With the theme of "rising to the challenge," the American College of Emergency Physicians and NAEMT has set aside this week for EMS Week. Where did the week originate? In 1974, President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week to honor EMS practitioners and their vital work across the country. National Emergency Medical Services Week unites local communities and healthcare workers to celebrate the commitment of those who deliver the daily lifesaving assistance of medicine's frontline.
What is EMS?
Emergency Medical Services respond to 911 calls of an accident or severe incident by providing pre-hospital emergency medical care to people in need. EMS has a chain of steps to take care of the life-threatening event. EMT is a part of EMS. The six stages of an EMS response in The Star of Life. They are the following:
Early detection – the public comes across the incident and comprehends the issue.
Early reporting – the first individual at the location makes a call to 911 and provides information to help a response be mounted.
Early response – the first medical professionals (EMS) show up on the scene as fast as feasible, administering care.
Good on-scene/field care – the crisis medical service delivers suitable and punctual interventions to help the person on the scene without further damage.
Care in transit -– the emergency medical service places the person in transport and resumes the best available medical care during the trip.
Transfer to definitive care – the person is passed over to the proper care setting, like an emergency unit at a hospital, to be cared for by physicians.
There are several types of EMS, including volunteer, government, and private.
Why are they important?
EMS provides critical care at a crucial moment. They offer vital support for essential life support and lifesaving services of medicine's "front line". To administer direct medical attention to the individuals who most require it; without this, cardio issues and other accidents would lead to further complications and increased deaths. Providing a form of stability gives people the support they need before arriving at the ER or hospital.
What does it take?
You would have to be certified first, but it isn't a prolonged process like many other options in healthcare. The eligibility requirement is 120 hours of supervised training between six months to a year. You would have to attend and successfully finish an authorized EMT or Paramedic course. Earn a passing grade for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) EMT or Paramedic computer-based exam. Being CPR certified is a requirement, as well. You would need to be mentally strong to handle intense situations.
What do they need?
Like many medical workers, the soft skills EMS workers need are critical thinking, listening, direct communication, and empathy. Being an EMS is an incredibly stressful job and comes with risk since they are the first to arrive at the scene of an accident or volatile situation. They need understanding and mental health. It can be a taxing job but worth helping those during an emergency.
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