Samuel Sanchez-Larios Mrs. Dasher AP English Literature and Composition 27 November 2017 The Unsung Heroes: EMT s Have you ever considered who the unsung heroes that are on the site immediately after you have been in an accident? Who is there to rescue a grandparent from a fall or to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation when their heart stops functioning properly? Who are the warriors that battle against death every day? What is the title that is given to those who sacrifice so many comforts every day to work for the improvement and well-being of others? These professionals are called Emergency medical technical. They are important and needed in the community because they provide the injured and ill with basic life support until proper treatment is administered and safely transported the patient to a safe medical facility. The responsibilities of an emergency medical technician or EMT are highly demanding and stressful. EMT s are not paid enough considering the amount and type of work they do. Emergency medical technicians are highly trained medical members who provide immediate medical attention and care for the ill or injured. The first step an individual must take in order to become an EMT is having a basic foundation in medical education. (Bureau of Labor Statistics) This would be a post-secondary non-degree award, which can be achieved in six months to two years. The individual must first have graduated high school and a certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Once the emergency medical services program is completed, that individual is classified as an EMT-basic, or EMT-B. (National Registry of Emergency Medical
Technicians) This is the lowest level for an EMT. At this level, his or her responsibility is to assess the situation and have a cleared airway and cardiac way in a traumatic event. Once they arrive at a medical facility such as a hospital, EMT s have a report ready to give the hospital personnel and help the pre-admittance process go much faster. ("The Impact of EMTs on the Post-Discharge Transition of Care")The second level is EMT- Advance or EMT-A. This secondary level administers solutions and limited amount of authorized drugs through intravenous catheters, known as IV s, in the bloodstream to keep the patient alive. Because this level deals with the circulatory system, they can take blood samples for laboratory studies. The third and highest level is EMT-Paramedic or EMT-P. An EMT-P is trained in the other two levels and has special access to specialized equipment that provides life support. Examples of these specialized pieces of equipment are breathing and stomach suction devices. One very common piece of equipment is an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). An AED is a portable device that checks the heart and can send an electric shock to the heart and try to restore a normal heart rhythm. Being an EMT is not easy work at all. An EMT s work is very stressful due to the fact that it deals with life and death situations, not to mention dealing with difficult attitudes patients often have in critical life-threating situations. Extensive and considerable physical activity also adds to the stress. Examples of these physical activities are kneeling, bending, and heavy lifting patients up or out of hazardous areas such as mangled cars or a fallen structure. The EMT s lifestyle is not pleasant, but in the end it is very rewarding. With this in mind, EMT s should be paid more than what they are being paid now.
EMT s are paid an average of $15.70 an hour. That is $32,670 a year. This is nothing compared to a general doctor who makes $80 an hour and $195,000 a year. (Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook.) Just like any other person with a profession, most EMT s have families that not to mention EMT s sacrifice time away from them, must be supported with income. It is unrealistic that other health providers receive more income than EMT s. Doctors earn a much larger income than EMT s, but EMT s are just as important as doctors. Yes, doctors have learned much more that EMT s but the goal is still remains the same, preserving the life of the injured or ill. To put this in a perspective, if a person is in a car accident, he or she is rushed to a nearby hospital for a doctor to examine and treat so that the person may survive and live from the car accident. What most of the community fails to remember and understand is that person would have never made it to the hospital unless a certified person in basic life support, or BLS, was not present to administer rapid and direct treatment while the patient is rushed to the hospital. It is also absurd that these individuals give up so much and do not receive what their work is worth. The work shifts for an EMT s is in the range from twelve to twenty-four hour increments. In certain cases, forty eight hours shifts have been placed. Most of those shifts are during the holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. You will have to have an understanding family because most of the time you will be On-Call. (Frye, Justin. "Pros and Cons of Becoming a Paramedic." Tough Nickel). These will be a few sacrifices that the unsung heroes face every day yet they still do it because they value and understand the importance of human life.
Because I want to study an area of the medical field and help others proactively, I choose to pursue the career path of an emergency medical technician. The first reason is that the medical field has always captured my attention ever since I understood what medicine was and what it was used for. I would have the privilege and honor of serving my community in a constructive way that benefits it and inspires others to do the same. The third reason is that I want to save lives not only because I have saved another human s life but I feel that it is a duty and responsibility to help those in need either immediately such as in an accident or long-term such as a patient that has an illness that requires strict and constant surveillance. There is no honor in choosing a career that the only person that benefits is you. A true career is the one that benefits others while you enjoy mastering your craft and passion. Because this I chosen this career path and understood the sacrifices that I will have to make to go forth with it, I have ventured out to seek ways to get involved in the emergency medical system and I joined a firefighter s explorers post 465 for a few months and I have been certified in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation and basic life support. The explorers program is associated with the Boy Scouts of America and is offered to high school students that have a passion and seek interest in becoming a firefighter or emergency medical technician. The first person I meet with was retired fire captain Hamby. Throughout the course of my time since I joined the fire explores, I have learned many valuable skills even though it is a firefighting unit and not an ems or emt unit. One example is that captain Hamby set a scenario. A patient is pale; his eyes are dilated and sweating considerably. This patient is in shock. The first step is to lay the patient elevate the legs and feet so that blood can flow to the head and there give oxygen to the brain. Most shocks are treated with the drug diphenhydramine or commonly known as Benadryl. Other drills or
excises that the explorers do, including myself are lifting, dragging 175-pound human dummies through one meter holes that simulate a real firefighting operation, push-ups, flutter kicks, and planks to name a few. Because emergency medical services, especially EMT s, devote so much time to this cause of saving others no matter how high the price is, or sacrifice so much for the well-being of others, EMT s should be paid a higher wage than what they are paid now. Their dedication should be awarded and is often overlooked. Imagine a society without EMT s. Imagine no one being there to save you from a wrecked and totaled car. Imagine no one answering a call you make for one of your relatives that are having a reaction to a food he or she eats. What would you give to save one of your family members? Emergency medical technical are highly trained medical members who provide immediate medical attention and care for the ill or injured. Most EMT s are not paid enough for the work they do. EMT s put forth great effort, time, and devotion to become an EMT. EMT s have great knowledge on life support. There are three types of emergency medical technicians. The first is EMT-B. At this level, the individual is to make sure the patient is safe and begin the first stage of treatment. This entails clearing airways and proceed with immediate treatment for trauma. For instances, some has had an allergic reaction. The EMT s job is to make sure that the patient does not have any obstruction in the airway, such as the food, and get the patience is ready for when EMT-A arrive with further treatment. EMT-A are the second level of emergency medical technicians. Their job is to ensure that the bloodstream is clear or is to be cleaned.
Their responsibility is administering solutions that stabilize and or counteract toxins in the bloodstream. One example of this is the authorized drug Narcan. Narcan prevents or reverses the effects of opioids which include clearing respiratory airways, and sedation. An EMT and my project facilitator whose name is Mrs. Shirley shared a story with me of when she used Narcan in a situation. Mrs. Shirley received a call regarding an overdose. When she arrived to the site a person use unconscious but still had a pulse. She and her team concluded that the person had overdosed on a medication. To reverse the effect of the drug or counteract the effect, they used Narcan. The next EMT level is EMT-P. EMT-P are trained in the other areas that EMT- B and A s are but have special access other special equipment that provides life support. What would you give to save one of your family members? EMT s, these unsung heroes, give up all their time to study, train and practice saving lives so you do not have to. Repay them by showing them your appreciation towards them by raising their wages and reform the community s point of view of the unsung hero that is an emergency medical Technician.
Works Cited Bureau of Labor Statistics. "EMTs and Paramedics." Occupational Outlook Handbook, United States Department of Labor, 17 Dec. 2015, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/emts-andparamedics.htm#tab-1. Accessed 20 Sept. 2017. EDD. "Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics in Orange County." State of California Employment Development Department, edited by EDD, www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/occguides/detail.aspx?soccode=292041&geography= 0604000059. Accessed 16 Sept. 2017. Frye, Justin. "Pros and Cons of Becoming a Paramedic." Tough Nickel, 18 Apr. 2015, toughnickel.com/industries/pros-and-cons-of-becoming-a-paramedic. Accessed 16 Sept. 2017. Henibutzki, Ralph. "Chron." What Unusual Hazards Does Being a Paramedic Present?, 2017, work.chron.com/unusual-hazards-being-paramedic-present-13035.html. Accessed 24 Sept. 2017. Joseph, Chris. "What Are the Benefits of Being a Paramedic?" Chron, 2017, work.chron.com/benefits-being-paramedic-5926.html. Accessed 24 Sept. 2017. Kirkwood, Skip. "EMT or Paramedic? Determining which title fits best for the provider." Journal of Emergency Medical Services, 5 Jan. 2011, www.jems.com/articles/2011/01/emt-orparamedic.html. Accessed 16 Sept. 2017. Learn how to Become. "How to become a paramedic/emt." Learnhowtobecome, 2017, www.learnhowtobecome.org/paramedic-emt/. Accessed 27 Sept. 2017.
Munjal, Kevin G. "The Impact of EMTs on the Post-Discharge Transition of Care." EMSWORLD, 25 Apr. 2014, www.emsworld.com/article/11423973/impact-emts-postdischarge-transition-care. Accessed 16 Sept. 2017. National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. "Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT)." National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, www.nremt.org/rwd/public/document/emt. Accessed 16 Sept. 2017. Paramedic Training Spot. "Paramedic Training School Cost: How Much Is Tuition?" Paramedic Training Spot, 2017, www.paramedictrainingspot.com/paramedic-training-school-costhow-much-is-tuition/. Accessed 27 Sept. 2017.