Physical Guidelines - Basic Emergency Medical Technician &
Paramedic
Students must be able to do
- STRENGTH. Perform physical activities requiring
ability to push/pull objects more than 50 pounds and to
transfer objects of more than 100 pounds.
- MANUAL DEXTERITY. Perform motor skills such as standing,
walking, writing; manipulative skills requiring eye-hand
coordination and arm-hand steadiness, taking blood pressure,
and using various types of large and small equipment.
- COORDINATION. Perform body coordination such as walking,
running, climbing stairs, retrieving equipment and
moving patients from the floor/bed/chair to a cot.
- MOBILITY. Physical abilities to maneuver in small spaces
(ambulance) and treatment areas. Ability to walk, stand,
kneel, stoop, and to be in prolonged uncomfortable
positions.
- VISUAL ABILITY. See objects far away, see objects close
and to discriminate colors. Visual ability must be
sufficient for driving an ambulance and for observation and
assessment necessary in patient care. Students will perform
such skills as detecting a patient's color, checking pupils,
and reading medication labels.
- HEARING. Be able to hear normal sounds with background
noise and distinguish sounds sufficient to monitor
and assess health needs. Necessary activities include
hearing monitor alarms, emergency signals, listening to
breath sounds, and hearing radio transmissions.
- CONCENTRATION. Concentrate on details with moderate
amount of interruptions.
- ATTENTION SPAN. Attend to task/functions for periods up
to 60 minutes in length and to attend to task/functions
for periods exceeding 60 minutes in length.
- CONCEPTUALIZATION. Understand and relate to specific
ideas, concepts, and theories generated and simultaneously
discussed.
- MEMORY. Remember task/assignments over both short and
long periods of time and recall theory and skills
information in clinical and simulation situations throughout
the program.
- CRITICAL THINKING. Apply the theory taught in lecture
courses in simulations and clinicals. Ability must be
sufficient for clinical judgment in patient care.
- INTERPERSONAL. Interact with individuals, families, and
groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural,
and intellectual backgrounds. Must be able to establish
rapport with patients, colleagues, faculty, and professional
staff.
- SUBSTANCE ABUSE. No evidence of current alcohol or drug abuse.
Environmental Conditions
As an EMS student you will be exposed to a variety of substances within the
work environment, hospital sites, and ambulance agencies. You can expect
exposure to weather changes, blood, body tissues, and fluids. There is the
potential of exposure to electrical hazards, hazardous waste materials,
radiation, poisonous substances, chemicals, and loud or unpleasant noises.
Weekly clinical rotations and the ambulance internship result in frequent
exposure to high stress emergency situations.
Students will be required to complete a mandatory on-line
OSHA Blood-Borne Pathogen and Universal Precautions program.
