Who is a paramedic and what do they do? The paramedic or ambulance worker provides qualified first aid to victims of accidents and natural disasters or to those whose lives are endangered for other reasons or who have a medical emergency that requires quick transport to hospital. The paramedic provides all relevant medical rescue work.
What are the activities of the paramedic job? Rescue of, and first aid to, victims of accidents, natural disasters and other catastrophes – initial identification of various types of injuries and consequent care for the injured – sorting injured according to the type of injury involved – provision of emergency medical care, e.g. resuscitation, prevention of severe bleeding, insertion of instruments that replace or reinforce non-functioning or inadequately functioning human organs (e.g. lungs) etc. -transferring the injured to doctors who have reached the site of the accident and providing them with information about the victim(s) – assisting doctors during medical procedures on site – preparing drugs including their application in accordance with the doctor’s instructions – assisting during emergency childbirth – ensuring the professional transport of the injured to hospitals, monitoring vital functions and taking all the actions necessary for sustaining these functions – removing bodies etc from the scenes of more serious accidents.
Where is it done and under what conditions? Primarily at the sites of accidents, natural disasters etc., and these sites may vary. There can be all kinds of weather including bad or serious weather conditions and access to the object of your work may often be difficult. You will also almost certainly be working shifts.
What tools/equipment do they use? Bandages, splints, stethoscopes, manometers. and other medical machinery and apparatus, ultrasound, anaesthesiology instruments (for resuscitation), etc.
What do you need to succeed? You need to have taken and passed a relevant paramedical course, be physically and psychologically fit, have quick reactions and judgement, reliability. This is not a job for the squeamish or those likely to faint at the sight of blood or severe injury.