Paramedics are required to perform a number of important tasks as part of their job. They include a number of medical procedures that were at one time only attempted in a hospital setting. You might be interested to know that some studies show that the survival rate for injured persons was higher on the battlefield than for people injured in car accidents and other emergency situations before Paramedic education was ramped up. It was because of studies like these that keen interest in training paramedics throughout the world begun.
The reason for the difference in survival rate was due to the lack of training of emergency response personnel who attended accident and emergency scenes. While they might of known some basic first aid, personnel were unable to perform a complete physical assessment of the patient’s condition, or administer lifesaving treatment. Today, these are some of the essential services paramedics do to preserve life.
As an example, blood tests may be carried out by a paramedic to determine blood glucose levels. A sudden drop in blood glucose can cause a person to faint, become comatose or even die if treatment is not administered immediately. People with type I and type II diabetes have the greatest risk of experiencing a life-threatening drop in blood glucose levels. This is one of the emergency situations you might encounter and is part of what can be expected when administering paramedical services.
Drug therapy is one of the common paramedical services. You may have to deliver drugs orally, by injection or intravenously. The drugs you might need to administer include pain relief and anti-emetics for the relief of nausea or vomiting. Drugs that dilate the bronchial tubes to aid breathing, blood thinners to reduce the risk of clots or strokes, and heart medications are some of the other treatments you might need to administer as a paramedic.
An ECG or electrocardiogram can be a lifesaving tool and an essential process for evaluating a patient’s heart health status. Paramedics and even Basic Life Support medics (who can practise without a degree) have ECGs on board their ambulance or emergency vehicle. Some medics work on remote mine sites as Emergency Services Officers (ESO’s); they always have an ECG in their vehicle, or at the very least, have access to one close by. Learning how to attach the ECG sensors that connect from the machine to the patient is one of the skills acquired during paramedic training at APC. Students who study to become a medic or Paramedic also learn how to interpret the printout of the ECG.
A person who has lost blood or is ill may need fluids given intravenously to avoid a life-threatening situation. Dehydration can sometimes be the cause of emergency situations, especially when the patient has been exposed to high temperatures. The elderly are more susceptible to dehydration because the thirst mechanism decreases with age. Replacing lost bodily fluids quickly can save lives. Administering life saving fluids intravenously is one of the things that the paramedic does on a regular basis.
Those are just a few of the lifesaving paramedical services you may provide as a paramedic. As you can see, it is a rewarding and important career.
Study pre-hospital emergency health care qualifications online with the aid of clinical workshops as well as online and phone support from trainers and educators. Enjoy the unlimited access to a student success team who are always ready to help and assist. Although these courses can be studied online; APC fosters a vibrant and passionate community that encourages students to engage and help one another.
Choose from three pre-hospital emergency health care qualifications.
HLT31120 – Certificate III in Non-emergency Patient Transport
HLT41120 – Certificate IV in Health Care
HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care
Study online, (we have an app too) and attend clinical workshops in most states.