You may have seen an accident on the road. Or you may have seen someone in a house suddenly fall ill and have difficulty breathing. At times like these, we often call the 1990 ambulance service. After a while, an ambulance arrives with a siren. A person in a uniform gets out and runs to treat the patient. Have you ever wondered if it is a doctor? A nurse? Or someone else? That person who comes and helps save our lives before we even get to the hospital in an emergency is the one we call a Paramedic.
Simply put, who is this Paramedic?
The word Paramedic is made up of two parts. "Para" means "side" or "alongside." "Medic" means "doctor." In its simplest form, it means
someone who works alongside a doctor . But not always by the side of the doctor. A Paramedic is someone who has received special training to provide life-saving medical care during an emergency while a patient is being transported to a doctor.
Many people think that a Paramedic is a doctor, nurse, or physician 's assistant. No, it's a completely different profession, one that is specifically trained for emergency care.
Are Paramedic and EMT the same person?
Yes. There is a big difference between these two. Often, both of these can be present in an ambulance team. Let's see what this difference is.
| Person | Description and training |
|---|
| EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) | They have basic emergency care training. They can stabilize a patient and safely transport them to the hospital. They know how to use the basic equipment in an ambulance. However, except in certain special cases, they are not allowed to perform procedures that involve piercing the skin (e.g., giving an injection). |
| Paramedic | They have much more in-depth and extensive training. They can perform basic and advanced emergency care . For example, they are trained to do things like insert a saline (IV) line into a vein in the arm, manage the airway of someone who is having difficulty breathing, and administer emergency medications. |
Simply put, a Paramedic can do everything an EMT can do. But an EMT can't do many of the complex things a Paramedic can do.
What exactly does a paramedic do?
A paramedic is a member of an emergency medical team. They work under the supervision of a doctor. However, that doctor is not always on the scene of the accident. The paramedic team works in conjunction with the doctor by phone, radio, or according to a set of pre-written medical instructions (pre-written orders). A paramedic can also make some decisions about the patient and give instructions to others on their team (e.g. EMT). Here are some of the things they do when they respond to an emergency call:
| Task | Description |
|---|
| Life-saving treatment | Providing CPR, using a defibrillator to shock someone whose heart has stopped beating. |
| Giving medicine | Giving emergency medication through a saline (IV) line into a vein. |
| Airway management | Opening the airway of a person who is choking, connecting artificial respiration equipment if necessary, and performing a tracheotomy in extreme emergencies. |
| Diagnosis and monitoring | Perform basic medical tests (blood pressure, sugar level) and interpret their results. Continuously monitor the patient's condition (heart rate, oxygen level) until they reach the hospital. |
| Poisoning | Providing antidotes in the event of a drug overdose or poisoning. |
| Communication | Before coming to the hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU), call the supervising physician and provide the patient's full details. |
Does it take a lot of training to become a paramedic?
Absolutely yes. This is not a trivial training. To become a Paramedic, you usually have to undergo between 1200 and 1800 hours of intensive training. This training includes classroom lectures as well as practical training in hospitals and ambulances. Only after completing this training and passing the relevant state-level exams can one work as a certified Paramedic.
In what situations do we need the help of a paramedic?
The services of a Paramedic are essential
whenever you or someone you know needs emergency medical care . Simply put, their help is needed when a situation is too serious to wait until you get to the hospital. Here are some such situations:
- Severe difficulty breathing or shortness of breath .
- Symptoms of a heart attack or stroke ( chest pain , numbness , difficulty speaking).
- A severe allergic reaction , especially when there is swelling of the body and difficulty breathing .
- A diabetic patient's blood sugar level drops too low (diabetic shock) and they become unconscious.
- Drug overdose .
- Ingestion of a poison (At a time like this, it is very important to call the National Poison Information Center at the Colombo National Hospital and seek advice, if possible, while calling the ambulance).
- Serious physical injuries caused by an accident (e.g., a car accident, a fall from a height).
- Severe bleeding.
In any such situation, do not panic and immediately call 1990 or the relevant emergency ambulance service. Keep the patient comfortable until they arrive. Once they arrive, it is very important to provide accurate information about what happened and the patient's condition.
A paramedic is not just someone who takes patients to the hospital. They are a modern-day hero who comes with the medical knowledge, training, and equipment needed to save our lives in a life-or-death battle between the hospital and the scene of an accident.
Take-Home Message
- A paramedic is not a doctor or a nurse. They are a medical professional who has received special, highly trained training for emergencies.
- They are capable of performing many complex life-saving treatments ( such as administering saline, emergency medications, and CPR ) before reaching the hospital.
- A Paramedic has more training and the ability to perform more medical tasks than an EMT.
- In the event of any serious emergency such as heart attacks, strokes, or serious accidents, immediately call an ambulance service and seek assistance from a Paramedic team.
- When they arrive, you can help them with their work and save the patient's life by providing accurate and clear information about the patient and the incident.
Paramedic, emergency care, ambulance, first aid, EMT, CPR, emergency, lifeguard
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