The National EMS Advisory Council has selected 23 people to serve as members. Hundreds of people applied for the available positions and those who were chosen represent all aspects of the emergency medical services sector.

“Experts who serve on the National EMS Advisory Council provide invaluable guidance to our National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said. “We are grateful for the service of our new appointees.”

Check out the list of new appointees here.

The NEMSAC was created in 2007 to advise NHTSA and the Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services on issues surrounding emergency medical services.

During 2008 the council recommended:

• NHTSA should work with FICEMS to assure integration and utilization of surveillance databases throughout federal agencies.
• NHTSA should encourage and develop relationships between federal and non-federal partners who are using existing reporting systems to improve the consistency of terminology and access to data sources on EMS illnesses, injuries and deaths.
• FICEMS should identify opportunities for enhanced federal collaboration in order to expedite the implementation of the EMS Education Agenda for the Future.
• NHTSA should publish a regular report card on the national implementation of the EMS Education Agenda for the Future.
• Efforts to expand, enhance and fund EMS research based on operation, financial and medical outcomes should be supported.
• Key performance indicators for EMS systems to measure and monitor performance should be developed and published.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health recently released a list of 207 EMTs who falsified necessary certifications. That list stems from an investigation that revealed a Lexington firefighter had falsified hundreds of records certifying EMTs who did not complete continuing education requirements.

According to an article by FireFightingNews, most of the EMTs involved in the scandal will have their certifications suspended for 45 days or nine months, depending on whether or not they used the false certifications they received.

Among those involved in the scandal are employees from the Billerica Police Department, Townsend Municipal Ambulance and Trinity EMS. The DPH has referred the investigation to the attorney general’s office for potential prosecution.

State officials have assured the public that no patients have reported receiving inappropriate care from EMTs who were falsely certified and that the companies and municipalities employing the EMTs were not involved in the scandal.

Most of those employers – many who fired the EMTs on their own prior to the release of the list – are not guaranteeing that the EMTs involved will have jobs after their suspensions are up.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently announced that it will award a $500,000 safety grant to create a National EMS “Culture of Safety” Conference and develop the national emergency medical services strategy.

The NHTSA is accepting proposals for the conference through June 17. In the meantime, the organization will work to put together a committee of stakeholders who will convene in Washington, D.C., and establish a national strategy on safety.

The steering committee will be made up of 15 members, including those from the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Fighters, American College of Emergency Physicians, National EMS Advisory Council, National Fire Protection Association and National Volunteer Fire Council, as well as several physician, nursing and education organizations.

“Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has been identified as a high-risk industry with injuries and deaths among both EMS personnel and the public,” the grant notes. “EMS personnel are routinely exposed to factors that threaten their personal safety and this, in turn, can impact the safety of the patients they serve.

“There is also evidence that suggests one of the biggest risk factors for EMS personnel are combative patients and bystanders whom they encounter in the field,” the grant continues. “Moreover, there are times when a patient’s safety is negatively impacted by the inadvertent actions taken by EMS personnel while providing care for the patient. Regardless of how EMS personnel or the patients they serve are harmed, the public, government and EMS industry have a duty to identify these threats and find ways to remove and reduce the harmful impact.”

Check out this recruiting video for NHTSA:

Those with EMT jobs and other emergency medical services positions throughout the nation will now be represented by their own entity. Visit http://ambulancejobs.com to learn more.

The National Volunteer Fire Council recently announced that it will establish a separate EMS section within the organization, a decision that many officials are calling monumental. Although EMS has been part of the NVFC mission statement since the committee was established in 1992, this move will strengthen it.

“This is a historic decision for the council,” NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg said. “EMS has long been an integral part of the NVFC’s mission, and this new section will give the emergency medical services an even stronger voice on the national level as well as within the council.”

According to an article by EMSResponder.com, officials are encouraging volunteers to give their input on the new EMS section, which has been in the making for more than a year. Once complete, the section will have its own by-laws and operational procedures.

“The NVFC has been very involved in EMS issues for many years,” EMS Committee Chairman Ken Knipper said. “We have a voice with many agencies including NHTSA. They have asked us to share our insight. Over the past few years, our involvement has grown significantly.

“We have become an integral part of all EMS projects and involved with many other EMS organizations, medical groups, federal and state agencies, and those who have the same interest in improving patient care as we do,” he added. “With involvement at such a high level, we’ve inherited a great responsibility and must make a greater commitment to properly represent those we serve.”

Emergency medical technicians were ranked 186 among CareerCast.com’s Top 200 Jobs of 2010 list, receiving an overall score of 751. Although EMTs only earn an average of $29,158 per year, they receive a “very good” hiring outlook score of 18.58.

The report notes that jobs in the bottom 20 of the list tend to suffer from a combination of flaws, including low salaries, difficult working conditions, serious chance of injury or death, and poor employment prospects during the near future.

Fortunately, EMTs and firefighters are an exception to this rule, as they expect job growth rates of 19 percent and 11 percent through 2016. However, these occupations still rank low because of their high levels of danger, stress and difficulty.

CareerCast.com determines the rankings of this list by separating job data into five categories, including physical demands, work environment, income, stress and hiring outlook. Every job receives a score in each category, and the overall scores are then ranked from best to worst.

The 10 best jobs are:

1. Actuary
2. Software engineer
3. Computer systems analyst
4. Biologist
5. Historian
6. Mathematician
7. Paralegal assistant
8. Statistician
9. Accountant
10. Dental Hygienist

The 10 worst jobs are:

1. Roustabout
2. Lumberjack
3. Ironworker
4. Dairy farmer
5. Welder
6. Garbage collector
7. Taxi driver
8. Construction worker
9. Meter reader
10. Mail carrier

Do you agree with these rankings?

These days there are an array of places that offer online courses, including everything from virtual colleges to physical colleges and specialized training companies that offer online options. The growth of options, as well as the flexibility online courses offer, has caused online training to become a popular alternative to traditional classroom courses.

EMTs and paramedics are responsible for providing care to injured people during a medical emergency and on the way to a hospital. The type of care they provide can include everything from wound treatment to cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

The level of EMT or paramedic you are, as well as the skills you will need to know and duties you will be expected to perform, are all based on how much training you’ve had and which certifications you’ve earned. Online courses can be a great way to start out or further your EMT training, according to eHow.com.

The requirements for paramedics are nationwide, as all paramedics must complete training that includes coursework, equipment training and hands-on experience. Each state has different requirements in order to obtain EMT certification, but most require you to successfully pass a written test and field exam.

Many companies and schools offer online courses and training to prepare for the written EMT exam. It’s important to remember, however, that not all states recognize this method of training as valid. Therefore you should check the requirements of your state before enrolling in a program.

Kaplan University and the University of Phoenix are just two of the many national online schools that offer EMT training courses. The courses can last from two months for a re-certification course to six years for the highest level of certification. While some in-person, hands-on training and experience may be required, many aspects of EMT training can be completed online.

One positive of taking an online course is that it will allow you to learn at your own pace and during times that revolve around your schedule. Prices for courses vary by company and the type of certification, with most programs starting at about $500 for a basic course, and most schools offer reduced tuition and financial aid for students who meet certain income criteria.

The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced that DeKalb Technical College will receive $2,043,859 during the next 36 months from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help train unemployed, dislocated and incumbent workers as EMTs and paramedics.

“DeKalb Tech is proud to be the recipient of this grant,” DTC President Dr. Robin Hoffman said. “We look forward to being responsible stewards of these funds by helping people who are unemployed, and transitioning them into working, productive members of our society in fields that offer growth potential.”

The grant will train 250 EMTs and 30 paramedics during the next three years, accounting for twice the current paramedic graduation rate at the school and four times the current EMT graduation rate. This is welcome news, as enrollment at DTC continues to increase, but state education funds continue to decrease.

“DeKalb Technical College is well-positioned to train first-responders to meet the demand in the coming years,” Hoffman added. “This Federal grant will provide funds for DeKalb Tech to expand its personnel and use hybrid technology to expand classes and reduce attrition rates.”

The funding is part of an effort under the ARRA to stimulate new growth in the healthcare industry and other high-growth emerging industries. The stimulus bill was signed by President Barack Obama last year in an effort to create jobs, promote economic growth and assist those most impacted by the recession.

“The Recovery Act funded grants … will ensure thousands of workers across the nation can receive high-quality training and employment services, which will lead to good jobs in healthcare and other industries offering career-track employment and good pay and benefits,” Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis said.

That’s a hard question to answer, and one that isn’t highly studied or documented. That’s not for lack of the popularity of the job, as many people work as EMTs and the sector is expected to continue growing. It’s more likely that the majority of EMTs don’t take the job for the money, but instead for the challenging and rewarding aspects of the occupation.

As far as the average salary for an EMT in the 10 largest cities, there’s not much difference between the best-paying and the worst-paying. For instance, San Jose, Calif., has the highest average salary, at $31,502 per year, but that’s not much higher than last-ranked San Antonio, Texas, which has an average annual salary of $25,595.

When contemplating where you should look for EMT jobs, there are other factors to consider in addition to the salary you would earn. For instance, you should know the population of the city, because a bigger population means the competition for finding any job will be tough. It’s also helpful to know the cost of living for the city, as that can greatly impact exactly how far your salary will go.

Here is a list of the 10 largest cities and how they stack up as far as salary and cost of living:

1. New York – Even though the Big Apple pays out the second-highest EMT salary, at $30,832 per year, it is perhaps the worst city in which to find an EMT job. Not only does NYC have the biggest population, at 8,363,710 people, it also has the highest cost of living.
2. Los Angeles – The second-largest city, with 3,833,995 people, pays EMTs the fifth-lowest salary, at $27,721 per year. Unfortunately, it is only 14 percent cheaper to live in L.A. than New York.
3. Chicago – The third-largest city, with 2,853,114 people, also has the third-highest EMT salary, at $29,827 per year, and is 34-percent less expensive than New York.
4. Houston – In addition to having the second-lowest EMT salary, at $26,324 per year, Houston has the fourth-largest population, with 2,242,193 people. However, it costs 47 percent less to live here than it does to live in New York City.
5. Phoenix – This city has the fifth-largest population, at 1,567,924, and the third-lowest salary, at $26,864 per year. However, it’s 41 percent cheaper to live in Phoenix than New York.
6. Philadelphia – This city has the fifth-smallest population, with 1,540,351 people, and the fourth-highest EMT salary, at $29,406 per year. In addition, it’s 28 percent cheaper to live here than in New York.
7. San Antonio – Despite having the lowest EMT salary, San Antonio has the fourth-smallest population, at 1,351,305 people, and it costs 44 percent less to live here than it does to live in New York.
8. Dallas – Although this city has the fourth-lowest EMT salary, with $27,554, it has the third-smallest population, at 1,279,910 people, and is 46-percent less expensive than New York.
9. San Diego – EMTs here make $28,853 per year, the fifth-highest salary, and live in the second-least populated city, with 1,279,329 people. Another plus – it’s 21 percent less expensive to live here than New York City.
10. San Jose – Aside from having the highest salary, this city also has the smallest population, at 948,279 people. However, the cost of living here is only 8 percent lower than New York City.

Now you can choose where the best place for EMT jobs is, based on what’s important to you, whether it be population and your chances of getting a job, how much you’ll get paid or how much it will cost to live there.

The population statistics are based on data from the 2000 U.S. Census, while average salaries and cost of living are based on data from PayScale.

EMT jobs

The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the healthcare and social assistance sector will be the fastest-growing job sector during the near future. The sector is expected to grow by 24 percent, adding 4 million new jobs, by 2018.

The healthcare industry remains one of the most stable career fields, even amidst the economic recession. However, you don’t have to be a doctor or nurse to be a part of the healthcare industry, as there are plenty of other jobs available within the field.

One big advantage is that many of these other careers only require one to two years of training, most of which is affordable and available at local community colleges. One-year programs typically last two semesters and lead to a certificate, while two-year programs usually result in an associate’s degree.

In order to enroll in a program, you generally need a high school diploma or GED, to pass a criminal background check and to pass a physical, including a drug test. Both types of programs usually require that half of your time be devoted to classroom work and the other half be devoted to clinical experience.

“When they’re ready, students participate in externships at local hospitals to gain the skills and confidence needed to work with patients,” Sharvette Philmon, assistant dean of Allied Health and Nursing at Delaware County Community College, told Metro.

Graduates of one-year programs who receive certificates are often required to obtain additional state licensing. Popular jobs resulting from one-year programs include: medical assistant, surgical technician and addiction counselor, as well as office jobs, such as health unit coordinator or coding and billing specialist.

Most two-year programs also require that you take non-medical courses and obtain state licensing. The most popular jobs resulting from two-year programs include: emergency medical technician or paramedic, radiology technician, dental hygienist and respiratory therapist.

There will be plenty of opportunities in the field as EMT jobs are expected to grow faster than normal through 2012, mainly because of the aging population, and in part because current EMTs will leave the field for various reasons.

There will be heavy competition for high-paying jobs as positions shift away from volunteer services and toward paid professionals. According to an article by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, private ambulance services will provide the biggest number of openings, with EMT-Intermediates and EMT-Paramedics having the best chances of securing a position.

While there will be many opportunities for jobs, becoming an EMT requires plenty of training and certification. Every state requires that EMTs and paramedics become certified, with many requiring registration with the National Registration of Emergency Medical Technicians and some offering their own certification test.

EMTs at all levels are required to re-register every two years and take continuing education courses to maintain their certification. They must have correct color vision, good eyesight, basic coordination, hand-eye coordination, emotional stability and the ability to lift heavy objects.

The levels of EMT training correlate with the levels of EMTs as defined by the NREMT, including: EMT-Basic and EMT-1; EMT-Intermediate and EMT-2 and EMT-3; and EMT-Paramedic and EMT-4.

Training for each level includes:

• EMT-Basic and EMT-1 – EMTs at the basic level receive training in cardiac and respiratory resuscitation skills, traumatic injury care and injury assessment, as well as how to care for blocked breathing, heart attacks, severe bleeding, broken bones and childbirth. Coursework is supplemented with hands-on training in a hospital or emergency vehicle and students learn how to use stretchers, backboards, splints, braces and oxygen tanks. In order to become registered, students must graduate from an approved program and pass a written and practical exam.
• EMT-Intermediate and EMT-2 and EMT-3 – Students at this level typically study either EMT-Shock Trauma or EMT-Cardiac. The first teaches students to administer some medicine and start IVs, while the second teaches students about heart rhythms and how to give special medications. EMTs at this level usually undergo about 50 hours of training, including coursework on IVs, pulmonary equipment and techniques and diagnostic techniques.
• EMT-Paramedic – This is the most advanced level of certification and requires several hours of coursework and hands-on experience. Most EMTs at this level hold paid positions instead of volunteer positions.

After becoming an EMT-Paramedic, workers have several options to further their career, including becoming: directors of emergency services, EMT supervisors, doctors, nurses, dispatchers, instructors and medical equipment sales persons.

Overall, there are several opportunities available for those considering EMT jobs at various levels. And while securing those positions takes a lot of training and hard work, those that do often find themselves with in-demand and fulfilling careers.