The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Paramedic use medical knowledge and skills to treat injured and ill patients in the pre-hospital environment, and depending on their training scope, the EMT or Paramedic is certified to perform one or more of the following tasks: attend medical emergencies and accidents which may require the administration of basic and/or advanced life support assessment; treat and manage the patients en route to the hospital; administer oxygen therapy and cervical spine immobilization; perform invasive techniques such as intravenous cannulation; administration of pain relieving drugs; fluid resuscitation in the trauma setting, and airway management.
The EMT and Paramedic is also responsible for preparing patient care records and other written reports on the state of a patient's injuries and the treatment provided; triage patients to the most appropriate medical facility, and attend public gatherings, such as large sports events or parades. The EMT and Paramedic work in teams and in shifts. They work closely with members of other health professions and emergency services such as physicians, nurses, firefighters, SES and police.
