Cutting off the socks of a man whose skin is peeling from his legs, putting his legs in splints, and lifting him to an ambulance where his vitals are monitored is not a typical day in the life of an EMT, but it comes with the territory.
While EMTs, or Emergency Medical Technicians, are paid a minimum wage salary and are not able to administer most drugs or perform invasive procedures, the job is no walk in the park.
“It’s definitely very challenging,” said Rachel Nelson, a third-year physiological science student and EMT. “It’s an exciting, meaningful job. You get to experience a lot more than your average minimum wage job.”
For students looking at a career in medicine, the Center for Prehospital Care offers Emergency Medical Technician training that provides an introduction to patient care.
EMTs are trained in a variety of CPR, First Aid and basic medical assessment skills. They are employed in ambulances and hospital centers to help with basic life support.
The courses can be costly, totalling about $850 with textbooks, but financial aid is available for some students.
Jenny Chang, the Community Training Center director for the UCLA Center for Prehospital Care, said she believes the program can offer valuable experience to students who are considering the medical profession.
“A lot of students figure out it’s not for them,” Chang said. “You get a lot of exposure to the type of patients you’ll be caring for.”
People who enroll in the course are able to spend time with medical staff in the emergency department or ambulances.
Before working in the field, students who complete the course must earn above an 85 percent on the EMT test, which measures students’ abilities to assess patients.
For many, the chance to practice medicine with real patients outweighs the challenge.
“I really like it,” said Taryn Hoffman, a second-year physiological science student who is working as an EMT. “It’s something I’m passionate about. I’ve been telling all my friends, and one is going to take classes.”
The courses, which are offered over a wide range of times and days, can take a large chunk of time, but are essential for students looking at a career as a paramedic.
Paramedics are trained more extensively than EMTs and are able to perform more complex procedures, including surgical procedures, as well as dispense drugs. Most paramedic programs require at least six months of work as an EMT before applying.
EMT training can also provide an added boost for medical school applicants.
“The classes are a great way to get clinical experience,” said Barry Jensen, the program director for EMT, Wilderness Medicine and First Responder programs. “Our pass rates (to become an EMT) are phenomenal.”
Anyone interested in the program who is CPR-certified and has basic vaccinations for Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and other illnesses is encouraged to enroll either online at
www.cpc.mednet.ucla.edu or by calling 310-267-5959. Classes are offered throughout the spring and summer.