Becoming an emergency care provider
Many young South Africans wish to become emergency care providers, however many do not know what the education requirements and options are and how to access them. Many people also don't know that there are different qualifications with different levels of care.
Emergency Care providers can provide more than just simple "first aid". Procedures and interventions differ, according to their qualification.
The medical management of patients occur mostly in the back of an ambulance or on the scene.
Paramedics can also be trained to perform medical rescue, which includes using the "jaws of life" to rescue people from crushed cars and using complex rope rescue systems to rescue people in the mountains.
Being a paramedic is not a "job" but a calling, which requires you to be:
- Confident
- Outgoing
- Physically fit and healthy
- Caring
The demands placed on paramedics can be stressful. It is however a rewarding profession.
Current EMS qualifications available at Higher Education Institutions:
- Emergency Care Assistant (ECA) (Higher Certificate in EMC: 1 year full time)
- Paramedic (ANT) (Diploma in EMC: 2 year full time)
- Emergency Care Practitioner (ECP) (Bachelor of Health Sciences in EMC: 4 years full time)
- Post graduate education at Masters and PhD level
South African advanced life support Paramedics are in high demand throughout the world due to the nature of training and skills.