Paramedics

The vast majority of paramedics in Canada are the persons you see who work on a land ambulance. In a number of sites in Canada, paramedics may also work on an air ambulance helicopter or plane, in the hospital, for pharmaceutical companies, or for the fire department. Paramedics provide care to patients in an out-of-hospital and inter-hospital setting.

Ontario Ambulance Act Reg 386-01- defines a paramedic in Ontario, as:

"paramedic" means a person employed by or a volunteer in an ambulance service who meets the qualifications for an emergency medical attendant as set out in the regulations, and who is authorized to perform one or more controlled medical acts under the authority of a base hospital medical director, but does not include a physician, nurse or other health care provider who attends on a call for an ambulance; ("auxiliaire medical")

The four levels are:

  1. Emergency Medical Responder (often used as volunteers in remote communities)
  2. Primary Care Paramedic
  3. Advanced Care Paramedic
  4. Critical Care Paramedic

EMS Bullet (w20xh20) How to become a Paramedic