Combat Medics Vs EMT-B Essay

There are many different ways to get into the medical field more specifically the prehospital or emergency medicine. The choice one has to make is though is how you want to practice medicine and in what kind of environment one wants to work. On one hand you have a civilian EMT-B, but the other path you could take is an Army Combat Medic. There are many differences in how the two operate than can help someone decide which is the right way to go. Both EMT-B’s and Combat Medics are both medical professionals but are trained in two different ways, able to do different skills and more proficient in one area compared to each other. Combat Medics are trained in the medical field, can only do certain skills and have their own unique lifestyle. Combat Medics are trained in a way that is more meant to relate as much as possible to a combat situation and not a secure environment. The training received by Combat Medics is
EMT-Bs are trained in a much different way. EMT-Bs are classroom trained and only practices skills on dummies. EMT-Bs training is also much shorter and much less detailed. EMT-Bs are expected to perform certain skills proficiently just not quite as many advanced skills. EMT-Bs also can only legally perform certain skills set by a medical doctor. EMT-Bs also are trained much more briefly on all of the skills he or she is allowed to perform. EMT-Bs also have a unique lifestyle simply because of the craziness of their work schedule. For instance, EMT-Bs usually work either 12-hour shifts or work for 24 hours and are off for 48 hours. While on the clock you have to respond to a call no matter what, you could be eating or sleeping but if you get a call you have to drop what you are doing to go and respond to the call. The hours can get very hectic and make having a social life difficult