What is the difference between an EMT -B, and EMT-D, and a paramedic?
An emergency medical technician or EMT has various certification levels. “EMT -B” stands for emergency medical technician “basic.” This is the beginning certification for all EMTs and denotes a level of care at the basic life support level. This certification allows the practitioner to provide care such as splinting injured extremities, provide oxygen, take vital sign measurements, wound care, and other basic life support measures. An “EMT-D,” which stands for EMT-defibrillator, has acquired all of the aforementioned EMT -B skills and has additional training and certification in the use of a defibrillator. These EMTs have been trained in the recognition of life threatening arrhythmias and in certain circumstances, can provide an electrical shock to victims of cardiac arrest. An “EMT-I”, which stands for EMT-Intermediate, has acquired all of the skills of an EMT-B, as well as additional training and certification to start intravenous lines in the field. Many EMTs hold both the “I” and “
