Job Description:

Emergency Medical Technician - Basic

 

Career Requirements:

Responds to emergency calls to provide efficient and immediate care to the critically ill and injured, and transports the patient to a medical facility.

 

After receiving the call from the dispatcher, drives the ambulance to address or location given, using the most expeditious route, depending on traffic and weather conditions.  Observes traffic ordinances and regulations concerning emergency vehicle operation.

 

Upon arrival at the scene of crash or illness, parks the ambulance in a safe location to avoid additional injury.  Prior to initiating patient care, the EMT‑Basic will also "size-up" the scene to determine that the scene is safe, the mechanism of injury or nature of illness, total number of patients and to request additional help if necessary.  In the absence of law enforcement, creates a safe traffic environment, such as the placement of road flares, removal of debris, and re-direction of traffic for the protection of the injured and those assisting in the care of injured patients.

 

Determines the nature and extent of illness or injury and establishes priority for required emergency care.  Based on assessment findings, renders emergency medical care to adult, infant and child, medical and trauma patients.  Duties include but are not limited to, opening and maintaining an airway, ventilating patients, and cardiopulmonary resuscita­tion, including use of automated external defibrillators.  Provide prehospital emergency medical care of simple and multiple system trauma such as controlling hemorrhage, treatment of shock (hypoperfusion), bandaging wounds, and immobiliza­tion of painful, swollen, deformed extremities.  Medical patients include:  Assisting in childbirth, management of respiratory, cardiac, diabetic, allergic, behavioral, and environmental emergencies, and suspected poisonings.  Searches for medical identification emblem as a clue in providing emergency care.  Additional care is provided based upon assessment of the patient and obtaining historical information.  These interventions include assisting patients with prescribed medications, including sublingual nitroglycerin, epinephrine auto-injectors and hand-held aerosol inhalers.  The EMT‑Basic will also be responsible for administration of oxygen, oral glucose and activated charcoal.

 

Reassures patients and bystanders by working in a confident, efficient manner.  Avoids mishandling and undue haste while working expeditiously to accomplish the task.

 

Where a patient must be extricated from entrapment, assesses the extent of injury and gives all possible emergency care and protection to the entrapped patient and uses the prescribed techniques and appliances for safely removing the patient.  If needed, radios the dispatcher for additional help or special rescue and/or utility services.  Provides simple rescue service if the ambulance has not been accompanied by a specialized unit.  After extrication, provides additional care in triaging the injured in accordance with standard emergency procedures.

 

Complies with regulations on the handling of the deceased, notifies authorities, and arranges for protection of property and evidence at scene.

 

Lifts stretcher, placing in ambulance and seeing that the patient and stretcher are secured, continues emergency medical care.

 

From the knowledge of the condition of the patient and the extent of injuries and the relative locations and staffing of emergency hospital facilities, determines the most appropriate facility to which the patient will be transported, unless otherwise directed by medical direction.  Reports directly to the emergency department or communications center the nature and extent of injuries, the number being transport­ed, and the destination to assure prompt medical care on arrival.  Identifies assessment findings which may require communications with medical direction for advice and for notification that special professional services and assistance be immediately available upon arrival at the medical facility.

 

Constantly assesses patient en route to emergency facility, administers additional care as indicated or directed by medical direction.

 

Assists in lifting and carrying the patient out of the ambulance and into the receiving facility.

 

Reports verbally and in writing their observation and emergency medical care of the patient at the emergency scene and in transit to the receiving facility staff for purposes of records and diagnostics.  Upon request, provides assistance to the receiving facility staff.

 

After each call, restocks and replaces used linens, blankets and other supplies, cleans all equipment following appropriate disinfecting procedures, makes careful check of all equipment so that the ambulance is ready for the next run.  Maintains ambulance in efficient operating condition.  Ensures that the ambulance is clean and washed and kept in a neat orderly condition.  In accordance with local, state or federal regulations, decontaminates the interior of the vehicle after transport of patient with contagious infection or hazardous materials exposure. 

 

Determines that vehicle is in proper mechanical condition by checking items required by service management.  Maintains familiarity with specialized equipment used by the service.

 

Attends continuing education and refresher training programs as required by employers, medical direction, licensing or certifying agencies.

 

Meets qualifications within the functional job analysis.