questions for my senior project on EMT...HELP PLAESE

[liss]

what is the volume/cost/size of EMT today?

what current changes are occurring that will have future effect on EMT careers?

any help would be awesome

thanks...

oh and im doing a ride along soon...any advice?

[Chief1C]

To best answer that, since the definition of the duties of an EMT vary from state to state, a better idea of your geographic location would be helpful. EMT is a great career, if you're in school (college/Univ). If you're shooting for solely an EMS career, aim higher. Not that there's anything wrong with being an EMT for a long period of time. Cost varies also, I've seen where people paid over a grand, or as little as fifty bucks. The best EMT's, come from small class sizes. You're limited as far as what you can do, but doing those skills well is the key to making the most out of the training. One can still be an effective BLS provider, especially in areas where you're the sole provider. Otherwise, it's best to also be a prudent driver as well.

[Kiwiology]

what is the volume/cost/size of EMT today?

From a uniquely New Zealand perspective

Volume: around 250,000 emergency 111 (911) calls per year and growing at about 7% pa

Cost: $160 million NZD and growing

Size: 1,100 paid and 2,500 volunteer Ambulance Officers

If you want to look at our system vs. the United States it may provide some comparisons to draw

- The generic term for ambulance professionals is "Ambulance Officer" and not EMT

- We do not have "medical control" and are autonomous care providers that do not have to speak to a doctor

- Ambulance services' here are not intergrated with, and totally seperate from, the Fire Service

- A Bachelors Degree is the minimum education requirement for entry to the career

- Volunteers require the equivalent of an associates degree

Our system uses three levels of Officer:

- Ambulance Technician, requires an associates degree; can administer 7 medications and perform automatic defibrillation

- Paramedic, requires a Bachelors Degree (3,600 hours); can administer an additional 5 medications (including morphine) and start IV lines

- Intensive Care Paramedic, requires a Post Graduate Certificate in addition to the Degree; can administer additional painkillers and cardiac medications as well as insert breathing tubes, decompress collapsed lungs and infuse medicine/fluid into bone (intraosseous or IO). Some have the ability to put patients to sleep and paralyse them in order to insert a breathing tube.

what current changes are occurring that will have future effect on EMT careers?

- Expanded role as a community healthcare provider and not just an emergency responder

- Increasing use of technology and new treatments; e.g. intransasl medication, rapid sequence intubation, 12 lead ECG

- Need for increasing industrial and political representation and parity of conditions

- Improved education

oh and im doing a ride along soon...any advice?

Um, the best advice I can give, even tho it's a bit abrasive .... don't make a tard of yourself.

Edited February 10, 2010 by kiwimedic

[itku2er]

Maybe we need to cut the kid a break, some dont understand the way things work here especially the younger ones that are in High School. The links are posted for liss to see and hopefully they will help her out. If they have more questions hopefully we can answer them if they do not find what they are looking for.