is the system that provides the emergency medical care that is needed by people who have been injured or have an acute medical emergency.When the dispatcher at the 9-1-1 emergency communications center receives a call for emergency care, he or she dispatches to the scene the designated EMS ambulance squad and any fire, rescue, or police units that may be needed.The EMS ambulance is staffed by EMTs who have been trained to the EMT-B, EMT-I, or EMT-P level according to recommended national standards and have been certified or licensed by .After the EMTs size up the scene and assess the patient, they provide the emergency care that is indicated by their findings and ordered by their , in the service's standing order protocols, or the physician who is providing online medical direction. The EMTs then package the patient and provide transport to the nearby hospital or designated specialized care facility (for example, trauma center, pediatric hospital) for further evaluation and stabilization in the emergency department and, after admission, definitive surgical or medical care.The EMT-I course that you are now taking will present the information and skills that you will need to pass the required examinations for licensure certification and start as an EMT-I in the field. This course will provide you with the training that you need to function as an EMT-I and will serve as the essential foundation upon which you can advance your training and expertise.The following are the essential keys to being a good EMT-I:
- Compassion and motivation to reduce suffering, pain, and death in people who are injured or acutely ill
- Desire to provide each patient with the best possible care
- Commitment to obtain the knowledge and skills that this requires
- The drive to continually increase your knowledge, skills, and ability
Once you have successfully completed this course and have been certified as an EMT-I, you will enter the next key phase of your training. With your new level of certification, your first task will be to learn the medical protocols and operating procedures of the squad pertinent to the EMT-I level. You will also have to learn where each piece of equipment is kept on the ambulance and become familiar with how the equipment works.From your experience and the guidance provided by your crew chief and the other experienced EMT-Is you work with, you will gain increased mastery of the skills that you learned in the course and learn how to apply your knowledge and skills in the diverse situations that are actually encountered in the field.Once you have completed the course, you must assume responsibility for directing your own study through continuing education provided by your service's training officer and medical director or through other opportunities available to you. Your commitment to continued learning is the key to being a good EMT-I.
