Paramedic duties and responsibilities
Paramedics need to be able to react to a range of situations and deal with a variety of different situations in the quickest and most effective way. Their daily duties could include:
- Receiving reports from 999 calls and driving to the scene of the incident
- Using onboard equipment to deliver emergency medical care including resuscitation, defibrillation and administering pain relief and other medication
- Attending non-emergency calls and assessing patients to determine their medical needs
- Maintaining detailed and accurate records about patient conditions and treatment
- Liaising with other emergency service operatives such as Police and Firefighters
- Checking and maintaining equipment and ensuring that supplies are fully stocked
- Providing advice and information to patients’ family members
- Passing information to hospital staff during patient handover
Paramedic skills and qualifications
Paramedics need to have a variety of medical and administrative skills. A successful paramedic candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications in order to succeed in the role, including:
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Physically fitness
- Ability to use heavy equipment and reach patients that may be in difficult positions
- Ability to follow procedures even in high-pressure situations
- Flexibility and ability to adapt to constantly changing working environments
- Excellent problem-solving skills
- IT skills and knowledge of patient database systems
Paramedic experience requirements
Paramedics need to be experienced medical professionals and typically have several years of experience in a critical care role such as a Paramedic Assistant or Technician. This gives them specialist experience of working in an ambulance and observing the work of the Paramedics they support. Many aspiring Paramedics volunteer as a Community First Responder for the St. John Ambulance or a National Health Service ambulance trust in order to gain a deeper understanding of the role.
Paramedic education and training requirements
Paramedics are qualified medical professionals and need an approved qualification in paramedic science, which covers both the theoretical and practical aspects of working as a Paramedic. This is usually completed at university in the form of a degree in paramedic science or via an apprenticeship scheme through an ambulance trust. Paramedics must also be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Paramedic candidates also need to hold a full manual driving licence in order to drive an ambulance and some will need to complete extra driving qualifications to ensure that they are qualified to drive the correct weight of the vehicle.
Paramedic salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Paramedic in the UK is £34,388 per year. This figure depends on their level of experience, the NHS trust in which they are employed and the area of the country where they operate in.
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