Emt-b Class And Beyond: How To Advance As An Emt

Taking and passing an EMT B class, however, is different and more difficult than becoming an EMR.

Should I Become an EMT?

If you are someone who is compassionate, who has good physical strength, can perform under pressure, and wants to make a real difference in the lives of people in your community, becoming an emergency medical technician might be a great career path for you. Reaching this career goal starts with finding an EMT B class (which stands for EMT-Basic) through which you can obtain basic EMT training and certification.

What Will I Accomplish With EMT B Classes Near Me?

The State of Ohio’s Board of Emergency Medical, Fire, and Transportation Services issues four different professional certificates for providers of emergency medical services. The most fundamental is Emergency Medical Responder, or EMR. While this entry-level position has a very limited scope of practice, this is one way to begin a career in the field of emergency medical services, because it requires the least amount of training. EMRs provide limited lifesaving interventions while they wait with the sick or injured patient for more advanced help to arrive. EMRs typically serve as first responders in rural or other under-funded regions.

Taking and passing an EMT B class, however, is different and more difficult than becoming an EMR. EMT-B training will allow you to provide more advanced emergency care to those who have suffered a trauma or acute illness. High-quality training, such as that provided through Premier Health and Safety Academy’s accredited program, is indispensable when it comes to passing the EMT-B certification test. Through expert training, an EMT-B learns to assess a patient’s condition and the extent of their injury or illness and quickly develop a care plan. EMT-Bs determine which protocols are appropriate for a patient’s situation and provide the correct care as needed. These professionals, who usually work in teams of two, also transport patients to hospitals and sometimes execute care under a physician’s direction. 

What Job Functions Do EMT-Bs Perform?

As an EMT-B, your patient care responsibilities will be broad and diverse. Here are just a few of the services you’ll be trained to perform:  

  • Open and maintain an airway; ventilating patients
  • Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), both manually and with the use of  an automated external defibrillator (AED)
  • Provide emergency prehospital care for simple and multiple system traumas, including hemorrhages, treatment of shock, immobilization of the neck, spine, and extremities
  • Attend to diabetic or allergic reactions, seizures, or poisoning
  • Assist in emergency childbirth
  • Manage patients with altered mental status or in psychological crisis
  • Assist patients with administration of prescribed medications
  • Administer emergency medications such as epinephrine autoinjectors or aerosol inhalers.

In nationally and state-accredited programs such as PSHA’s, students who successfully complete the EMT-B program are eligible to sit for the National Registry of EMTs examination. This exam is required for State of Ohio EMT Certification. This certification is also required by the State of Ohio to continue on to more advanced EMT training and designations. When choosing a training program for EMT classes, it is important to choose a program that provides both a didactic education (lectures and classroom instruction) as well as clinical Emergency Department rotations with qualified instructors. It is also important that a training program provides real life “ride-along” experience in the field with working paramedics. PSHA delivers just this type of well-rounded education and training so that its students can excel in their examinations and in their careers as EMT-Bs.

Additional EMT Classes Ohio 

While a career as an EMT-B is dynamic and rewarding, these professionals can advance in their field with additional training and certifications. Ohio provides the advanced certifications of Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) and Paramedic. AEMTs are middle-level providers of pre-hospital emergency medical services, according to the state of Ohio. To achieve this  designation, candidates must complete all EMT-B requirements and be trained in more complex interventions such as administering some medications and intravenous fluids. Paramedics are advanced emergency care providers and undergo extensive training in subjects such as anatomy, physiology, cardiology, medications, and advanced airway management.

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