Paramedic
Paramedics handle medical issues in emergency situations. Common emergency medical conditions include: heart attacks, vehicle accidents, childbirth, elderly patient issues, slip and falls, and broken bones. Paramedics are often first responders and have to make split second decisions. He or she is responsible for administering medical aid, ensuring care during transport to a hospital, checking vital signs, performing resuscitation, and preparing the patient for transport. Paramedics do not perform complex medical tasks, only basic patient care until further medical treatment can be administered. Other typical duties include: checking and maintaining emergency vehicles, checking and maintaining medical equipment, ensuring proper stock of first aid supplies, driving ambulances, and coordinating other emergency medical personnel.
Paramedics are required to hold a high school diploma and to be licensed and certified in EMT-Paramedic training. Paramedics should be able to work as part of a team, communicate effectively, think and react quickly, and have a flexible schedule. Some employers may require a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in critical care, or emergency medical practices. The paramedic career outlook is quite good, as more municipalities are transferring from volunteer medical staff to paid full time paramedics due to growing populations. The field is expected to have a steady growth rate for the next five years.
The average salary of an experienced paramedic is about $27,000 per year.
