Emergency Response 9-1-1

Primary care paramedics provide symptom relief and advanced emergency care. They can administer medications for:

• Pain relief (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, ketorolac)

• Chest pain and heart failure (aspirin, nitroglycerin)

• Diabetic emergencies (dextrose, glucagon, glucose paste)

• Allergic reactions and severe asthma (diphenhydramine, epinephrine, dexamethasone)

• Nausea and vomiting (ondansetron)

• Opioid overdoses (naloxone)

• IV fluids (normal saline)

They are also able to:

• Start intravenous lines (IVs)

• Use semi-automated defibrillators

• Interpret 12-lead ECGs to recognize heart attacks and redirect patients to the most appropriate hospital

• Insert a supraglottic airway to help patients breathe

Advanced Care Paramedics (ACPs) complete an additional year of training beyond primary care paramedics. This allows them to provide a higher level of care using advanced medications and equipment.

ACPs are trained to:

• Administer fluids through IV or intraosseous lines (directly into the bone)

• Perform needle chest decompression to relieve a collapsed lung

• Give cardiac medications during resuscitation

• Administer respiratory and anti-seizure medications

• Provide advanced pain relief

• Perform advanced breathing procedures like intubation

• Deliver advanced trauma and cardiac life support, including cardiac pacing and cardioversion