What is the difference between a paramedic and an EMT?

Question

I've found out that paramedics had more hours of training but that is about it. But is there something more that a paramedic can do than an EMT? How do you know which is in the ambulance? Is it one of each?

Thanks

Answer 1

An EMT is an emergency medical technician. There are different levels of being an EMT. There is EMT-B (basic) they do basic first responder type stuff, vital signs, assessment, splinting, bandaging, etc. All basic level of care but no advanced life support skills like IV's, heart monitoring or advanced drug therapy. There is an EMT-I (intermediate) which can do a little more, they can do IV's and some heart monitoring skills and give a few more drugs than the B level but not a many as the next level which is the EMT-P (paramedic) The paramedic level is the most advanced pre hospital care provider. They can do just about everything they would need to do to save your life outside of a hospital setting. We are all essentially EMT's but most of us in the field just shorten it to EMT for the basic providers and paramedics for the P level providers. There aren't many intermediate's anymore in our area. It's hard to tell the difference in certification levels just by looking, but many depts will wear dress shirts that have a patch sewn on and sometimes it will say EMT basic or paramedic. Not all depts are the same when it comes to staffing. Some states require 1 basic and 1 paramedic at all times, some require 2 paramedics always. Our dept always runs 2 paramedics at all times and we just take turns driving, but our skill levels are the same. Hope that helps...

Answer 2

I don't know about in the USA but in Canada I'm sure it is very similar. The EMR training is the first level of ambulance care.. this takes two solid weeks of intense training. EMR's learn how to assess a patient, take the vitals, apply first aid knowledge, use the automated external defibrillators,various splinting procedures, use of spine boards, and assist with some medications. The EMT-B is your next level of training which involves three months of full-time training. The EMT-B learns the administration of various drugs and procedures beyond that of the EMR. Then there is the EMT-P training. This is an 18 month course that is even further advanced than the EMT-B. The paramedic learns about even more drug administration and also some more advanced surgical procedures than the EMT-B.

Answer 3

an emt is a basic level provider. I've been one for 15 years. a paramedic is more advanced and can do a lot more. emts cannot do ivs or give drugs. now it depends as to who is on the ambulance. most will have one of each.

Answer 4

EMT work in hospitals

Answer 5

All paramedics wear a stethoscope and all EMTs have stethoscope envy.

Answer 6

I think EMT are also trained in firefighting, but im not sure.

Answer 7

a paramedic and a EMT is the samething. On a Ambulance there is a driver that is a Paramedic and there is a EMT that will treat the person. THe driver does basic frist aid

Answer 8

nothing