What You'll Do

  • Administer first aid treatment or life support care to sick or injured persons in prehospital settings.
  • Assess nature and extent of illness or injury to establish and prioritize medical procedures.
  • Attend training classes to maintain certification licensure, keep abreast of new developments in the field, or maintain existing knowledge.
  • Comfort and reassure patients.
  • Communicate with dispatchers or treatment center personnel to provide information about situation, to arrange reception of survivors, or to receive instructions for further treatment.
  • Coordinate work with other emergency medical team members or police or fire department personnel.
  • Decontaminate ambulance interior following treatment of patient with infectious disease, and report case to proper authorities.
  • Drive mobile intensive care unit to specified location, following instructions from emergency medical dispatcher.
  • Immobilize patient for placement on stretcher and ambulance transport, using backboard or other spinal immobilization device.
  • Maintain vehicles and medical and communication equipment, and replenish first aid equipment and supplies.

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Want a personal read on fit. Take the free assessment and see your exact compatibility with this career and many related roles.

Technologies & Tools

Epocrates HyperTox Informed EMS Field Guide Iterum eMedic MedDataSolutions Regist*r Medical Wizards ER & ICU ToolBox Medical Wizards ER Suite Medical Wizards Paramedics ToolBox MEDITECH software Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft operating system Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Mosby's Drug Consult Palmtree EMS Field Reference Guide Palmtree Pocket EKG PEPID EMS Skyscape medical software Skyscape Rosen and Barkin's 5-Minute Emergency Medicine Consult

How to Become One

This career typically requires vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some specialized training or certification may also be required.

Similar Careers to Explore

Dental Hygienists

99.8% similar profile

Respiratory Therapists

99.7% similar profile

Paramedics

99.7% similar profile

Nurse Anesthetists

99.6% similar profile

Athletic Trainers

99.6% similar profile

Chiropractors

99.5% similar profile

Radiation Therapists

99.2% similar profile

Anesthesiologist Assistants

98.9% similar profile

Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) Ambulance Driver Dispatcher Emergency Department Technician (ED Technician) Emergency Medical Driver Emergency Medical Responder Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (EMT-B) Emergency Room Technician EMT Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic) EMT-B (Emergency Medical Technician- Basic) EMT-I/85 EMT-I/99 EMT-P First Responder Health Care Specialist Healthcare Specialist Medical Driver Medical Equipment Delivery Driver Medical Technician Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Driver Paramedic Rescue Technician (Rescue Tech) Rescue Worker