Membership Roles

CPR/Assistants

Assistants are members that have not yet completed the training to become an EMT or an emergency driver, or are a junior member.  Assistants must complete limited training including an ambulance checkout, provider safety, scene operations, squad policy, blood borne pathogens and must be certified through the American Heart Association in CPR at the provider level.  Assistants are responsible for tasks assigned by the EMT crew members in order to free the EMT to perform more skilled tasks.  These may include holding things, carrying equipment, lifting, retrieving equipment, performing CPR, cleaning and other duties as assigned by the EMT.

Emergency Drivers

Emergency drivers are responsible for the safe and efficient operation of squad vehicles during both emergency responses and routine operations.  Drivers must be extremely skilled in order to safely operate a large, heavy vehicle such as an ambulance in the situations that we face during a response including tight spaces, dangerous scenes, and heavy traffic.  All these hazards must be negotiated while people are standing and working in the back.  In addition to actually driving the ambulance the driver is responsible for ambulance equipment, communications, and the responsibilities and duties of a CPR/Assistant when not driving.  Drivers must be 21 years old, have a clean driving record, pass the Maryland Emergency Vehicle Operators Course (EVOC) and complete our extensive in house driver training program.

Emergency Medical Technician - Basic

The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is the backbone of the rescue squad.  EMTs are responsible for actual patient treatment.  EMTs must be 16 years old and pass the Maryland EMT-B course.  Once a member has been an EMT for a period of time and gained some actual experience and additional training they can become a crew chief.   A crew chiefs is the person ultimately responsible for ambulance operations including all aspects of vehicle operation and patient care.  Members that wish to do so may also take driver training and drive when an Emergency Driver only member is not available. 

IV Technician

An IV Technician is an EMT that has received additional training in order to start intravenous access in the field.  EMTs that wish to do so may attend IV technician training after meeting squad set experience requirements.  IV Technicians are associate members of the St. Mary's County Advanced Life Support Unit and as such , may start an IV on a patient while on any ambulance in the county.   

Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic

Paramedics are advanced life support personnel responsible for advance patient treatment.  Paramedics are extremely well trained professionals.  In addition to taking years of college level classes, paramedics also receive extensive on the job training.  All paramedics are members of the St. Marys County Advance Life Support unit and respond to calls with them as well as on any county fire department or rescue squad ambulance.  For members who wish to provide advanced life support but are unable or unwilling to take the extensive paramedic training there is also an Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate level.  EMT-Is provide many of the skills and services that paramedics do, but receive only part of the training.

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