Emergency Medical Technicians and Their Impact on Global Health

Presenter: Anna Smull, Public Health Science, Global Public Health Scholars

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For my practicum project, I underwent an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course at Howard Community College. Within this course, I completed a field internship where I was able to practice basic life support skills with patients with Pulse Medical Transportation in Owings Mills, Maryland. I received training in basic life support to provide emergency care for a wide range of illnesses and injuries. These injuries include minor wounds and fractures, headaches and allergies, traumatic injuries, cardiac arrest, stroke, seizures, and more. I learned how to assess a patient’s condition and determine a course of treatment, how to provide first-aid treatment or life support care to sick or injured patients, transfer patients to the emergency department of a hospital or other healthcare facility, report their observations and treatment to physicians, nurses, or other healthcare facility staff, and document medical care given to patients. I practiced these skills under two professional EMTs for my skills to be observed. This training helped me identify global health challenges and opportunities in the 21st century by understanding the current technologies and practices of patient care today. The hands-on experience in the field helped me identify the strengths and weaknesses of healthcare today. By identifying these strengths and weaknesses, I am better prepared for work as a healthcare professional to better improve and contribute to the health of a focused community.