Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are the people we count upon in the first moments after a medical emergency. In the time between the scene of an accident and arrival at hospital, a medical technician can be the difference between life and death. If you think you have the ability to take on this challenging role, medical techinican training is the first step toward your new career.

A formal qualification as a medical technician is essential to give you the medical knowledge and skills you'll need to make this enormous difference to other peoples' lives, and your own. The specific responsibilities that you will have will depend on your level of qualification and training. The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) registers emergency medical service (EMS) providers at four levels: First Responder, EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate, and EMT-Paramedic. Some States have their own certification and use numeric ratings from 1 to 4 to distinguish levels of proficiency. As a qualified EMT, you will usually be dispatched to the scene of an emergency by a 911 operator. The form of incident you can expect to encounter includes automobile accidents, heart attacks, childbirth, and gunshot wounds. You will provide the vital initial attention on the scene and you transport the sick or injured to a medical facility. Parmedics are EMTs with additional advanced training to perform more difficult prehospital medical procedures. You will have the option of taking that additional training so that you can develop your career. If you can stay calm under pressure and apply what you've learned to save lives, a career as a medical technician could be for you.