About the New York State Critical Care Emergency Medical Technician

A resident of Holbrook, New York, Greg Gerkens holds a masters of science in literacy education. Greg Gerkens volunteers at the New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Critical Care as an advanced life support provider and committee head for the Brentwood Legion ambulance.

Unique to New York, critical care EMTs attend to emergencies requiring urgent care, including airway adjunct placement, defibrillation, cardiac monitoring, and intravenous therapy. To qualify, you must first undertake and pass the basic EMT certification followed by about 225 hours of classwork, 75 clinical, 100 field internship hours, and a written and practical test. To maintain the certification, you must sign up for continuing classes, typically once a month, on core subjects such as vital signs or accredited medical conferences outside work hours.

The critical care EMTs are dispatched to emergency scenes through a 911 dispatch. Upon arrival, you evaluate the nature and severity of the victim's condition and the level of medical attendance required. After the initial stabilization, you transport the patient to a medical facility, often administering additional medical care en route. Lastly, brief the emergency room attendants on the patient's issue, state, and measures undertaken so far upon arrival.