EMT-B to EMT-I???

VirginiaEMT

VirginiaEMT

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I begin the B to I class in August. I purchased the Mosby 1999 textbook to begin preparation for the class. I am not even remotely worried about passing the entrance exam but I am wondering if it would be beneficial for me to re-study my EMT-B materials and improve on my B skills, or do you think it would be more bneficial to begin studying the EMT-I book? Which do you think would be more beneficial to becoming a great EMT-I?

Keep this in mind, I am 47 this month and it has been 30 years since I did any hard math. I know I need polich in this area.
 
VirginiaEMT said:
I begin the B to I class in August. I purchased the Mosby 1999 textbook to begin preparation for the class. I am not even remotely worried about passing the entrance exam but I am wondering if it would be beneficial for me to re-study my EMT-B materials and improve on my B skills, or do you think it would be more bneficial to begin studying the EMT-I book? Which do you think would be more beneficial to becoming a great EMT-I?

Keep this in mind, I am 47 this month and it has been 30 years since I did any hard math. I know I need polish in this area
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The biggest piece of advice I could possibly give you is..*Drum roll please*

Don't go for your EMT-I. Go for you Paramedic. Each state and county has a different set of protocols. This being said, our protocols would put the EMT-I in the same ball park as a medic. By no means are they a medic, just in the same range as it pertains to skills and assessments. If you're area is anything like mine then I'd suggest you just get your medic and don't bother getting your EMT-I. Unless of course you've got a reason that you'd want to go no further.
 
EMT-I is great. I did it and don't regret it for a second. If you can do Intermediate then you can totally do medic and there is nothing wrong with taking this step.

As for math- long division! You'll need it for all sorts of drip calculations and converting from pounds (lbs) to kilograms (kg). Also brush up on your multiplication.

Spend a few minutes reading over the BLS section of the book. It'll go into depth about the A&P of breathing and circulation. Know that stuff! Know how the heart works, what polarization is (depolarization, repolarization) and how the oxygen/blood exchange is done.

Know the anatomy of the lungs and read up on the airways.
 
bstone said:
EMT-I is great. I did it and don't regret it for a second. If you can do Intermediate then you can totally do medic and there is nothing wrong with taking this step.

As for math- long division! You'll need it for all sorts of drip calculations and converting from pounds (lbs) to kilograms (kg). Also brush up on your multiplication.

Spend a few minutes reading over the BLS section of the book. It'll go into depth about the A&P of breathing and circulation. Know that stuff! Know how the heart works, what polarization is (depolarization, repolarization) and how the oxygen/blood exchange is done.

Know the anatomy of the lungs and read up on the airways.
Click to expand...

How similar are your state's EMT-I protocols compared to your medic's?
 
I'd say about 60%. We do nearly the same interventions (IV, ETT, IO, EKG) but they have a LOT more meds.
 
medicstudent101 said:
The biggest piece of advice I could possibly give you is..*Drum roll please*

Don't go for your EMT-I. Go for you Paramedic. Each state and county has a different set of protocols. This being said, our protocols would put the EMT-I in the same ball park as a medic. By no means are they a medic, just in the same range as it pertains to skills and assessments. If you're area is anything like mine then I'd suggest you just get your medic and don't bother getting your EMT-I. Unless of course you've got a reason that you'd want to go no further.
Click to expand...


Not in my future. I am a volunteer and have no intention of making EMS a career. I have no time to attend college, again, because of family and a successful insurance agency.

I want the knowledge, I want to be more helpful on calls, and I want to prove to myself that I am getting better and better at EMS. I enjoy being an EMT and glad to be doing it again as I served 7 years in the 1980's. Oh yeah, the EMT-I class will be free and the Paramedic class is not.

I would consider working a 12 hour shift a week as a paid Medic instead of volunteering, but that is about all I am interested in.
 
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That's pretty much how it is here. Not every county in the state recognizes the Intermediate. The major difference in the counties that do operate with them as opposed to a medic would be their med list. It's pretty small comparatively. Going for your medic?
 
VirginiaEMT said:
Not in my future. I am a volunteer and have no intention of making EMS a career. I have no time to attend college, again, because of family and a successful insurance agency.

I want the knowledge, I want to be more helpful on calls, and I want to prove to myself that I am getting better and better at EMS. I enjoy being an EMT and glad to be doing it again as I served 7 years in the 1980's. Oh yeah, the EMT-I class will be free and the Paramedic class is not.

I would consider working a 12 hour shift a week as a paid Medic instead of volunteering, but that is about all I am interested in.
Click to expand...

More power to you. To each their own and good luck!
 
bstone said:
Spend a few minutes reading over the BLS section of the book. It'll go into depth about the A&P of breathing and circulation. Know that stuff! Know how the heart works, what polarization is (depolarization, repolarization) and how the oxygen/blood exchange is done.

Know the anatomy of the lungs and read up on the airways.
Click to expand...

So why is it that only anatomy of respiration and circulation are mentioned? Are the other body systems not important?

Brown recommends

Anatomy and Physiology 9e, Marieb
Essentials of Pathophysiology, Porth
Pathologic Basis of Disease, Robbins

... enquire within if interested
 
VirginiaEMT said:
I am told that there is only 1 procedure that a paramedic can do that a EMT-I can"t do in our region and that is an emergency cric.
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Which are very rarely done in the first place. Usually the big difference is the medications EMT-I's are able to administer. I guess your state must be very different in that respect. Enjoy!
 
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And if Mr. Brown would allow, I'd also recommend Walraven's Basic Arrhythmias. It's a very good book as you're first entering the crazy world of cardiology as it pertains to your rhythms.
 
Check into what your state is doing for te new scope first. I know in my state the emt I is no longer offered. Current I's will have to take further education or be dropped down a level (aemt or b).
 
In which part of Virginia do you live?

Im a VA guy as well so i might be able to offer some advice if you're in a nearby county.
 
BandageBrigade said:
Check into what your state is doing for te new scope first. I know in my state the emt I is no longer offered. Current I's will have to take further education or be dropped down a level (aemt or b).
Click to expand...

Indiana is starting to do that as well. They're giving them the option to take an accelerated program or just be bumped to and EMT-A.
 
I stopped at Intermediate for two reasons. One, like you... I have no desire to do this as a career, but being able to give breathing treatments, nitro, ECG's and IV's when you have a 45 +/- transport time is important. The second reason... drum roll please... I don't think that guys like me who do this as a way to volunteer should have the ability to do be MEDIC's... I think that the meds, skills and harm you can cause as a MEDIC should require you be a professional healthcare provider as your primary job to be a MEDIC.

Just my thoughts.
 
VirginiaEMT said:
I begin the B to I class in August. I purchased the Mosby 1999 textbook to begin preparation for the class. I am not even remotely worried about passing the entrance exam but I am wondering if it would be beneficial for me to re-study my EMT-B materials and improve on my B skills, or do you think it would be more bneficial to begin studying the EMT-I book? Which do you think would be more beneficial to becoming a great EMT-I?

Keep this in mind, I am 47 this month and it has been 30 years since I did any hard math. I know I need polich in this area.
Click to expand...


Thanks to everyone for your responses but I would like to get my thread back on track. My original question went something like this:

How do you think is the best way to prepare for the EMT-I class? Should I really study the EMT-B to get better at basic skills, or would it be better to read over the EMT-I book to get a better understanding of what will be taught during the EMT-I class?

Thank you,
 
VirginiaEMT said:
Thanks to everyone for your responses but I would like to get my thread back on track. My original question went something like this:

How do you think is the best way to prepare for the EMT-I class? Should I really study the EMT-B to get better at basic skills, or would it be better to read over the EMT-I book to get a better understanding of what will be taught during the EMT-I class?

Thank you,
Click to expand...

Study both.
 
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