An EMT-B, or emergency medical technician-basic, is a member of the EMS or emergency medical service, and is part of a BLS or basic life support unit. An EMT-B is tasked to be the first person to respond to an emergency with the least severe injuries.
The role of an EMT-B is to evaluate the injury, identify the extent of the injury and look for other issues involving the circulatory, cardiac, and respiratory systems, stabilize the victim, then bring him/her to the nearest medical facility to be treated by physicians. Take note that an EMT-B cannot administer any form of treatment. In case of life-threatening injuries, an EMT-B can only administer basic resuscitation. They are not allowed to use needles, so the scope of their responsibility will have them working with stretchers, backboards, stethoscope, respirators, and other breathing support devices.
Despite the basic level of training and responsibility an EMT-B has, he/she plays a vital role in maintaining the health and ensuring the survival of other people. Thus, if you are thinking of pursuing a career as an EMT-B, certain qualities are necessary. An EMT-B has to be quick to react to any situation. He must be able to stay calm and maintain his presence of mind whatever happens, so he can think quickly even under pressure.
Aside from personal qualities, an EMT-B also has to meet other requirements. You need to have a high school diploma before you can train to become an EMT-B. There are many training programs for the entry-level EMT training; some last for weeks, and some for months. The programs should be properly accredited by the state for the training to be valid. EMT-B training programs are certificate courses, so you will get a certificate after finishing the course, whereas intermediate and paramedic EMT levels require a diploma or an associate’s degree.
After the program, you must be certified or registered by your state, which is usually done through an examination. The license you will get, however, has to be renewed every two to three years. Once you start working, you can earn an average of $15 per hour or up to $30,000 per year.
If you want to become an EMT-B, you have many training programs to choose from. In fact, there are EMT courses available online. This allows you to take classes at home, in an environment most comfortable to you, and at your chosen schedule. This is not only convenient, but will also help you save money since you don’t have to worry about transportation expenses. However, EMT courses online allow you to take the classroom portion of the program online. When you’ve completed the classroom training, you will have to attend actual classes at a training facility where you will be given practical skills training.
To be a good EMT-B, you will also need a good EMT training program. EMT programs are not created equal, so you should compare different programs to find the one that best suits you. Some of the factors that can help you evaluate the quality of a particular program are the number of students who passed the certification exam, the number of students assigned to a single instructor, the quality of the training equipment, and how much time was assigned to classroom training and to hands-on training. As for the last factor, there should be a balance of both to make sure that students have both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills they need to do a good job as an EMT-B.