EMT-Basic
Emergency Medical Technician-Basic
- Department Chair: Professor P. Pang
- Medical Director: M. Supples
- Program Director: Assistant Clinical Professor L. Bell
- Adjunct Faculty: Lecturers R. Carey, S. Atkins, D. Bopp, AJ Warren, D. Lewis
Completion of the Course Work/Graduates of the Program The EMT-Basic Program is a regular university course of study open to all students. A student completing the course work is prepared to work as an EMT to deliver emergency patient care in the pre-hospital setting. Graduates of both the EMT-Basic and the Paramedic Science Program primarily provide emergency care in ambulance, fire services, or athletic training venues at their level of training. Nontraditional areas of employment are available in hospitals and industry.
Credential Required to Practice EMT-B, (Emergency Medical Technician-Basic)
Licensure Required to Practice Graduates of either the EMT-Basic or the Paramedic Science Program must pass a state-administered certification examination before credentialing. The certification examination may vary from state to state. The EMT-basic exam in Indiana is the written and skill exam from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
Description of the Profession and Career Requirements Emergency medical technicians respond to emergency calls to provide efficient and immediate care to the critically ill and injured, and they transport patients to medical facilities. After receiving the call from the dispatcher, the EMT-basic drives the ambulance to the address or location given, using the most expeditious route, depending on traffic and weather conditions. The EMT-basic observes traffic ordinances and regulations concerning emergency vehicle operation, and upon arrival at the scene of crash or illness, parks the ambulance in a safe location to avoid additional injury. Before initiating patient care, the EMT-basic also sizes up the scene to determine that the scene is safe, to identify the mechanism of injury or nature of illness and total number of patients, and to request additional help if necessary. In the absence of law enforcement, the EMT-basic creates a safe traffic environment, through such means as the placement of road flares, removal of debris, and redirection of traffic for the protection of the injured and those assisting in emergency care. The EMT-basic determines the nature and extent of illness or injury and establishes priority for required emergency care. Based on assessment findings, the EMT-basic renders emergency medical care to medical and trauma patients. Duties include, but are not limited to, opening and maintaining an airway; ventilating patients; cardiopulmonary resuscitation, including use of automated external defibrillators and providing pre-hospital emergency medical care of simple and multiple system trauma, such as controlling hemorrhage, treating shock (hypo-perfusion), bandaging wounds, and immobilizing of painful, swollen, or deformed extremities. Other duties include assisting in childbirth management of respiratory, cardiac, diabetic, allergic, behavioral, and environmental emergencies and dealing with suspected poisonings. The EMT-basic searches for medical identification emblems as clues in providing emergency care. Additional care, including administering medications, is provided based upon assessing patients and obtaining historical information.
When a patient must be extricated from entrapment, the EMT-basic assesses the extent of injury and gives all possible emergency care and protection to the entrapped patient and uses the prescribed techniques and appliances for safe removal, including contact dispatchers for additional help or special rescue and/or utility services. The EMT-basic provides simple rescue service if an ambulance has not been accompanied by a specialized unit. The EMT-basic complies with regulations on handling victims of fatalities. Other duties include lifting, securing, and removing stretchers. From the knowledge of the condition of patients, the extent of injuries, and the relative locations and staffing of emergency hospital facilities, the EMT-basic determines the most appropriate facility to which a patient will be transported and communicates effectively with emergency departments and communications centers. The EMT-basic also identifies assessment findings that may require communication with medical personnel.
The EMT-basic provides assistance to receiving facility staff upon request and ensures that ambulances are kept in optimal condition. Members of the profession must maintain familiarity with specialized equipment and attend continuing education and refresher training programs as required by employers, medical direction, and licensing or certifying agencies. They must also meet qualifications within the functional job analysis.
Length of Program One semester; a new course begins each fall and spring semester.
Additional Costs Students are encouraged to purchase their own stethoscopes.
ADMISSIONS
General Information
No application is required. Students from the university at large are eligible to attend. Students must complete program prerequisites before the first day of classes.
Prerequisite None
Approximate Class Size 30 each semester.
Technical Standards See School of Medicine Health Profession Programs technical standards.
CURRICULUM
Prerequisite
Students must hold current credential in Health Care Provider-level CPR.
Required Course
| Fall and/or Spring | Credits |
| Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (EMER-E 201) | 6.0 cr |
Updated: April 2023
