What is the difference between an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and a Paramedic?
An EMT is trained in Basic Life Support (BLS) skills such as assessment, triage and treatment of medical and trauma patients, control of bleeding, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), the use of Automatic External Defibrillator’s (AED’s), and the delivery of oxygen.A Paramedic is trained beyond the BLS level to the ALS (Advanced Life Support) level to include advanced skills such as cardiac rhythm interpretation, the application of an external cardiac pacemaker, endotracheal intubation (the placement of a breathing tube), Intravenous (IV) and Intraosseous (IO – placement of needle into bone marrow) fluid therapy, as well as the ability to administer various cardiac, respiratory and pain medications.
An EMT is trained in basic life support emergency medical procedures such as CPR, oxygen therapy, splinting of fractures, spinal immobilization, bleeding control and the use of automatic defibrillators. A Paramedic is an Advanced EMT with additional training in advanced life support procedures such as cardiac rhythm interpretation, intravenous drug therapy, pharmacology, and advanced airway maintenance.
