Editing Paramedic (section)

===Common skills===
While there are varying degrees of training and expectations around the world, a set of skills practised by paramedics in the pre-hospital setting commonly includes:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.austintexas.gov/omd|title=Clinical Operating Guidelines|website=www.google.com|access-date=2019-12-28}}</ref>

* [[Advanced cardiac life support]], or ACLS, including [[cardiopulmonary resuscitation]], [[defibrillation]], [[cardioversion]], [[transcutaneous pacing]], and administration of cardiac drugs
* Patient assessment, including acquisition of [[vital signs]], physical exam, [[chest auscultation]], history taking, [[electrocardiogram]] acquisition and interpretation, [[capnography]], [[pulse oximetry]], point-of-care [[ultrasound]] and basic [[blood chemistry]] interpretation (glucose, lactate)
*Airway management techniques including [[tracheal intubation]], [[cricothyrotomy]], [[rapid sequence induction]], [[supraglottic airway]] insertion, manual repositioning, sterile suctioning, use of [[oropharyngeal]] and [[nasopharyngeal]] airway adjuncts, and manual removal of obstructions via direct laryngoscopy and use of [[magill forceps]]
* [[Thoracostomy|Thorocostomy]] and [[pericardiocentesis]] to relieve pneumothorax and pericardial tamponade
* [[Intravenous]] (IV) and [[intraosseous]] (IO) cannulation
* Oxygen administration and [[positive pressure ventilation]] via [[bag-valve-mask]], [[Continuous positive airway pressure|CPAP]] device, or [[ventilator]]
* [[Fluid resuscitation]]
* Administration of emergency drugs/medications (see section below)
* Bleeding control and management of [[shock (circulatory)|shock]]
* [[Spinal injury]] management, including immobilization and safe transport
* [[Fracture]] management, including assessment, [[splint (medicine)|splint]]ing, and dislocation reduction 
* [[Obstetrics]], including assessment, [[childbirth]], and recognition of and procedures for obstetrical emergencies such as [[breech presentation]], cord presentation, and [[placental abruption]]
* Management of [[burn]]s, including classification, estimate of surface area, recognition of more serious burns, and treatment
* [[Triage]] of patients in a [[mass casualty incident]]
* Surgical procedures such as field amputation, [[escharotomy]], or [[thorocotomy]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 September 2018 |title=Medical Directive |url=https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Medical_Director/Medical_Directive_18-08_Revision_of_the_Clinical_Operating_Guidelines_New_Version_10.01.18.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022195948/https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Medical_Director/Medical_Directive_18-08_Revision_of_the_Clinical_Operating_Guidelines_New_Version_10.01.18.pdf |archive-date=22 October 2021 |website=AustinTexas.gov}}</ref> (if trained and credentialed)