Emergency! Call 911. Call an ambulance. First responders are the paramedics, mobile medical technicians, trained to bring hospital emergency room capabilities directly to the scene of an accident or medical crisis. Paramedics are the "eyes, ears, and hands" of ER physician and nurses. They are employed by hospitals, ambulance companies and fire departments. 

L&C’s paramedicine program will provide you with the paramedic skills to save lives. This includes advanced techniques for patient assessment, pharmacology, legal/medical issues, and treatment of all emergency medical conditions, such as cardiac arrest, breathing difficulties, diabetic emergencies, poisoning, and seizures. Paramedics treat victims of trauma in motor vehicle accidents, falls, broken bones, shootings, stabbings, and assault and battery situations. 

Your clinical training at L&C’s partner facility, Alton Memorial Hospital, include the morgue, emergency room triage, anesthesia, dialysis, geriatric units, hospital emergency departments, trauma centers, intensive care units, cardiac care, burn units, pediatric units, psychiatric care units and obstetrics. Add in training in emergency vehicle driving to get to the scene safely and quickly. Your final semester consists of a field internship, working with an ambulance unit under direct supervision of experienced field paramedics.

In many cases you will work closely with other first responders, firefighters and police officers. And like them, your expertise can make the difference between life and death.