Career:
Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedic
Job Description: Assess injuries, administer emergency medical care, and extricate trapped individuals. Transport injured or sick persons to medical facilities.
Is Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedic the right career path for you?
Take the MyMajors Quiz and find out if it fits one of your top recommended majors!
What Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics do:
- Attend training classes to maintain certification licensure, keep abreast of new developments in the field, or maintain existing knowledge.
- Comfort and reassure patients.
- Coordinate work with other emergency medical team members or police or fire department personnel.
- Immobilize patient for placement on stretcher and ambulance transport, using backboard or other spinal immobilization device.
- Administer first aid treatment or life support care to sick or injured persons in prehospital settings.
- Maintain vehicles and medical and communication equipment and replenish first aid equipment and supplies.
- Assess nature and extent of illness or injury to establish and prioritize medical procedures.
- Communicate with dispatchers or treatment center personnel to provide information about situation, to arrange reception of victims, or to receive instructions for further treatment.
- Observe, record, and report to physician the patient's condition or injury, the treatment provided, and reactions to drugs or treatment.
- Operate equipment, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), external defibrillators, or bag valve mask resuscitators, in advanced life support environments.
- Perform emergency diagnostic and treatment procedures, such as stomach suction, airway management, or heart monitoring, during ambulance ride.
- Coordinate with treatment center personnel to obtain patients' vital statistics and medical history, to determine the circumstances of the emergency, and to administer emergency treatment.
- Decontaminate ambulance interior following treatment of patient with infectious disease and report case to proper authorities.
- Drive mobile intensive care unit to specified location, following instructions from emergency medical dispatcher.
- Administer drugs, orally or by injection, or perform intravenous procedures under a physician's direction.
What work activities does an Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedic do?
| Importance | Activities | |
|---|---|---|
Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients. |
||
Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
||
Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
||
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests. |
||
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
||
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
||
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft. |
||
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. |
||
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
||
Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
||
Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials. |
||
Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. |
||
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
||
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. |
||
Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
||
Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. |
||
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. |
||
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
||
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
||
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
||
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. |
||
Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. |
||
Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. |
||
Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. |
||
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks. |
||
Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them. |
||
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance. |
||
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others. |
||
Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills. |
||
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity. |
||
Interacting With Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. |
||
Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. |
||
Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork. |
||
Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money. |
||
Provide Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics. |
||
Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles). |
||
Find YOUR college major
The fastest way toward knowing if Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedic is the career for you is to take this quiz to find your college major and career recommendations.
For Students
Find a School
Research Majors
Magazines
Student Blogs
Financial Aid Advice
Scholarships/Grants
Mobile App
Major Quiz
For Counselors
What is MyMajors?
Counselor Resources
Counselor Blogs
Scholarships/Grants
Publications
Major Quiz

