Patient Care

• The primary duty of an EMT is patient care. EMTs check vital signs, look for any signs of a pre-existing condition including bracelets or other identifiers, and assess the patient's condition. EMTs then provide the primary emergency care necessary to transfer a patient to a hospital. This may include CPR, applying bandages or tourniquets, or other advanced first aid. The situations an EMT is called into may be dangerous, such as fires or crime scenes, or less dangerous such as car accidents and unscheduled births.
  
  

Communication

• Communication also plays a vital role in the work of an EMT. EMTs communicate with dispatchers who send them to where they are needed and give them a preliminary assessment of the situation. They communicate with other emergency workers to assess the situation on the ground and gather additional information on the patient's condition. They communicate with patients and their friends or family members, if they are present, to keep them calm, informed and to learn more about the patient's condition, and they communicate with medical workers at the hospital to keep them informed on the patient's condition and to seek advice.
  
  

Training and Signs

• EMTs undergo regular training on emergency medical procedures and technology. This is done both to learn new skills and to refresh their existing knowledge. EMTs also undergo training on emergency protocols which detail how to respond in the event of certain emergencies, particularly large or widespread emergencies. This training has become more intense since the events of September 11, 2001 and may involve drills with other emergency departments.
  
  

Maintenance

• Because of the emergency nature of their work EMTs must always be ready at a moment's notice. EMTs must make sure that their ambulances have adequate equipment and supplies and that these are in proper working order. Because they deal with sick and injured people, and cannot know the full medical history or condition of each patient, EMTs also must make sure that the ambulance and its equipment are kept clean. This is done to avoid the spread of disease and reduce the risk of infection.