Professional functions of Paramedics

- responding to calls for medical assistance at accidents, emergencies and other related incidents, usually in an ambulance with an ambulance technician to assist;
- assessing the condition of patients who are injured or taken ill suddenly;
- deciding what action is needed and initiating treatment;
- applying splints to limbs, dressing wounds, administering pain relief, oxygen, drips and fluids;
- using various kinds of equipment, including ventilators to assist breathing and defibrillators to treat heart failure, in order to resuscitate and stabilise patients;
- carrying out certain surgical procedures when necessary, such as intubation (insertion of a breathing tube);
- monitoring the patient's condition using high-tech equipment;
- assessing whether and how to move patients;
- liaising with members of other emergency services, such as the police or fire brigade;
- dealing with members of the public and family members present at the scene;
- treating patients in the ambulance while they are being transferred to hospital from the scene, or between hospitals in the case of patients being moved to receive specialist care;
- driving and crewing an ambulance or other rapid response vehicle;
- cleaning, decontaminating and checking vehicles and equipment to maintain a state of operational readiness;
- assisting with patient care in hospitals or health care centres;
- writing up case notes and reporting the patient's history, condition and treatment to relevant hospital staff.