Firefighter EMT Training
Firefighter and EMT training are actually two separate types of training. Firefighter training refers to the process of becoming certified as a Firefighter I & II, while EMT training refers to becoming a certified Emergency Medical Technician. Often they are lumped together because fire departments typically require firefighters to be EMT certified at the time of hire. Also, firefighters need EMT training because more often than not, they respond to 911 calls for critically ill or injured patients.
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Firefighting Training
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Firefighting training prepares future firefighters to respond to fire emergencies by teaching fire science and how to use fire apparatus such as fire hoses, hydrants and climb ladders to put out fires. Students learn to use tools to gain entry to burning buildings, find and rescue occupants, and perform basic life support techniques. The training is grueling, hot and dirty work that prepares students to be gainfully employed as firefighters with municipal fire departments.
EMT Training
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The majority of the 911 calls firefighters respond to are for medical emergencies. To be effective in this work, firefighters need to be trained in emergency medical procedures, including how to stabilize a patients, learning how to monitor a patient's vital signs, transport patients to hospitals and report their observations correctly, and document the event carefully. There are three levels of EMT training--Basic (B), Intermediate (I) and Paramedic (P). Generally, firefighters need to be EMT-B certified for employment and then continue their training to become EMT-P certified.
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Types of Schools
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Firefighting training can be completed at a fire college, a technical college or a community college. Technical schools and community colleges both offer EMT training. Many avenues of training exist for both programs, although courses are in high demand and may have a waiting list or special application procedures to be completed before acceptance into a program.
Length of Training
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Depending upon the firefighting school chosen, an applicant can become certified as a Firefighter I & II in as little as four months. Fire colleges offer accelerated programs with room and board and daily instruction. A community college firefighting training program can take as long as one year to complete. EMT Basic training is usually based upon a semester format at community colleges and can be completed in four semesters, or one year.
Order of Importance
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A common question asked of firefighter EMT training is which one comes first? There is no hard and fast rule in answering that question because sometimes it is a matter of which program has the first opening. Becoming an EMT before firefighter training has an advantage because students can begin working as an EMT while attending firefighting school. The added experience will enhance a resume and an applicant's chances of getting hired by a fire department upon completion of firefighter training.
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