The State of Vermont Dept. of Health recognizes 4 levels of Pre-hospital providers at the present time. They are: Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician- (EMT), Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) and Paramedic.

The following is a brief description of each level of provider:

First Responder/ECA: The EMR is an approximately 45 hour course that gives the individual an introduction to care of the sick/injured. The student is taught patient assessment skills, vitals signs, airway management and other basic skills that will be utilized. This is very basic information and is a good way for someone off the street to enter EMS. The class completed by taking a Computer Based “written” test, and 5 practical stations.

EMT: The EMT class is approximately 110 hours in length, dependent upon the content covered, and also involves 10 hours or Emergency Room observation time. This class obviously goes beyond what is taught in the EMR course. This class does not allow the student to learn and then put the skills to use like the FRECA, but instead the student completes the class and tests and is a certified EMT-B and can then put the skills to use. . The testing for this level involves a Computer based “written” test, and 5 practical stations. This level allows the student to utilized an AED (Automated External Defibrillator), administer Oxygen and administer oral glucose.

AEMT: Once an EMT for a minimum of a year in District #12, a student can proceed to the AEMT class. This is a minimum of 102 hours in length and includes competency based Emergency Room observation time as well. This advanced course allows a student to learn more advanced patient assessment skills, advanced airway skills and overall some advanced knowledge in medical emergencies and the human body as a whole. This class allows the student the ability to perform advanced airway maneuvers by utilizing the Combitube, perform peripheral intravenous administration (IV’s), and to utilize 7 medications for certain medical conditions. Those medications are Dextrose (Diabetic emergencies), Glucagon (Diabetic emergencies), Narcan (Narcotic overdoses), Epinephrine (Anaphylactic reactions), Aspirin (Cardiac conditions), Nitroglycerin (Chest pains) and Albuterol nebulizer (Asthma and other respiratory conditions). All these medications are given only under medical direction of the physician on duty at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.

PARAMEDIC: ( I Will have to add later the correct description)