Florida EMT and Paramedic Careers - FL

Boaters getting too close to alligators in the everglades, tourists suffering sunstroke in the summer heat, millions of elderly residents spending part of their golden years being transported to hospitals and nursing homes . . . Florida has more than its share of challenges to the state’s emergency medical system.

The Florida Bureau of Emergency Medical Services also concerns itself with the more mundane medical issues faced across the nation. An article in the Department of Health’s fall 2009 newsletter highlights how EMS crews can avoid contracting the H1N1 and other flu viruses from patients as well as preventing spreading it themselves. The newsletter goes on to add that the Sunshine State is in the process of implementing a new EMS education agenda, which combines the national EMS core content, standards, scope of practice model, education program accreditation and certification standards. Florida will eventually switch over to more standardized EMT levels, including emergency medical responder (EMR) instead of first responder, EMT (which is already in place), advanced EMT (AEMT) and paramedic (also currently used by the state). There is specific Florida EMT training and paramedic training in Florida that must be undergone to pursue a career in these exciting fields.