Just How Fast Can You Complete Accelerated EMT Courses?

James Hamby asked:




Accelerated EMT course

EMTs or Emergency Medical Technicians are professionals that establish a vital role in the health care process. They are the ones that first arrive at the patient’s location and perform first aid. Most of the time patient’s lives depend on the EMTs since they are the ones that provide help before they go to a health care facility to get more advanced assistant.

To attend an accelerated EMT course a student must be a high school graduate. There are several types of accelerated EMT courses, each one more specific and advanced than the other. Times of completion usually vary depending on the state.

EMT-B course

During the course, EMTs will learn specific aspects of symptom recognition, health care techniques and methods. With the EMT Basic course it is expected that EMTs have a fast response when they first see the patient. All symptoms must be quickly identified and immediate action taken to stabilize the patient. The EMT-Basic course includes detailed training on performing physical exams, administering oxygen and medication, taking care of broken bones, using semi-automatic defibrillation as well as airway maintenance. They can also deal with unexpected emergency childbirth and severe bleeding.

An accelerate EMT B course will take 120 hours usually condensed into three hours a day during two months. Time may vary from state to state.

EMT-I course

An EMT Intermediate course provides basic health care training plus some more advanced emergency care techniques and methods. An intermediate EMT will be able to perform administration of intravenous fluids, use advance airway techniques and equipment as well deal with several types of trauma and use a manual defibrillator. The EMT with an intermediate course will have enough training to provide the patient with a variety of complex procedures that will probably save their life on the spot.

An accelerated EMT-I course will take about 80 hours and includes a review of EMT basic skills.

EMT advance/paramedic course

Depending on the state, an advanced EMT can be considered paramedic or not. Some states consider it an intermediate level between the EMT Intermediate and EMT Paramedic course, others consider it an EMT Paramedic.

An EMT Advanced or Paramedic course trains the EMTs to assist in the most complex health care situations. With this course EMTs are able to perform the following procedures:

Trauma Assessment Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Bleeding Control Dressing and Bandaging Splinting Endotracheal Intubation Pharmacology Electrocardiology (ECG or EKG) Intravenous Cannulation (IV) Spinal Immobilization Defibrillation Dressing and Bandaging

An accelerated EMT advanced/paramedic course will take about 140 hours but it may vary from state to state.

Although accelerated EMT courses can be finished in a short period of time, they are very demanding and with a high level of training, both theory and practice. Helping patients in an emergency requires a lot of health care skills and knowledge. EMTs are the ones that must have sharp eyes for symptom recognition and cold blood to take action quickly and accurately.