Emergency medical technicians and paramedics respond to emergency calls, performing medical services and transporting patients to medical facilities. In an emergency, the quick reaction and competent care of EMTs and paramedics at the scene can mean the difference between life and death to the injured.
At the scene of an emergency, EMTs and paramedics often have to work together with police and firefighters. Emergency medical technicians use special equipment, including restraints and backboards to keep patients safe and secure while they are transported to the hospital in an ambulance.