Paramedics quickly respond to emergency situations, often being the first to arrive on the scene. They must take control and give immediate care to ensure that an injured person makes it to the hospital and more professional care.
Initial Patient Monitoring
Since paramedics are often the first at the scene of an accident, it is their responsibility to assess the seriousness of the situation. They need to evaluate how injured a person is, how quickly they need to act and determine the source of the injury.
Immediate Care
If the injury is serious, then the paramedic gives immediate care to the patient. Paramedics know how to splint major breaks in bones, use heart defibrillators and bandage wounds to stop extreme bleeding.
Give Medication
Paramedics can also administer medication, if necessary. If the injured person is experiencing significant pain, the paramedic can give him or her oral or intravenous drugs. This helps to ensure that the patient is stabilized and does not go into shock.
Stabilization
In extremely serious circumstances, a patient may be in danger of death. The patient may stop breathing. Paramedics are trained in CPR to deal with this situation. If cardiac arrest occurs, paramedics work to resuscitate the patient.
Safe Transport
Paramedics are important because they, along with other emergency respondents, help ensure that the injured individual makes it safely and in a stable condition to the hospital. Paramedics offer all immediate care that they can, then turn the situation over to nurses and physicians as soon as they reach the hospital.
