Becoming an Emergency Medical Services Provider in Virginia

EMTs are health care professionals who work on ambulances to respond to 911 calls. Emergency calls can range from life threatening issues, such as cardiac arrests or gun shot wounds, to minor complaints, such as sore throats or sprained ankles. These calls bring EMTs to a wide variety of locations, including patients’ homes, businesses, and even out on the street. Once on scene with the patient, EMTs efficiently treat any life-threatening issues, such as difficulty breathing or major bleeding.

In rural areas, EMTs are a crucial link between the hospital and a widely distributed population. In urban areas, EMTs act in concert with police and firefighters to coordinate life-saving care with major hospital centers.

In the field, EMTs work closely with firefighters and police. Firefighters are wonderful assets to EMTs as they assist with difficult extractions on the scene of motor vehicle collisions and can also provide medical care to the patient should the EMS unit require additional assistance. Once the team has arrived at the hospital, EMTs interact directly with nurses and emergency medical physicians to transfer patient care. EMTs provide doctors and nurses with vital background information on the patient by relaying pertinent history and physical exam findings.