Certification Levels of Emergency Medical Technicians 

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel are categorized based on their level of training and scope of practice, ensuring appropriate care delivery in diverse emergency situations. The following outlines the current standards for EMS provider levels:

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT):

The EMT certification represents the foundational level of prehospital care. EMTs provide basic life support (BLS) interventions, including airway management, oxygen administration, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillation (AED), hemorrhage control, and splinting. Their role encompasses ambulance operation, patient assessment, and the safe transport of patients to appropriate medical facilities.

Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT):

AEMTs possess an expanded scope of practice compared to EMTs. They are trained in advanced life support (ALS) skills, including intravenous (IV) therapy, intraosseous (IO) access, administration of a wider range of medications, advanced airway management techniques, and blood glucose monitoring. AEMTs perform these interventions under established protocols and medical direction.

Paramedic:

Paramedics represent the highest level of prehospital emergency medical care. They are trained in advanced assessment, diagnosis, and treatment modalities. Paramedic skills include, but are not limited to, advanced airway management (e.g., endotracheal intubation), electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation, administration of a comprehensive range of medications via multiple routes (IV, IO, intramuscular, subcutaneous, and inhalation), cardiac rhythm management (e.g., defibrillation, cardioversion, pacing), and pleural decompression. Paramedics operate under established protocols and medical direction, including standing orders, and may consult with medical control physicians for additional guidance.

For information regarding reciprocity and certifying for EMS in South Carolina visit DHEC EMS

Inservice Training

Lexington County EMS is a certified South Carolina EMS Continuing Education Program dedicated to providing comprehensive educational opportunities for all EMS personnel within Lexington County. Our program is designed to ensure the highest standards of professional development and clinical competency.

• Key features of our program include:
  • Lexington County EMS maintains certification as a South Carolina EMS Continuing                                           Education Program, ensuring adherence to state-mandated standards.
  • The agency is recognized as an American Heart Association and National Association of Emergency Medical Services Training Centers, demonstrating our commitment to nationally recognized best practices.
  • Lexington County EMS is a designated training location for Midlands Technical College, facilitating access to academic and vocational EMS education.

New Personnel Training

The Lexington County EMS New Personnel Training program for certified employees is a focused, two-to-four-week initiative designed to integrate experienced, certified EMS professionals into the operational framework of the agency. This program prioritizes the rapid acquisition of essential job-related responsibilities specific to Lexington County EMS protocols and procedures.

The program focuses on:

• In-depth instruction on Lexington County EMS's unique operational guidelines, medical protocols, and documentation standards.
• Comprehensive training on the agency's specific equipment, vehicles, and technology systems, ensuring proficiency in their utilization.
• Focused orientation on the service area's geography, including critical infrastructure, high-call volume locations, and specific response considerations.
• Training on effective communication protocols within the agency and with external partners, ensuring seamless coordination during emergency responses.
• Practical application of learned skills through supervised field experience with assigned mentors, facilitating a smooth transition into independent operational roles.

• The program is structured to ensure that new certified employees achieve operational readiness within the designated timeframe, allowing them to effectively contribute to the agency's mission.

   

EMT Academy 

The Lexington County EMS Academy is a structured, twelve-week program designed for newly hired, non-certified employees. This cohort-based initiative provides comprehensive foundational training, commencing with an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification course, followed by a New Personnel Training (NPT) classroom program that encompasses essential job-related responsibilities.  Upon successful completion of obtaining their MT certification and completing their NPT classroom training, personnel will transition to a field mentoring phase, during which they will receive direct guidance and practical experience from an assigned mentor.

EMS Training Programs:

• Inservice Training
• New Personnel Training
• CPR Classes
• Regional Training opportunities at Midlands EMS

For information regarding reciprocity and certifying for EMS in South Carolina visit DHEC EMS

Public Training & Education Programs: 

Public Access Defibrillation for your workplace, church or school

Lexington County EMS is committed to providing public education about EMS and your health. You do not have to be in EMS to be a lifesaver. We offer regularly scheduled free CPR classes geared to the public. Although in EMS we continue to take advantage of technical advancements in pre-hospital medicine that improve the outcome of our patients, the greatest factors in saving lives following sudden collapse in adults due to a cardiac event are still early recognition and notification to 911, early CPR and early defibrillation. Learn how to perform these lifesaving steps by attending one of our free classes.

Is it an Emergency? The American College of Emergency Physicians (TM) addresses common concerns