or advance to EMT Intermediate and Paramedic level.

EMT-B Training Requirements

You need to be at least 18 years of age, physically capable of handling the duties of an EMT-B, you know how to read and write proficiently in English, and you need to have completed a CPR course are the basic requirements for EMT Basic Training. Most requires a high school diploma or GED certificate and a criminal background check will be performed. Other requirements vary depending on where you are taking the EMT Basic training.

EMT Basic Training Curriculum

The standard for the EMT-B curriculum was developed by the NHTSA which is the EMT Basic National Standard Curriculum. Every training course or program offered by every state must follow the minimum requirements set by the standard. The course involves more than 120 hours of classroom training of lectures and hands-on training. Additional training is done in-hospital emergency room and ambulance ride time.

The course outline may look something like this:
Preparatory: This will include the basics like your roles, safety, legal and ethical issues, basic physiology and anatomy, and lifting and moving patients.
Airway Management: This will be about airway anatomy, airway management, and oxygen equipments.
Patient Assessment: This deals with taking patient history, documentation, and communication.
Medical/Behavioral and Obstetrics/Gynecology: Topics include respiratory, pharmacology, poisoning, overdose, allergy, diabetic, cardiac, environmental, obstetrical and behavioral emergencies.
Trauma Emergencies: This covers shocks, injuries in the head, neck, spine and abdomen, bleeding and soft tissue injuries.
Infants & Children: You will know about physical and physiological differences between adults and children patients, medical and trauma emergencies.
Ambulance Operations: Ambulance operation and situations with multiple patients and other situation involving rescue and extrication.

The course fee can range anywhere between $800 to $1000 or more, which may include textbooks, clinic and lab fees, insurance and uniform.

After completion of the course, a practical exam will be given. Students that pass the EMT Basic training will be able to take the EMT certification for EMT Basic. Recertification every two years is required to maintain your EMT-B certification.


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