Paramedics represent the pinnacle of the EMS industry ladder. Paramedics are considered as Advanced Life Support (ALS) and have successfully completed an approved EMT course plus the additional Paramedic modules that consist of approximately 1,500 hours in addition to the EMT course. In addition to classroom didactic, Paramedics are required to have field internships, Emergency Room internships and in some cases Intensive Care Unit internships. Most Paramedic courses take between 1-2 years to complete. Paramedics are trained in all of the EMT skills while also adding to their skill set the ability provide advanced airway management including intubation, insertion of surgical airways, Medication Assisted Intubation (use of paralytics and sedatives to induce intubation), cardiac monitoring, 12 lead ECG acquisition and interpretation, transcutaneous cardiac pacing, manual defibrillation and cardioversion, fluid resuscitation, IO or intraocceus access (placing a needle in a bone to facilitate medication administration), and pharmacology with the ability to administer through different routes over 40 medications including narcotics, sedatives, and hallucinogenics. Additionally, Paramedics are trained to perform chest decompression which is inserting a needle into the chest cavity to reinflate a collapsed lung. Some Paramedic courses also supply the Paramedic with the knowledge to read X-rays and lab results.
Our Paramedics are required to maintain BLS CPR, International Trauma Life Support (ITLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). We also encourage our Paramedics to obtain experience into Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP).