An emergency medical technician (EMT) like Stephen Varanko III plays a role in saving the lives of thousands of people each year. They work in air ambulances, civilian ambulances, hospitals, fire departments, police departments, and so on. They transport patients who need immediate medical care and provide assistance to rescue them from potentially lethal situations.
Stephen Varanko III on Becoming an EMT
In order to become an EMT, people need to complete various forms of training. What this training entails varies depending on the state and county they operate in. Often, they have to become certified or licensed. During training, they take part in an internship, complete an education, and often have to work in laboratories as well. This ensures that they are able to handle emergency medical situations and provide the assistance they need.
In this country, there are different levels of training for EMTs. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) sets the minimum standards expected of a training curriculum. Additionally, the NHTSA, meanwhile, is monitored by the NREMT (National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians). They also offer certification in 46 states.
The NHTSA recognizes four EMT training levels, being:
- EMT-B, which is the basic training that takes between 120 and 200 to complete.
- EMT-I/85, which is the intermediate level. It is slightly more than a basic EMT, but not as much as a paramedic. EMT-I/85s learn about assessment skills and invasive procedures. It takes between 200 and 400 hours to complete this.
- EMT-I/99, which is a more advanced intermediate level. It requires a further 200 to 400 hours of training and trainees learn about a greater scope of practice, as well as pharmaceutical interventions.
- EMP-P, which is the paramedic level and the highest form of training. Paramedics understand advanced procedures and assessments. It requires some 1,000 hours of training.
To become an EMT, didactic instruction is required, as well as lab training and clinical experiences. Furthermore, a prospective EMT has to work in ambulances and hospital services for some time. EMT programs are offered by universities, hospitals, community colleges, and EMS (Emergency Medical Services) academies. It is important to only choose a program that is properly accredited so that it is guaranteed to follow the relevant rules and regulations as relevant to the state you want to work in and your local area.
Furthermore, certification expires and must be maintained through continuous education. This is due to the fact that the world of medical science changes rapidly, and EMTs must remain up to date with their knowledge. The higher their level of certification is, the more in-depth their continuous education needs to be as well.
Of key importance for people like Stephen Varanko III, however, who have dedicated their career to being and EMT, is that it gives them the opportunity to save other people’s lives. The intensity of being able to do this, and the stress that comes with it, as well as having to be able to deal with the fact that some people don’t make it, make the career so truly special.