SPECIAL EVENTS

Q: What is the difference between an EMR, EMT, and a Paramedic? (Click on title to view the full Scope of Practice)

A:  An Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) is the basic level of care in Alberta. The course lasts from 2 weeks (full-time) to 3 months (part-time). EMR's can provide basic things such as assessments, vital signs, splinting, bandaging, oxygen therapy, automatic defibrillation, CPR, emergency child delivery, and spinal immobilization. 

     An Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is the intermediate level of care. The training course lasts from 6 months (full-time) to one year (part-time). EMT's can provide all the services of an EMR plus IV therapy, Entonox administration, IV glucose administration, and apply PASG, traction splint, and pneumatic CPR devices.

     An Emergency Medical Technologist-Paramedic (EMT-P or Paramedic) is the advanced level of care. The training course last an additional two years (full-time). Paramedics can provide all the services of an EMR and EMT, as well as manual defibrillation, medication administration, endotracheal and nasotracheal intubation, intraosseous infusions, cardiac pacing, synchronized cardioversion, urinary catheterization, blood product administration, surgical airways, pleural decompression, nasogastric tube insertion, and other skills.

Q:  What is the difference between a BLS and an ALS ambulance?

A:  A Basic Life Support Ambulance is staffed with either two EMT's or an EMT and an EMR. An Advanced Life Support ambulance is staffed with either two Paramedics or a Paramedic and an EMT. Parkland Ambulance Authority staffs only ALS ambulances.

Q:  Don't my taxes cover ambulance costs?

A:  The Parkland Ambulance Authority is a municipally-funded organization, however, the income generated from the municipal tax base doesn't cover the entire cost. The annual operating budget of the Parkland Ambulance Authority for the 2006 tax year is nearly 5 million dollars, while the revenue from per capita tax requisitions covers about 2.1 million of that. The rest must be made up from user fees and public donations. The largest portion of the operating budget goes to cover the salaries of the nearly 80 employees. Capital purchases, vehicle and practioner insurance, fuel costs, and medical supplies make up the bulk of the remaining budget. 

Q:  What does the EMS emblem represent?

A:  The EMS emblem is called the Star of Life. It was designed in 1973 by Leo R. Schwartz, Chief of the Emergency Medical Services branch of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It was created to reduce confusion with the formerly used emblem similar to the Red Cross symbol. Each of the bars represents six system functions of Emergency Medical Services as listed below:

Detection Reporting Response On-scene Care Care in Transit Transfer to Definitive Care

It is very much like the chain of survival,

Detection:

The public must recognize there is an emergency or an urgency to a situation that requires immediate medical response. The Emergency Medical Services personnel along with other emergency services personnel provide this information and education.

Reporting:

The person(s) recognizing the situation must have a means of reporting the incident to someone. The most highly recognized system to report to is 911.

Response:

Emergency Medical Services travels to the situation or incident location.

On Scene Care:

The person or persons involved must receive the appropriate medical attention for their situation.

Care In Transit:

The appropriate care must continue during transport of the patient. This care is designed to stabilize the patient and reduce and/or comfort the progression of the injury/illness.

Transfer to Definitive Care:

Transfer patient care to a hospital.

The staff and serpent, similar to the Caduceus used by the medical profession, comes from Greek mythology. It is the staff of Asclepius, a Greek god who was worshiped for his reported power to cure illness.