Training to provide emergency care and transport to those in need
Immunizations/Documents:
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella).
- Tetanus (within last 9 1/2 years) .
- Hepatitis B (at least the first shot of the series).
- PPD (Tuberculosis Skin Test) no earlier than 1 month before class Start Date.
- Varicella immunization or proof of active chickenpox as a child.
- Healthcare Provider CPR (must be AHA or ARC).
- Medical Exam - MUST be on DMV form DL 51 or the LMC Physical Clearance Form.
Download the
Physical Clearance Form (PDF)
An EMT is an Emergency Medical Technician, a professional health-care provider who renders emergency care to sick and injured patients. EMTs are trained at Los Medanos College to provide basic life support at the scene of an emergency, treat patients during transport, and monitor patients during interfacility transfer within an organized EMS system. Completion of the EMT course qualifies you to take the national certification exam administered by the National Registry of EMTs.
What Do I Need to Do to Take the EMT Course?
Before taking the class, you need to become CPR certified as a healthcare provider by taking either the American Heart Association's BLS for Healthcare Professionals course or the American Red Cross' CPR for Professional Rescuers and Healthcare Providers course. Other CPR courses do not meet the course requirements and will not be accepted. Healthcare provider CPR courses are available from many private providers throughout the Bay Area.
You must also have a physician certify that you are physically and medically cleared to take the EMT course. The certifying physician must complete either the LMC "Physical Clearance Form" (available as a PDF, see link in sidebar) or the DMV "Medical Examination Report" (DL 51); no other verification can be accepted. You will need to provide photocopies of your medical exam, CPR certification, EMT Student ID card (obtained from the library after registration), and certain immunizations (see sidebar) during the first few weeks of class. So, 1) take the proper CPR course, 2) complete a medical exam, and 3) gather your immunizations prior to the start of the course.
Once you have registered, make sure you show up on time the first day of class, as we usually have many more people show up than we can accommodate. If you are unable to register for the class because it is full before your appointment date, you should show up the first day at least 1 hour early, as we are often able to Add some students and arriving early increases your chances of being Added. If you have a current BLS for Healthcare Professionals or CPR for Professional Rescuers and Healthcare Providers your chances of Adding are also increased.
Fall 2012
One section of EMT is being offered in the Fall 2012 semester. Class begins on Monday, August 20. The class is held in the brand-new EMT Classroom, room CC3-365. Class is held every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 5:30 pm. No afternoon section will be available in the Fall 2012 semester.
In addition to the cost of the course itself, there is a $50 mandatory laboratory materials fee due the second week of class; the required textbook is available from the LMC bookstore, and costs about $100. Students must also complete a background check with Corporate Screening in the third or fourth week of class. This gives a minimum cost of approximately $475.
Because of State-mandated hours requirements and to prepare for clinical placement and a career as an EMT, uniform, attendance, and behavior policies are strictly enforced.
Recommendations
The EMT course is very demanding, with extensive reading and writing each week. We recommend that students take the LMC Assessment Test for English, as eligibility for English 90 (ENGL-090) is strongly advised.
Students planning to take EMT in a future semester may want to consider taking Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology (BIOSC-030), and the 1-unit Medical Terminology for Healthcare Occupations (VONUR-008) or the 3-unit Medical Terminology (BUS-086), as familiarity with these subjects will make the EMTcourse much easier to complete successfully.
Methods of Instruction:
What Can I Do as an EMT?
There are many jobs available to EMTs. Most begin working on an ambulance, often starting with BLS Transport before moving into the 911 system. An EMT may also work as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher (a type of 911 operator), in private industry, in law enforcement, or as an Emergency Room Technician in a hospital. EMT is also a prerequisite to attend the LMC Fire Academy or work for most fire departments. Some EMTs go on to attain more education in medicine by attending Nursing School or becoming a paramedic.
A paramedic is an advanced life support provider. Paramedics have more training, a higher skill level, and an advanced scope of practice as compared to EMTs, but all paramedics must start as EMTs. Paramedics are trained in intravenous (IV) therapy, advanced airway management, and medication administration. LMC does not offer a paramedic program, but there are local options available for this training.
How Can I Find Out More?
Contact
the Emergency
Medical Services department
Los Medanos College
2700 E. Leland Rd. room PS1-12
Pittsburg, CA., 94565
925-439-2181 ext. 3352
We are located in the "Public Safety" classroom area, below the new Financial Aid offices.
Certification Exam Results
You can view Pass Rates for the EMT-1 California State Certification through the National Registry of EMTs for Los Medanos College at:
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