Careers in EMS

For more information in becoming an EMS Professional, please contact our Education Director, Don Fortney via email or at (814) 834-9212 or visit www.rollwithit.com. For a list of EMS certification and Continuing Education courses being offered, please see Education & Training.
First Responder:
	The First Responder is usually the first EMS provider on scene whose role is to stabilize the patient until more advanced EMS personnel arrive. A First Responder is trained to perform a general patient assessment and provide emergency care such as bleeding control, spinal immobilization, oxygen administration and in the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). In order to become a First Responder you must be 16 years of age or older, complete a Department of Health approved First Responder training course which is approximately 50 hours in length. Upon completion of the course you must pass a written & practical examination. A First Responder's certification is valid for 3 years.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT):
	An EMT is trained to perform a general patient assessment and provide emergency care such as bleeding control, spinal immobilization, oxygen administration and in the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), plus perform complex immobilization procedures, airway management and may assist patients in the administration of certain medications. In order to become an EMT, you must be 16 years of age or older, complete a Department of Health approved EMT training course which is approximately 140 hours in length. Upon completion of the course you must pass a written & practical examination. An EMT's certification is valid for 3 years.
Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic (EMT-P):
	An EMT-Paramedic is trained in all of the above skills as well as advanced patient assessment, airway management, intravenous fluid therapy, trauma management, pharmacology, cardiology and other medical skills. An EMT-Paramedic should successfully complete and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and a Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) offered by the American Heart Association, as well as an International Trauma life Support (ITLS) or Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) course of instruction. These courses are commonly offered during the EMT-Paramedic program which lasts approximately 14 months. In order to become an EMT-Paramedic, you must be 18 years of age or older, possess a current EMT certification, completed a training course for EMT-Paramedics approved by the PA Department of Health, and complete a Nationally Registered written and practical exam.