The primary focus of the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) is to initiate immediate lifesaving care to critical patients who access the emergency medical system. This individual possesses the basic knowledge and skills necessary to provide basic, lifesaving interventions with minimal equipment while awaiting additional EMS response, and to assist higher level personnel at the scene and during transport. An EMR functions as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight.
Prerequisite: CPR for Health Care Providers or CPR for the Professional Rescuer.
The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is the first career-level certification program in EMS. The primary focus of the EMT is to provide basic emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. EMTs perform interventions with the basic equipment typically found on an ambulance. An EMT functions as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight. The EMT is a link from the scene to the emergency health care system. Skills include treatment of wounds and fractures, basic airway management and automated defibrillation. Courses are offered each semester. Classes meet twice per week for 12 or 16 weeks depending on the semester.
Prerequisite: CPR for Health Care Providers or CPR for the Professional Rescuer.
The primary focus of the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) is to provide basic and limited advanced emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. AEMTs perform interventions with the basic and advanced equipment typically found on an ambulance. An AEMT functions as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight. The AEMT is a link from the scene to the emergency health care system. Skills include intravenous or interosseous initiation, limited medications administration and blood glucose monitoring.
Prerequisites: Active EMT certification; CPR for Health Care Providers or CPR for the Professional Rescuer.
The paramedic is the most advanced of all prehospital care providers. The paramedic is an allied health professional whose primary focus is to provide advanced emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. Paramedics perform interventions with the basic and advanced equipment typically found on an ambulance. A paramedic functions as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight. The paramedic is a link from the scene into the health care setting. This program starts in January of each year and concludes in May of the following year. Classes meet two to three times each week. At the completion of the program, students who complete all the required EMS courses will be eligible for the National Registry Certification exam. Those who complete all the courses will graduate from Kirkwood with an associate of applied science degree.
Prerequisites: Active EMT certification; CPR for Health Care Providers or CPR for the Professional Rescuer; College level courses including: Intro to Math or higher, Basic Medical Terminology, and Basic Anatomy and Physiology.
For more information on the Paramedic program, visit www.kirkwood.edu/paramedic.
The Paramedic program at Kirkwood Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).