Editing Emergency medical services (section)

====Paramedic====
[[File:Cervical Collar Emergency.jpg|thumb|A girl treated by a paramedic]]
A [[paramedic]] has a high level of pre-hospital medical training and usually involves key skills not performed by technicians, often including [[Intravenous therapy|cannulation]] (and with it the ability to use a range of drugs to relieve pain, correct cardiac problems, and perform [[endotracheal intubation]]), [[cardiac monitoring]], 12-lead ECG interpretation, [[ultrasound]], [[intubation]], pericardiocentesis, cardioversion, [[thoracostomy]], and other skills such as performing a surgical [[cricothyrotomy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Explore_types_of_jobs/Types_of_Job/p!eipaL?state=showocc&pageno=1&idno=205|title=Paramedic: Job description|access-date=2008-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202161146/http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Explore_types_of_jobs/Types_of_Job/p!eipaL?state=showocc&idno=205&pageno=1|archive-date=2 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> The most important function of the paramedic is to identify and treat any life-threatening conditions and then to assess the patient carefully for other complaints or findings that may require emergency treatment.<ref>Editors of Salem Press (2008). Paramedics. Magill's Medical Guide, 4th Rev. ed.. Salem Press. Retrieved from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527092602/https://explore.proquest.com// |date=27 May 2020 }}</ref> In many countries, this is a protected title, and use of it without the relevant qualification may result in criminal prosecution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hpc-uk.org/aboutregistration/protectedtitles/|title=HPC – Health Professions Council – Protected titles|access-date=2008-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107140106/http://www.hpc-uk.org/aboutregistration/protectedtitles/|archive-date=7 November 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the United States, paramedics represent the highest licensure level of prehospital emergency care. In addition, several certifications exist for Paramedics such as Wilderness ALS Care,<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Schmidt TA, Federiuk CS, Zechnich A, Forsythe M, Christie M, Andrews C|title=Advanced life support in the wilderness: 5-year experience of the Reach and Treat team|journal=Wilderness & Environmental Medicine|volume=7|issue=3|pages=208–15|date=August 1996|pmid=11990115|doi=10.1580/1080-6032(1996)007[0208:ALSITW]2.3.CO;2|doi-access=free}}</ref> Flight Paramedic Certification ([[FP-C]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightparamedic.org/|title=Flight Paramedic Certification|access-date=2008-08-20|archive-date=19 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719110810/http://www.flightparamedic.org/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Critical Care Emergency Medical Transport Program certification.<ref name=CCEMTP>{{cite web|url=http://ehs.umbc.edu/CE/CCEMT-P/|title=CCEMTP|access-date=2008-08-20|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621174320/http://ehs.umbc.edu/CE/CCEMT-P/|archive-date=21 June 2008}}</ref>