Paramedical occupations – NOC : 3234

Unit Group

3234 Paramedical occupations

This unit group includes workers who administer pre-hospital emergency medical care to patients with injuries or medical illnesses and transport them to hospitals or other medical facilities for further medical care. They are employed by private ambulance services, hospitals, fire departments, government departments and agencies, manufacturing firms, mining companies and other private sector establishments. Paramedics who are supervisors are included in this unit group.

Example Titles

advanced care paramedic

ambulance attendant

critical care paramedic

emergency medical attendant (EMA)

emergency medical technician (EMT)

emergency medical technician, paramedic

emergency medical technologist – paramedic (EMT-P)

paramedic

primary care paramedic

supervisor, ambulance services

View all titles

Main duties

Workers in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties:

Assess extent of injuries or medical illnesses of trauma victims, patients with respiratory disease and stress, overdose and poisoning victims, industrial accident victims and other ill or injured individuals to determine emergency medical treatment
Administer pre-hospital emergency care to patients such as oxygen therapy, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), spinal immobilization, bandaging and splinting
Establish and maintain intravenous treatment (IV), apply adjunctive equipment for ventilation and circulation complications, administer medications and provide other advanced emergency treatment to patients
Transport patients by air, land or water to hospital or other medical facility for further medical care
Collaborate with ambulance dispatch centres, hospital staff, police, firefighters and family members to ensure relevant information is collected and proper treatment is administered
Document and record nature of injuries and illnesses and treatment provided
Assist hospital personnel with provision of medical treatment, if necessary
Maintain ambulances and emergency care equipment and supplies
May train and supervise other workers in this unit group
May assist with triage of emergency patients.

Employment requirements

Completion of a one- to three-year college, hospital-based or other recognized paramedical or emergency medical technology program is required.
Licensing by a regulatory body is required in all provinces.
Those operating emergency vehicles require an appropriate class of licence.

Classified elsewhere

Emergency medical responders (in 3413 Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates )
Other assisting occupations in support of health services (3414)