Students that have a desire to be the first responders to the scene of an accident have multiple educational options open to them. This career requires a high level of focus due to the work being done. Online college programs are available to prepare students to become emergency medical technicians.

Online education prepares students to become EMTs by training them to assess & h&le emergency situations. The goal of an EMT is to provide medical assistance to patients on the way to a hospital. This includes determining if patients have any pre-existing conditions. Treatment at the scene is based on the individual’s age, weight, & injuries sustained. Online education provides students with the ability to complete some web-based courses. The high level of h&s-on experience needed requires students to complete clinical training at a traditional college. EMT training is available at three different levels, which include:

* EMT-Basic
* EMT-Intermediate
* EMT-Paramedic

Each certification prepares students to conduct different levels of pre-hospital care. Depending on career goals students may complete just one certificate or all three & step into the industry as paramedics.

Students that work through the basic EMT certification should expect to complete a course load that equals around 110 hours. Education focuses on training students basic life support functions. Through specific courses & h&s-on training students learn specific emergency skills such as controlling airway obstruction. Some online courses that may make up training could include anatomy & physiology. Areas like patient assessment, administration of oxygen, & cardiopulmonary resuscitation are learned inside clinical courses.

Advanced training is gained when students enter the second certification level. EMT-intermediate gives students the underst&ing needed to care for patients & allows them to conduct certain medical procedures on-the-job without supervision. Online career training typically consists of administering medications in an emergency situation, the anatomy of an esophageal airway, & how to interpret an electrocardiogram. Each of these areas & more will be put to practical use when students complete clinical hours. Education prepares students to use intravenous fluids & medications on patients being taken to the hospital. Many health care related programs last 300 hours & give students the needed knowledge & experience to step into the field ready.

The most advanced training opportunity, the EMT-Paramedic certification, prepares students for the fast paced profession. This level of education teaches students to not only perform the other EMT functions but prepares them to fully administer any medications, perform intubations, & underst& how to use different medical devices. Education may require up to 2,000 hours of training depending on the college providing the program. Pre-hospital care is taught in theory inside some online courses & practically through clinical courses.