You've got to be an absolute idiot not to pass EMT-B. It is almost all technical w/ very little critical thing skills required. (No offense to EMT-B's, I'm saying it as gently as possible, really.) You learn how to administer oxygen, bandage, triage patients, perform spinal immobiliization, CPR, and basic cardiac arrest stuff among other practical skills. You also get an introduction to trauma and medical emergencies (i.e. different kinds of shock, basic anatomy/physiology), but nothing difficult. You don't start getting into heavy time committments and serious medical decision making until you get into the paramedic curriculum, which is a little much for most pre-meds far enough along to be applying to medical school. (Great experience though if you are still several years away). The national registry and state exam (same exam in most states) is divided into written / practical sections. You need to pass both (all sections of the practical), which when I took the class was Airway, Bleeding/Wounds and Shock, Trauma assessment, and a couple others (Been about 8 or 9 years ago, so I'm sure alot has changed). I'm sure I'll tick off a couple of EMT-B's with this post that are all like "I worked my butt off for this" and "It was the hardest thing I've ever done", etc. etc. Sorry, but all I'm saying is that for an average PRE-MED, it should be a cakewalk (If not, perhaps you should perfect your "Would you like fries with that" skills, instead of your "tell me about your chest pain" skills). Am I saying that a premed is smarter or better at things like that than JoeBlow EMT who had just previously graduated from tractor driving school, has three teeth in his head, and basically wants to be the top schmoe at his local backwoods vol. FD? Yep. No PC here, that's for another thread. Hmm. sounds like a good one. Starting PC thread now.
