Ambulance technicians provide emergency care to accident or illness victims. Training is required, and in the US, certification is provided by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. Students must pass exams and practical demonstrations, and be able to perform basic life support skills.
An ambulance technician – also known in the US as a Basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) – is a healthcare professional who provides emergency care to victims of accidents or illnesses. Ambulance technicians are employed by government entities, private transport companies or voluntary community rescue organizations. Special training, usually three months in duration, is required to become an ambulance technician, usually provided at technical schools and community colleges. In the US, the term EMT-B reflects that the technician has achieved at least the first level of training known as Basic Life Support or BLS. Successful completion of a state exam and licensing is required to become an ambulance technician.
There are no educational prerequisites for enrolling in classes to become an ambulance technician, although at least a functional degree of literacy and basic arithmetic skills is assumed. In the US, the curriculum, textbooks, and three-month classroom tests are standardized by the country’s certifying organization, the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). A prospective student must also be at least 18 years old, be a US citizen, and pass a criminal background check to become an ambulance technician. A valid driver’s license is also required if the organization’s ambulance technicians are expected to switch between driving and patient care duties. The requirements to become an Ambulance Technician in the United Kingdom (UK) are similar.
Once the potential student starts classes to become an ambulance technician, he must study the material carefully and regularly. There are regular assessments to assess student knowledge through written exams and practical demonstrations. Students often have the opportunity to observe emergency procedures and situations on “hitchhike” or scheduled emergency shifts. If the prospective student feels queasy when facing blood or other bodily fluids, he or she may want to reconsider their decision to become an ambulance technician.
Although ambulance technicians have not completed advanced life support training, they must be able to perform all of the skills required for a basic life support certification, including providing basic first aid, spinal stabilization, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as needed. A prospective student considering whether or not to become an ambulance technician must maintain their training and their composure despite the urgent and often chaotic nature of the work environment.
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