I Want to be an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Quiz

Answer: A class, associated with a skills/clinical aspect

In order to become an EMT, you must first take a class that teaches the material. During this classroom portion, you will also have to take a skills class, to learn the skills. Some classes and colleges these days will also schedule you a ride along on an ambulance, but this is not required to become an EMT.

Answer: State/National Test

In order to be either nationally or state licensed as an EMT, you have to take a test to prove your competency. Most colleges that teach the EMT class will also have you complete a "practice" test, to ensure you do well on the state/national exam.

Answer: No

In order for you to work in all states that recognize it, you must pass the national test as well. Different states have different protocols to follow. National covers the basic fundamentals of being an EMT, therefore, most states will take you on with a National license, or give you their state reciprocity. On the other hand, you may not be able to get state reciprocity and still have to take their state exam. Follow through with whatever state you are planning to work in.

Answer: EMT, EMT-B

Emergency Medical Technician was originally labeled dependent on your rank. It used to be EMT-B (basic), EMT-I (intermediate), and EMT-P (paramedic). Around 2015-2017 (depending on the expiration date on your license) the categories have been changed to EMT, EMT-I (or AEMT depending on your state, which stands for Advanced EMT), and Paramedic.

Answer: Applying oxygen to a patient

In your typical MedPat or PAT test, you will have to do ten skills. You start by getting out of the truck and either pulling a stretcher or a barbell out of the truck and placing it down. You will then pull a stretcher down a path with bumps, controlling it at all times and then lift a barbell up and down stairs. You then will typically move equipment from a table to marked spots, and then squat to move equipment properly, and then do a simulated dummy drag.

Then you would do a round of CPR, do the stretcher again, put the stretcher or barbell back in the truck and you are done! These tests are used to simulate what could be expected of you in this field.

Answer: Checking your truck off

These are all duties that are likely to happen within the first few hours of your shift, but your very first duty should always be to check off your truck.
Checking your truck off includes ensuring you have everything you could possibly need for a call, and appropriate amounts of items. Always make sure you have everything you need for a call, because once you relieve the previous person who was on it, that truck becomes your responsibility.

Answer: Putting on a reflective device if you haven't already

Before you even step foot out of the truck, always ensure you have some type of safety reflective device on. There are three rules on a truck. You should always start with your safety. Then you make sure your partner is safe, and then your patient. If you or your partner aren't safe, you cannot treat your patient effectively.

Answer: No

Lights and sirens pose a huge risk to drivers and you, your partner, and your patient. The only time you should drive with lights and sirens to the hospital is if your system expects you to due to busyness of the county/area, or if the patient has life threatening injuries/illnesses that require immediate attention. Always follow your local county's rules though. If you do drive with lights and sirens on always remember to drive with due regard to others.

Answer: Pt (i.e patient)

UA stands stands for urinalysis, basic life support is abbreviated by BLS and date of birth is abbreviated by DOB. Don't use abbreviations if you aren't sure how your agency recognizes them. Some can be universal for other abbreviations that can be seen as inappropriate.

Answer: Restock your truck

Always remember to restock your truck, with whatever you used, after every call. If you wait around, then you could become low on items that you may need. Remember those pagers can go off at any moment. Keep the ambulance how you would like to find it.