Community Chat

[foundinlv]

I often wondered the difference when I had to call 911 for lift assistance only, to help my dad back into the bed. Strangely enough, I could get him out of bed and into a wheelchair and into the car but couldn't do the reverse. An employee of the clinic I took him to always helped him into their facility and then back into the car when he was done with his appointment. I always worried about utilizing 911 when it wasn't an actual life threatening situation and so made a point of telling them Emts only. Here's the difference between the two.

EMTs usually complete a course that is about 120-150 hours in length. Paramedic courses can be between 1,200 to 1,800 hours. EMT and paramedic courses consist of lectures, hands-on skills training, and clinical and/or field internships. EMTs are educated in many skills including CPR, giving patients oxygen, administering glucose for diabetics, and helping others with treatments for asthma attacks or allergic reactions. With very few exceptions, such as in the case of auto-injectors for allergic reactions, EMTs are not allowed to provide treatments that requiring breaking the skin: that means no needles.

Paramedics are advanced providers of emergency medical care and are highly educated in topics such as anatomy and physiology, cardiology, medications, and medical procedures. They build on their EMT education and learn more skills such as administering medications, starting intravenous lines, providing advanced airway management for patients, and learning to resuscitate and support patients with significant problems such as heart attacks and traumas.

Hope this helps others who are caring for their loved ones.

[Yardlie]

I never knew that. Thanks for the info, ~foundinlv~.

[10sluvr]

that good, interesting info. did the co. you called, send the right people? do they charge less? i have mom in a wheelchair and always wondered what to do in "lifting" emergency.

[croemer]

Good to know, I have always wondered what the difference is.

[Wild Cherry]

Is this thread a passive aggressive slam against the EMT who posts here?

[RedTop]

I am familiar with the difference, as my younger brother started out as a rescue squad volunteer, then became an EMT, followed by a paramedic, then took the test to become a nationally certified paramedic, then decided to go to nursing school, got his RN license, spent many years in the ER, and also works as a flight nurse in helicopter transport. He just happens to be one of those health care professionals who has to experience every aspect of emergency care, and would never be satisfied to work as a floor nurse in med surg, orthopedics, etc.

[hennypenny]

I certainly didn't think that this was any kind of slam. It is important to know the difference and to be able to request the type of service needed. Several of my son's friends are EMTS and they do fabulous work.

[JJsMom]

I took (and passed) an EMT course years ago, so I knew the difference. Paramedics require much more training. The EMT course was more like advanced First Aid.

[tansy]

Interesting...I thought the two terms were interchangeable.

[Yardlie]

I didn't take it as a slam either. I think it's good to know what the different terms mean. I was a dental hygienist, and people never knew the difference between the dental hygienist, dental assistant, and dental lab tech. They often called us all dental technicians or dental nurses. LOL!