EMT & Paramedic Training in Massachusetts: What to Expect

Paramedics play a truly vital role in society. They speedily respond to emergency calls, do everything possible stabilize patients, and then attempt to keep them in that state until they arrive safely at the hospital for further treatment. Because of this, becoming a paramedic requires specialized training that’s quite different than that of other workers in the healthcare industry. EMTs, also known as emergency medical technicians, must learn and master several important skills. In order to become one, you need to take and pass a number of courses. Therefore, if you plan on undergoing paramedic training in Massachusetts to fulfill your goal or dream of becoming an EMT or a paramedic, here’s what you can expect to encounter. 

Training Courses

In general, those who wish to become an EMT must dedicate ample time to taking training courses. There are a certain number of hours that must be spent both in a classroom and in a lab. At first, the training involves lectures from professionals in the field, balanced with readings from industry standard textbooks and other materials. From there, skills like CPR are taught on practice dummies, so future EMTs and Paramedics can get a real feel for how the process works before taking the necessary certification exams. These courses usually cover a combination of basic life support and general curriculum skills. 

Basic Life Support

The main goal of paramedic courses in MA is to teach potential EMTs and paramedics to handle everything that falls into the category of basic life support. One good example of this is CPR. Other skills involve inserting breathing tubes, administering certain medications, and knowing how to work and read the machinery that tracks everything from the patient’s heart rate to their oxygen levels. As previously stated, the goal of an medical technician is to get the patient to the hospital in a stable state, so that the doctors and nurses can take over and perform more advanced life support if necessary.

General Curriculum

There are many different medical problems that paramedics can encounter on the job. Some are as simple as splinting a broken bone for transport to the hospital and as complicated as being able to tell the difference between a patient who’s having a panic attack versus a heart attack. The curriculum covered in paramedic training programs throughout Massachusetts goes over all these things and more, including the important task of delivering a baby, because sometimes there just isn’t enough time to make it to the hospital before a child arrives. On top of things like airway management and medication injections, trainings also covers general patient assessments that teach future paramedics how to quickly decide what they need to do to help.

EMT & Paramedic Certifications

In order to work as a paramedic, you will need to pass a certification course. The training, both in the classroom and the lab, goes over everything necessary for the exam. Although some skills, like compassion for patients are not taught in the classroom, many EMTs already possess them before they reach this phase. After all, the decision to become an EMT and Paramedic is usually made with helping people in mind. If you’re considering enrolling in a Massachusetts paramedic training program, contact us today.

Learn more about the Dean College Paramedic Training Program.