Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel are comprised of staff with varying levels of training and expertise. The following is a list of EMS personnel working in the Cypress Health Region, be it for private, municipal, or regionally operated ambulance service providers:
First Responder:
First Responders are members of the community that are notified when an emergency has occurred and respond to the scene in their designated geographical area. First Responders undergo 40+ hours of training and are capable of providing basic first aid, administration of oxygen, and deliver initial base care until EMS personnel arrive.
They are governed by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health but need to be registered with their local health region. If you are not associated with a health region then recertification is required every three years.
Emergency Medical Responder:
Emergency Medical Responders (EMR) are members of the ambulance crew who provide basic treatment. They support the EMS staff and are orientated to ambulance operation and have advance training in First Aid. They must write and pass a national occupancy exam with the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics. They also must maintain a Class 4 license and are trained in operations of all EMS equipment within the ambulances. EMRs are valuable members of the EMS team, especially in rural and remote areas. EMR’s are governed by the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics.
Emergency Medical Technician:
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) receive classroom training and clinical experience. They are able to provide basic life support including bandaging, splinting, administration of oxygen, automated external defibrillation, and a number of other treatments.
EMTs are no longer trained in Saskatchewan as the province moved towards National Standards. EMTs are governed by the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics.
Primary Care Paramedics:
Primary Care Paramedics (PCP) receive classroom training along with practicums in clinical, rural, and urban settings. PCPs are able to provide basic life support as well as many advanced techniques that include arrhythmia identification, defibrillation, establish advanced airway, peripheral IV access, and are able to administer many lifesaving and pain control medications.
PCPs are governed by the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics.
Intermediate Care Paramedic/Emergency Medical Technician – A
Intermediate Care Paramedics (ICP)/Emergency Medical Technician – As (ICP/EMT-A) are able to provide basic life support as well as a number of advanced life support modalities including initiating a peripheral intravenous line, establishing advanced airways, arrhythmia identification, defibrillation, and the administration of some specific lifesaving medications.
ICP/EMT-A’s are no longer trained in Saskatchewan as the province moved towards National Standards. ICP/EMT-A’s are governed by the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics.
Advance Care Paramedic:
Advanced Care Paramedics (ACP) are able to deliver all basic and advanced life support services. These skills include advanced airway management, delivery of medications, arrhythmia identification, manual defibrillation, and a number of other advanced skills such as advanced cardiac life support.
ACPs are governed by the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics.