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The Star of Life, a globally recognized symbol for Emergency medical services.
The Star of Life, a globally recognized symbol for Emergency medical services. The Star of Life is a Blue, six-pointed star, outlined with a white border which features the Rod of Asclepius in the center originally designed and governed Emergency medical services (abbreviated to the initialism "EMS" in many countries are a branch of Emergency services dedicated to providing out-of-hospital

A paramedic is a medical professional, usually a member of the emergency medical service, who primarily provides pre-hospital advanced medical and trauma care. Emergency medical services (abbreviated to the initialism "EMS" in many countries are a branch of Emergency services dedicated to providing out-of-hospital Emergency medical services (abbreviated to the initialism "EMS" in many countries are a branch of Emergency services dedicated to providing out-of-hospital A medical emergency is an Injury or Illness that is acute and poses an immediate risk to a person's life or long term health Treatment of physical trauma is described here and in First aid. A paramedic is charged with providing emergent on-scene treatment, crisis intervention, life-saving stabilization and, when appropriate, transport of ill or injured patients to definitive emergency medical and surgical treatment facilities, such as a hospitals and trauma centers.

The use of the specific term paramedic varies by jurisdiction, and in some places is used to refer to any member of an ambulance crew. An ambulance is a Vehicle for transporting sick or injured people to from or between places of treatment for an Illness or Injury. In countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, the use of the word paramedic is restricted by law, and the person claiming the title must have passed a specific set of examinations and clinical placements, and hold a valid registration, certification, or license with a governing body. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Even in countries where the law restricts the title, popular media has created a culture whereby lay persons may incorrectly refer to all emergency medical personnel as 'paramedics', even if they officially hold a different qualification, such as emergency medical technician-basic. The Emergency Medical Technician ( EMT) exists in many countries and is a health care provider trained to provide prehospital emergency medical care

Contents

Places of work

Paramedics are employed by a variety of different organizations. Paramedic can be employed by government agencies as part of a public hospital system, as a separate municipal EMS service, or sometimes, especially in the United States, as part of a fire department. A hospital is an institution for Health care providing treatment by specialised staff and equipment and often but not always providing for Emergency medical services (abbreviated to the initialism "EMS" in many countries are a branch of Emergency services dedicated to providing out-of-hospital Paramedics are also employed by private sector organizations (private hospitals, private ambulance companies, corporations, mines, air ambulances, racetracks etc. ). Paramedics may also work on a volunteer basis, receiving no monetary compensation for their services (i. e. Volunteer Rescue Squad / Volunteer Fire Department and community response units)

Examples of skills performed by paramedics

Paramedics transport the patient to the hospital via ambulance
Paramedics transport the patient to the hospital via ambulance
A typical Paramedic/Rescue Unit of Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue in Palm Beach County, Florida.
A typical Paramedic/Rescue Unit of Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue in Palm Beach County, Florida. Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue (PBCFR is a combination career/volunteer fire department responsible for providing Fire Protection Emergency Medical Services, ALS Palm Beach County is located in the state of Florida. As of 2007 the county had a population of 1351236 according to the University of Florida Bureau of Economic
Paramedics of the A.C.T. Ambulance Service
Paramedics of the A.C.T. Ambulance Service

Although there is a great deal of variation in what paramedics are trained and permitted to do from region to region, some skills performed by paramedics include:

Electric and pharmacological treatment of cardiac arrest

Paramedics in most jurisdictions administer a variety of emergency medications; the individual medications vary widely based on physician medical director preference, local standard of care, and law. Medication, also referred to as medicine, can be loosely defined as any substance intended for use in the diagnosis cure mitigation treatment or prevention of disease These drugs may include Adenocard (Adenosine) that will slow the heart for a short period of time to Atropine that will speed a heartbeat that is too slow, sympathomimetics like dopamine for severe hypotension (low blood pressure) and cardiogenic shock. Sympathomimetic drugs are substances that mimic the effects of the Catecholamines Epinephrine (adrenaline Norepinephrine (noradrenaline and/or Dopamine is a Hormone and Neurotransmitter occurring in a wide variety of animals including both vertebrates and invertebrates In Physiology and Medicine, hypotension refers to an abnormally low Blood pressure. Diabetics often benefit from the fact that paramedics are able to give D50W (Dextrose 50%) to treat hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). They can treat crisis and anxiety conditions, as well as perform RSI with such medications as Versed, Ativan or antipsychotics like Haldol or Geodon. Midazolam (marketed under brand names Dormicum, Flormidal, Versed, Hypnovel and Dormonid, pronounced mɪˈdæzəlæm Lorazepam (also known by its brand name Ativan or Temesta) is a Benzodiazepine drug with short to medium duration of action Haloperidol is a Typical antipsychotic. It is in the Butyrophenone class of Antipsychotic medications and has pharmacological effects similar Ziprasidone (marketed as Geodon, Zeldox) was the fifth Atypical antipsychotic to gain FDA approval (February 2001 Medications for treating respiratory conditions such as salbutamol are common. Salbutamol ( INN) or albuterol ( USAN) is a short-acting β2-adrenergic receptor agonist used for the relief of Bronchospasm Paramedics may also be permitted to administer medications such as those which relieve pain or decrease nausea and vomiting. Nitroglycerin, baby aspirin, and morphine sulfate may be administered for chest pain. Nitroglycerin ( NG) ( US spelling also known as nitroglycerine, ( UK Spelling trinitroglycerin, trinitroglycerine Aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA (əˌsɛtɨlsælɨˌsɪlɨk ˈæsɨd is a Salicylate drug, often used as an Analgesic to relieve Medical uses Morphine can be used as an analgesic in hospital settings to relieve pain in Myocardial infarction pain in Paramedics may also use other medications and anti-dysrhythmics like lidocaine and amiodarone to treat cardiac arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia. Lidocaine ( INN) (ˈlaɪdoʊkeɪn or lignocaine (former BAN) (/ˈlɪgnoʊkeɪn/ is a common Local anesthetic and antiarrhythmic drug Amiodarone is an Antiarrhythmic agent (medication used for irregular heart beat used for various types of tachyarrhythmias (fast forms of irregular heart beat both ventricular Dysrhythmia redirects here For the American band see Dysrhythmia (band. Ventricular tachycardia ( V-tach or VT) is a Tachycardia, or fast heart rhythm that originates in one of the ventricles of the Heart Paramedics also treat for severe pain, i. e. burns or broken bone, with narcotics like morphine sulfate, pethidine, or fentanyl. Medical uses Morphine can be used as an analgesic in hospital settings to relieve pain in Myocardial infarction pain in Pethidine ( INN) or meperidine ( USAN) (commonly referred to as Demerol but also referred to as isonipecaine lidol pethanol piridosal Algil Alodan Fentanyl is one of the most powerful Opioid Analgesics with a potency approximately 81 times that of Morphine.

Different qualification levels across the world

United States

Main article: Paramedics in the United States

In the United States, there are 4 levels of emergency prehospital care defined by the U. Star of life2svg|192px|thumb|right]]In the United States a Paramedic is the most advanced prehospital medical professional who responds to and treats medical emergencies and trauma outside S. Department of Transportation, which regulates prehospital education. In order of their level of training, from the most basic to the most advanced, they are Medical First Responder, Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B), Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate (EMT-I), and Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P). A certified first responder is a person who has completed forty to sixty hours of training in providing prehospital care for medical emergencies. The Emergency Medical Technician ( EMT) exists in many countries and is a health care provider trained to provide prehospital emergency medical care The Emergency Medical Technician ( EMT) exists in many countries and is a health care provider trained to provide prehospital emergency medical care The Emergency Medical Technician ( EMT) exists in many countries and is a health care provider trained to provide prehospital emergency medical care The paramedic is the most advanced level of EMT; however, in order to avoid confusion about the level of care, in practice the term "EMT" usually refers to Emergency Medical Technicians below the paramedic level. Official paramedic insignias and laws that designate level of care have codified this custom. Paramedics in the United States, working independently and under the direction of emergency medical control physicians, provide the most advanced level of emergency medical care available to the general public in an emergency situation outside of a hospital setting, the exceptions being physicians who sometimes operate with air ambulance services. EMT - P CCT (Critical Care Transport) is also a higher certification level for the paramedic. Usually will run interfacility calls, transporting the very sick patients from one hospital to another for further care and treatment. They are trained to read certain types of lab work, as well as have an expanded scope of practice allowing them to administer more medications than the normal EMT - Paramedic.

Canada

Main article: Paramedics in Canada

In Canada there are 3 levels of Paramedics: the Primary Care Paramedic with limited pharmaceutical protocols, the Advanced Care Paramedic with full ACLS qualification, and the Critical care Paramedic with very advanced qualifications. In Canada the scope of practice of Paramedics is described by the National Occupational Competency Profile (NOCP for Paramedics document developed by the Paramedic In Canada the scope of practice of Paramedics is described by the National Occupational Competency Profile (NOCP for Paramedics document developed by the Paramedic In Canada the scope of practice of Paramedics is described by the National Occupational Competency Profile (NOCP for Paramedics document developed by the Paramedic Paramedics in Canada, provide the most advanced level of emergency medical care available to the general public outside of a hospital setting. Advanced Care and Critical Care Paramedics are able to perform more delegated medical acts than any other health professional besides physicians in the pre-hospital setting.

Ottawa paramedics use a 12-Lead ECG to diagnose ST-Elevated Myocardial Infarction (STEMI), a specific type of heart attack. This procedure was recently a topic of an article in the New England Journal of Medicine. [1] [2] Ottawa paramedics were the first paramedic service to have this STEMI protocol which is now being implemented across the world.

Europe

Main article: Paramedics in France
Main article: Paramedics in Germany
Main article: Paramedics in the United Kingdom

In many parts of Europe a different paradigm is used for prehospital care in which doctors, nurses and occasionally medical students function as prehospital providers, either in conjunction with or instead of paramedics. Until very recently the French pre-hospital care strategy was based on either first responders ( Firemen) or prehospital medical teams ( MD + Nurse + The German Paramedic is a profession in the Emergency medical services in Germany. In the United Kingdom the term Paramedic is protected by law and only applies to ambulance practitioners who are able to achieve and maintain the strict

Hong Kong

Ambulance of HKFSD
Ambulance of HKFSD

Hong Kong is currently progressing toward a system staffed with paramedics. [3] Different from United Kingdom and Australia,ambulance service is run by Fire Services Department, Hong Kong. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Fire Services Department ( of the Hong Kong Government is an emergency service responsible for fire-fighting and rescue on land and sea

a long history stretching back over a century and has been serving the community since 1884. Hong Kong St John Ambulance is a charitable organization with a long history stretching back over a century and has been serving the community since 1884 In Hong Kong, the St. John Ambulance Association was established in 1884. It provides ambulance service,first aid and caring training course.

that trained, committed voluntary medical and health services provider in Hong Kong. Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS ( is a well-trained committed voluntary medical and health services provider in Hong Kong. Its mission is to supply effectively and efficiently regular services.

South Africa

All health practitioners in The Republic of South Africa are regulated by a standards generating body (SGB), the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa

Retrograde Intubation
Retrograde Intubation

The Department of Education has initiated the phasing out of short course training. The South African short courses are divided into 3 levelsBAA - Basic Ambulance AssistantAEA - Ambulance Emergency AssistantCCA - Critical Care Assistant - Paramedic This is to be replaced with a mid-level worker, and a prehospital clinician. The mid-level course is 2 years in duration , and exits on a level just above what many know as Intermediate Life Support (ILS), but below Advanced Life Support (ALS). They are placed on the Emergency Care Technician (ECT) register. The clinician qualification is a four year professional degree in Emergency Medical Care (Bachelor Emergency Medical Care), and is placed on the Emergency Care Practitioner (ECP) register. The only four institutions in the country to obtain the ECP qualification are the:

Medicolegal authority

Paramedics function under the authority of a group of physicians charged with legally establishing the emergency medical directives for a particular region. The University of Johannesburg ( Johannesburg, South Africa) came into existence on 1 January 2005 as the result of a merger between Central University of Technology Free State or Central University of Technology is a University of Technology in Bloemfontein in the Free State The Durban University of Technology is a technical university in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Cape Peninsula University of Technology, a university in Cape Town, South Africa, is the first and only University of Technology in the Western Paramedics are credentialed and authorized by these physicians to use their own clinical judgement and diagnostic tools to identify medical emergencies and to administer the appropriate treatment, including drugs that would normally require a physician order. The authority to practice in this semi-autonomous manner is granted in the form of standing order protocols (off-line medical control) and in some cases direct physician consultation via phone or radio (on-line medical control). Under this paradigm, paramedics effectively assume the role of out-of-hospital field agents to regional emergency physicians, with independent clinical decision-making authority that is typically enjoyed only by expert clinicians within the hospital setting. In certain jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom and South Africa, paramedics may be entirely autonomous practitioners capable of prescribing medications.

In the media

The 1970s television show Emergency! was a very popular series which centered on the work of paramedics in the Los Angeles County Fire Department, and the staff at the fictional Rampart Emergency Hospital. Emergency! is a Medical drama Television series that was produced by Mark VII Limited ( Jack Webb 's company and distributed by The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD serves unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, as well as 58 cities and towns that choose to have the county provide fire Emergency! has been widely credited with inspiring many municipalities in the United States to develop their own paramedic programs, and has inspired many to enter the fields of emergency medicine. The show was a top rated program for its entire production run (1972 - 1979), as well as in syndicated television reruns -- even inspiring a Saturday morning cartoon series. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) In Broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast Radio shows and Television shows to multiple individual stations without going through A rerun or repeat is a re-airing of an episode of a Radio or Television broadcast. The word cartoon has various meanings based on several very different forms of Visual art and Illustration.

Paramedics is also the name of a show on the Discovery Health Channel, which details the life and work of emergency medical squads in major urban centers in the United States. Paramedics was a medical-based Television Reality show that formerly ran on TLC from 1999 to 2001 and now runs infrequently It is also the name of a 1988 Comedy which highlighted the lighter side of EMS.

Paramedic: On the Front Lines of Medicine (1998), by Peter Canning, is an autobiographical account of a paramedic's first year on the job. Rescue 471: A Paramedic's Stories (2000) is the sequel.

Bringing Out the Dead (1999), directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Nicholas Cage is one of very few films about paramedics. Bringing Out the Dead is a 1999 English language film directed by Martin Scorsese, and based on the novel by Joe Connelly. Nicolas Cage (born Nicholas Kim Coppola; January 7, 1964) is an Academy Award -winning American actor The main character is paramedic Frank Pierce who works in New York's Hell's Kitchen. Hell's Kitchen, also known as Clinton and Midtown West, is a neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City that includes roughly the area between He's become burned out and haunted by visions of the people he's failed to save including a little girl. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Joe Connelly, a former New York City paramedic. Joe Connelly is an American writer Connelly is best known for his first novel Bringing Out the Dead.

Into the Breach: A Year of Life and Death with EMS (2002) Book written by J. A. Karam is the true story of paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and heavy-rescue specialists fighting to control trauma and medical emergencies. Into the Breach offers an unusual opportunity to bear witness to unimaginable suffering, heroic stoicism, and the inventiveness of American EMS workers fighting to save lives.

Parts of Third Watch (1999) were devoted to adventures of the fictional 55th precinct FDNY EMS unit, created by ER executive producer John Wells. This article is about the television show For information about naval watches see Watch system. The New York City Fire Department or the Fire Department City of New York ( FDNY) has the responsibility for protecting the citizens and property of New York City ER is an Emmy Award -winning American Medical drama series created by Novelist Michael Crichton and airing on John Marcum Wells (born May 28, 1956) is a Theater and Television producer and Writer.

Saved (2006), a TNT series centered on fictional paramedic Wyatt Cole (Tom Everett Scott), his partner, and their chaotic lives on and off the job. Saved is a Medical drama Television series, which aired on TNT. Turner Network Television, usually referred to as TNT, is an American cable TV network created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned Thomas Everett Scott (born September 7, 1970) is an American Actor.

See also

References

  1. ^ Le May, M. A Paramedic in Australia is a health care professional who responds to and treats all types of medical and trauma emergencies outside of a Hospital setting before In Canada the scope of practice of Paramedics is described by the National Occupational Competency Profile (NOCP for Paramedics document developed by the Paramedic Until very recently the French pre-hospital care strategy was based on either first responders ( Firemen) or prehospital medical teams ( MD + Nurse + The German Paramedic is a profession in the Emergency medical services in Germany. Star of life2svg|192px|thumb|right]]In the United States a Paramedic is the most advanced prehospital medical professional who responds to and treats medical emergencies and trauma outside In the United Kingdom the term Paramedic is protected by law and only applies to ambulance practitioners who are able to achieve and maintain the strict National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT is a national EMS Professional association representing all EMTs and Paramedics The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians is a US certification agency covering prehospital medical providers FP-C is an abbreviation indicating that an individual is a Certified Flight Paramedic. R. et al (1-17-2008). A Citywide Protocol for Primary PCI in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction 358(3):231-40. . New England Journal of Medicine. Retrieved on 2008-03-27. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 196 BC - Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 - Pope Clement V excommunicates
  2. ^ Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM (January 16, 2008). Reducing Door-to-Balloon Times: The Transfer Factor. Journal Watch. Retrieved on 2008-03-27. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 196 BC - Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 - Pope Clement V excommunicates
  3. ^ http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/22/2200010.pdf

External links

Dictionary

paramedic

-noun

  1. An individual trained to medically stabilize people through various interventions, victims of trauma or medical events outside of a hospital setting and preparing them for transport to a medical facility.
  2. (US) An individual who is licensed at the state or national level to practice medical interventions in an emergency pre-hospital setting.
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