Ambulance and Emergency Care Worker

Ambulance and emergency care workers are mostly responsible for resuscitation and stabilization of the condition of critically ill or injured persons by applying emergency care before and during transportation to the hospital.

Transporting and caring for the sick and injured people.


• Undertaking more sophisticated methods of rescuing people in emergencies.



• Responding promptly to emergency calls and hastening to the scene of illness or injury with due regard to the requirements of traffic safety and to legislation pertaining to the operation of emergency vehicles.



• On arrival at the scene making a quick survey of both the situation and the patient(s) to establish the needs and to decide upon suitable treatment.



• Making the site safe, maintaining safety standards and removing the patient from further possible hazards.



• Administering shock treatment, dressing wounds, providing cardiac massage and/or mouth-to-mouth respiration and other medical techniques to stabilize a patient.



• Supplying the medical staff with an accurate report of the patient’s condition, treatment and, if possible, medical history.



• Cleaning both vehicle and equipment and replacing supplies before the next emergency run.

Requirements

Secondary Education
The prospective ambulance and emergency care worker should be at least 18 years old and in possession of a Grade 10 certificate, or equivalent qualification. A higher qualification is, however, preferable. He/she should have a Code 09 driver’s license and pass a test at the mortuary to be accepted for in-service training at the Ministry of Health and Social Services. Entry requirements for the technikon course in South Africa, are a HIGCSE or outstanding IGCSE Grade 12, or equivalent qualification.

Compulsory subjects
Mathematics and Physical Science (South Africa)

Recommended subject
Biology (South Africa)
 
Tertiary Education
The Ministry of Health and Social Services, in conjunction with UNAM, offer theoretical and in-service training to ambulance and emergency care workers. The Basic Ambulance Assistant course is a 3-weeks full-time course and the Ambulance Emergency Assistant course, a full-time 3-months course, offered by UNAM.

A one-year full-time paramedic course (Critical Care Assistant) can be followed in South Africa. All three courses are accredited by the Namibia Red Cross Society and also enables successful candidates to register with the Professional Board for Emergency Care Personnel of the HPCSA.
 
The N. Dip.: Ambulance and Emergency Care is offered at the Technikons Witwatersrand and Natal. This course enables the candidates to register as emergency-care technologist with the HPCSA.

Personality
The prospective ambulance and emergency care worker should be sympathetic, responsible and sincere, and have sound judgement and extensive knowledge of first aid. He/she should also be fairly strong and level-headed.

Work Opportunities
Ambulance and emergency care workers are employed by the Public Service, private hospitals as well as private rescue organisations like Medrescue.

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