ALS vs. BLS
Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) Basic are indispensable members of the emergency medical services (EMS) team, yet they exhibit notable disparities in their training, scope of practice, and capabilities.
EMT-Basic, often informally known as EMTs, serve as the foundational professionals in the EMS domain. They are proficient in delivering basic life support (BLS) and are equipped to conduct patient assessments, control bleeding, administer CPR, manage fractures, and offer assistance during childbirth. EMTs are also authorized to administer select basic medications, such as patient-prescribed epinephrine auto-injectors for severe allergic reactions or patient-prescribed nitroglycerin for chest pain. Still, they are not permitted to place in your hands a simple Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or even an aspirin. Their primary role revolves around stabilizing patients and furnishing initial care in emergency situations.
In contrast, Paramedics are positioned at the apex of the EMS hierarchy, equipped with extensive skills that enable them to provide advanced life support (ALS). Paramedics are trained to execute invasive procedures, including intubation, and to administer a broader spectrum of medications, encompassing pain management and cardiac medications. They possess the ability to interpret electrocardiograms (ECGs) and are adept at performing intricate interventions, such as defibrillation. Furthermore, Paramedics often find themselves at the forefront of decision-making in the field, tasked with delivering comprehensive care. They may also specialize in specific areas within EMS, such as critical care transport or flight paramedicine, where their expertise is indispensable.
While EMT-Basics and Paramedics are integral to the EMS system, paramedics undergo more extensive training and possess a wider array of skills and capabilities, rendering them well-suited to tackling intricate medical emergencies. EMT-Basics primarily focuses on initial patient stabilization and transportation to medical facilities, while paramedics are geared toward administering advanced medical interventions on-site. It is important to note that when organizations fail to provide essential equipment like cardiac monitors, ALS medications, and intravenous access to paramedics, it significantly diminishes their capacity, essentially reducing them to highly educated EMTs.
FLORIDA EVENT MEDICAL can meet your needs for any special event: conventions, trade shows, corporate retreats, training events, music festivals, concerts, sporting events, commercial filming (Set Medics). No event is too small or too large for FLORIDA EVENT MEDICAL to provide coverage: single medic, team medics, multiple teams, ambulances, bicycles, ATV/Gators, helicopters; doctors, nurses, PA, NA, paramedics, or EMTs FLORIDA EVENT MEDICAL has you covered. One call covers all your medical needs.
A partial list of services offered by FLORIDA EVENT MEDICAL for your indoor or outdoor event:
This team comprised of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), have the skills and equipment to provide you with Basic Life Support. Capabilities include basic airway management, oxygen delivery, bandaging, spine stabilization, splinting of extremities, monitoring vital signs, and administering CPR. All of our teams have experience in an Ambulance and EMS.
Comprised of Doctors and/or Paramedic EMTs who are certified and equipped to provide ALS capabilities, as well as: advanced airway management, cardiac monitoring, and defibrillation, IV administration, administer lifesaving drugs, and handle severe medical emergencies.
Across America, we see fire departments, private ambulance companies, and event medical companies providing event medical services for various events: concerts, conventions, high school graduations, and sporting events, festivals, corporate retreats and various events with hundreds if not tens of thousands of attendees, participating in the festivities and activities. Most agencies and private EMS companies are providing EMS staff, but many also are providing staff that is newly certified, light-duty (general transport), trainees, or sometimes volunteers to cover these events week-after-week, without any true concern for public safety.
These teams, are typically outfitted with older and outdated ambulances or equipment and possibly in need of maintenance. Other companies providing these types of services are not regulated by any state organization and may indeed have outdated or expired medications. Equipment that requires no validation or certification to being provided to your attendees.
Through our collective experience, we have developed several strategies to facilitate better planning, safety, and offering emergency medical services during your event. The reputation of these services cannot be exaggerated and will be scrutinized.
This is key for liability should a lawsuit arise from care or a situation should occur at your event. Licensed services are state inspected and regulated to make sure the proper level of care is provided. When dealing with non-licensed services there is no oversight by the state on a doctor, this can lead to a lower level of care being provided or improper care being provided.
A Licensed and Insured Medical Director with EMS Experience. Legally any doctor can be a medical director this is true. EMS medical directors, are Emergency Room Physicians who also understand the importance of good pre-hospital care. Its the medical directors the entrust paramedics to give the same medications a person in a crisis would receive at the hospital.
ALL EMS STAFF FUNCTION AS AN EXTENSION OF THIS MEDICAL DIRECTORS LICENSE, AND THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR IS THE ONE WHO COULD ALSO BE HELD LIABLE FOR IMPROPER CARE.
Make sure you receive a copy of the Certificate of Insurance for the service you choose. This should include $1,000,000/$3,000,000 policy for both General Liability and Professional Liability. ALL TRU EMS PROVIDERS, OTHER THAN COUNTIES, WILL HAVE THIS.
Protocols list what the medical director will allow an EMT or Paramedic to legally perform on a sick or injured person. These documents should be availble for your review to show the level of care and treatments your guests will receive in an emergency. An easy way to look at this is, the bigger the protocol the more treatments and lifesaving interventions an EMT or Paramedic can provide.
When providing services make sure the service is providing adequate equipment for the size of your event. This should include Cardiac Monitor or AEDs, Oxygen Equipment, Bandaging Equipment, Splints, Spinal Immobilization Equipment andany ALS Medications and IVs. A SERVICE SHOULD NEVER ASK TO USE YOUR EQUIPMENT SUCH AS AN AED. SHOULD YOUR EQUIPMENT FAIL YOU COULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IN THE DEATH OR INJURY OF THAT PERSON.