arrives at scene (Bishop 2-28). After the trained level of First Responder comes the EMT. They are licensed to provide full basic life support, including the use of oxygen and the administration of oral glucose. Oxygen and Glucose are the only two drugs an EMT can give to a patient. They can also transport a patient or patients to a medical facility via ambulance, communicating with the hospital personnel en route. There is a special classification of EMT that applies only to firefighters. It allows all the functions of an EMT to be performed, although transport to the hospital is not part of the training. This special classification allows the firefighter to work as an EMT in the fire service, but does not certify him to work at a private ambulance company (Bishop 2-28). An EMT-D is a recent classification of EMS worker. A fully licensed EMT is able to not only provide basic life support, but also utilize the use of automatic defibrillators for patients experiencing cardiac arrest. To become an EMT-D requires an additional eight hours of training and the need for monthly refresher courses (Mathias 3-3). EMT-II's, although nearly extinct, are the next level of care available in the field. As mentioned earlier, a Paramedic can use eleven more drugs, as opposed to an EMT-II. Certain methods of providing a stable airway are also excluded from the EMT-II scope of practice. Additionally, certain treatments to the assist the heart are unavailable to the EMT-II (Mathias 3-3). The final level of training for EMS in the field is the EMT-Paramedic, EMT-P, or just Paramedic. A Paramedic is able to establish an IV, use a monitor/defibrillator, and perform all airway stabilization functions. A Paramedic can administer many medications. Their level of care allows them to treat most patients at the scene, to more adequately stabilize a patient before transport to the hospital (Mathias 3-3). All levels of EMS personal above, and including the EMT, comm...
