SilverHart’s Newest Expert – Lt. Adam Shannon Is On Duty To Help Authors Write It Like They Lived It
What’s The Difference Between EMT And Paramedic?
If a character in your book is sick or injured, who will come to her aide? Public safety personnel in the U.S. have varying ranges of medical training.
First Responders have received basic training in lifesaving skills, such as CPR and bleeding control, to stabilize an incident during the first critical minutes. Most firefighters are trained at first responder level or above. In urban environments, they will probably have more training – many are also EMTs or Paramedics.
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) have completed a lengthier and more comprehensive process, in most cases at least 130 hours. They’re able to treat basic medical emergencies, such as a broken bone or a simple illness, and transport patients to the hospital. An EMT can splint a fracture, bandage a simple wound, provide oxygen, gather a comprehensive medical history, and relay it to the hospital staff. This level of care is referred to as BLS, or Basic Life Support.
Paramedics complete over 1,200 hours of training, as well as clinical rotations and supervised ride-along time, before they’re eligible to test for certification. In many cases, the classwork takes one to two years. Paramedics are typically the highest level of pre-hospital care providers in the field, and the ones most likely to be dispatched for a severe illness or injury.
As ALS (Advanced Life Support) providers, Paramedics may start IVs, provide fluids, perform and interpret ECGs to diagnose cardiac conditions, administer medications, intubate, defibrillate patients in cardiac arrhythmias, and electrically “pace” a patient whose heart is beating too slowly. An ALS ambulance has more equipment to support the enhanced skills of the Paramedics on board.
Which Is Right For Your Scene?
If you’re writing a scene that involves EMS personnel, the nature of the emergency and the type of services in the area will determine whether EMTs or Paramedics would respond. A minor emergency, or anything in a very rural area with few resources, will likely be treated by EMTs. For a significant event in a populous suburban or urban environment, expect Paramedics to show up, supported by other EMTs.
Examples of incidents that EMTs would treat: broken arm, abdominal pain with vomiting, a car accident with people complaining of back pain.
Examples of incidents that Paramedics would treat: severe allergic reaction, traumatic injuries with shock, heart attack, cardiac arrest, respiratory emergencies (such as an asthma attack), unconscious.
Lt. Adam Shannon
SilverHart thanks Paramedic/Firefighter Lieutenant Adam Shannon for answering this question. Lt Shannon is available FREE to SilverHart Members as a Story Consultant. Submit your questions inside the SilverHart Member’s Section for access to Lt. Shannon and all of the other dedicated professionals here to make sure you have the best information so you Write It Like You Lived It.