As Santa Clara County’s 911 Ambulance Provider, we are committed to providing each community with a highly trained, highly qualified team of Paramedics and EMTs. We take great pride in providing excellent patient care.
A few important things to know about the first responders who may respond to your emergency:
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Is a healthcare professional who provides emergency medical care and transportation to patients.
Our EMTs assess patients’ conditions and provide basic emergency care at the scene of an incident or while transporting patients to a hospital. They use basic equipment found in an ambulance to stabilize patients and manage emergencies.
Transportation: EMTs safely transport patients to a medical facility for further care.
Other duties: EMTs may also perform public outreach and education, equipment checks and maintenance, and station maintenance and housekeeping.
EMTs are a vital part of the emergency medical services (EMS) system, working under medical oversight.
Paramedic Snapshot
A paramedic is a highly trained medical professional. They provide advanced prehospital care to the sick and injured.
Training
Paramedics have more education, training, and experience than emergency medical technicians (EMTs). They are considered “Delegated Practitioners” who receive the authority to practice through a physician’s license.
Responsibilities
Paramedics perform a variety of tasks, including:
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- Assessing situations and checking details with others at the scene
- Stabilizing patients
- Administering a wider range of medications, such as through intravenous methods
- Performing advanced airflow management
- Interpreting electrocardiograms (EKGs)
- Transporting patients to medical facilities
- Assessing situations and checking details with others at the scene
Skills
Paramedics need to have strong communication skills, empathy, and the ability to make swift decisions and stay calm under pressure. They also need to be physically fit, have navigational and driving skills, and be resilient and have stamina.
Work environment
Paramedics work on ambulances or on first response emergency vehicles. They are prepared for and may experience both rural and urban medicine.