They require the firefighters to have a minimum Basic EMT course which is the entry level of emergency medicine. I'm not belittling EMTs by any means and EMTs have it drilled into their heads for weeks how to stabilize a possible spinal injury. I can only speak for Beaumont, Texas. When they decided that a pumper would reespond to all EMS calls because there were more firefighters than medics and they were usually closer, they demanded that all firefighters have a minimum Basic EMT course. There are two higher levels, the EMT Intermediate and the Paramedic.
They gave them 2 weeks to complete what should be a six month course. I was teaching at a local college at the time and a Lt. from the fire department called me and asked me if I could teach that night and I agreed. I asked him what the topic was and he said "medical emergencies." I said OK and hung up.
I thought about it for a moment and called him back. Medical emergencies is everything that is not trauma. I said "You mean you want me to teach diabetic emergencies, anaphalaxis, CVA, cardiac emergencies, respiratory emergencies, emergent childbirth with abnormal presentations, drug overdoses, poisoning, heat related injuries, obstructed airways, seizures, eclampsia, drowning, chemical exposures and everything else in just four hours?"
"They only get two weeks, just hit the highlights, they can read their books at the station." He said.
There is a whole lot that isn't in the book and I could spend weeks on cardiac emergencies alone, but the budget said two weeks. One of the important lessons that you learn is not in the book. You get called to a house at night with a fence and a gate, the porch light is on and they are expecting you. Rattle that gate loudly and wait a minute. If not, you may wind up loosing some tender parts of your anatomy to a Pitt Bull.
