EMT Training Alabama

EMS Scope of Practice: Alabama

The EMT scope of practice is a set of Alabama EMS protocols that guide Emergency Medical Response Personnel. EMT scope of practice helps all levels of emergency medical responders to manage emergency situations and provide the correct emergency medical care and treatment interventions for patients.

In Alabama the Emergency Medical Technician is licensed by the Alabama Department of Public Health Office of Emergency Medical Services (ADPH OEMS). The ADHP OEMS publishes the current EMT scope of practice protocols and updates it using Revisions as needed.

EMT Scope of Practice – Medications

Alabama EMTs can’t administer many medications, but they are slowly gaining more medication permissions. Addition Alabama EMT training has allowed an addition to the EMT scope of practice.

The latest addition to the medication administration list is naloxone, which was added due to the increased number of opioid overdoses.

Here are the medications that Alabama EMT training allows basic EMTs to administer. They are listed separately from other patient care procedures and can only be used as specified in Alabama EMS protocols.

1. EMT can administer nalaxone, aspirin, and glucose paste to patient.
2. EMT can assist the patient in self-administration of nitroglycerine, auto-injecting epinephrine, auto-inhalers; sublingual, intranasal, and auto-injecting naloxone.
3. Site maintenance of saline locks and heparin locks as needed.

EMT Scope of Practice – Procedures

Here is a list of patient care procedures within the Alabama EMTs scope of practice.

1. Can perform patient assessments, which includes taking and recording an appropriate history and vital signs.
2. Can administer supplemental oxygen via mask or cannula.
3. Can administer aspirin for chest pain that is suspected to be cardiac related.
4. Can use oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airways.
5. Can use a bag-valve mask.
6. Can use a mouth to mask device while using supplemental oxygen or without supplemental oxygen.
7. Can use pulse oximetry devices on patients.
8. Can Open and maintain a patent airway using simple airway maneuvers. (Ex: Head-tilt, Chin-lift)
9. Can use suctioning equipment.
10. Can perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
11. Can perform basic management of cardiac emergencies including the use of an Automated External Defibrillator. (AED)
12. Can acquire and transmit 12-lead ECG when the AED is capable.
    Can use direct pressure, positioning, and tourniquet to control bleeding and shock.
13. Can use hemostatic agents.
14. Can perform bandaging.
15. Can perform Spinal Precautions and Spinal Motion Restrictions.
16. Can perform splinting, including applying a traction splint.
17. Can perform joint dislocation immobilization.
18. Can apply a pneumatic anti-shock garment. (Formerly known as Medical anti-shock trousers MAST)
19. Can assist with emergency childbirth. This does not include any surgical procedures.
20. Can puncture capillaries for the purpose of blood glucose monitoring.
21. Can use an automated glucometer.
22. Can perform proper moving and lifting of patients.
23. Can extricate patients.
24. Can assess and perform mass casualty incident triage with the use of triage tags.
25. Can take care of scene management, such as directing traffic. Scene management activities should only be done if they do not interfere with patient care duties and law enforcement personnel are not yet on scene.
26. Can apply Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP).
    

Advanced EMT Scope of Practice – Procedures

The Advanced EMT can administer all medications and perform all interventions of the EMT, in addition to the following.

1. Can place a Blind Insertion Airway Device (BIAD).
2. Can perform a peripheral venipuncture (IV).
3. Can perform pediatric and adult intraosseous cannulation (IO).

Advanced EMT Scope of Practice – Medications

The following medications can be administered to patients as specified in Alabama EMS protocols.

1. Albuterol
2. Dextrose
3. Diphenhydramine
4. Epinephrine (Intramuscular only)
5. Glucagon
6. Naloxone
7. Nitroglycerin
8. Nitrous Oxide
9. Normal Saline
10. Ondansetron
11. Thiamine

Intermediate EMT Scope of Practice – Procedures

An Intermediate EMT in Alabama can perform all patient care procedures and administer all medications in the EMT and the Advanced EMT Scope of Practice. The Intermediate EMT can also perform the following procedures:

1. Can Place both oral and nasal endotracheal tubes.
2. Can use cardiac monitoring equipment and can place electrical leads and obtain 12-Lead ECGs.
3. Can deliver electrical therapy to patients which includes manual defibrillation and synchronized cardioversion.

Paramedic Scope of Practice – Procedures

A Paramedic in Alabama is authorized to perform all patient care procedures and administer all medications as defined in the EMT, Advanced EMT, and Intermediate EMT Scope of Practice.

A Paramedic in Alabama can also perform the following additional procedures and administer the following medications:

1. Can perform external cardiac pacing.
2. Can place a Naso-gastric tube.
3. Can perform Needle Decompression of a tension pneumothorax.

Paramedic Scope of Practice – Medications

1. Can Administer medications on the list approved by the Alabama State Board of Health for such use in the EMS setting. Medications can be administered via the intranasal, intravenous, intramuscular, intraosseous, subcutaneous, sublingual, oral, rectal routes; and through inhalers and endotracheal tubes as approved for such administration by the State Board of Health.
2. Medications must be administered within the constraints specified by the State EMS and Trauma rules, administration of medications and maintenance of I.V. drips for inter-hospital transfer patients.

Accredited EMS Programs

Here is a list of Alabama Emergency Medical Services Programs that are accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Education Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions. The Alabama EMT training programs on this list are State approved EMT programs.

Alabama Fire College
Address: 2501 Phoenix Drive, Tuscaloosa Alabama 35405
Program Director: Bailey Price (bprice@alabamafirecollege.org)
Phone: (205) 391-3743
Fax: (205) 391-3771

Bevill State Community College
(Walker, Hamilton, and Fayette Campuses)
Address: PO Box 800, 101 State Street, Sumiton Alabama 35148
Program Director: Scott Karr (scottkarr@bellsouth.net)
Phone: (800) 648-3271, Ext: 5568
Fax: (205) 387-9782

Calhoun Community College
Address: 6250 Highway 31 North, Tanner Alabama 36671
Address: PO Box 2216, Decatur Alabama 35609-2216
Program Director: Mark Branon (msb@calhoun.edu)
Phone: (256) 306-2791
Fax: (256) 306-2909

Central Alabama Community College
Address: 34091 U.S. Highway 280, Childersburg Alabama 35044
Program Director: Dee Fuller (dfuller@cacc.edu)
Phone: (256) 378-2062
Fax: (256) 378-2046

Chattahoochee Valley Community College
Address: 2602 College Drive, Phenix City Alabama 36869
Program Director: Mark A. Boisclair (Mark.Boisclair@cv.edu)
Phone: (334) 214-4872
Fax: (334) 214-4864

Coastal Alabama Community College
Address: 1900 Highway 31 South, Bay Minette Alabama 36507
Program Director: Vince Parker (Vincent.Parker@coastalalabama.edu)
Phone: (251) 968-3113

Gadsden State Community College-McClellan Center
Address: 100A Commandants Drive, Anniston Alabama 36205
Program Director: John Hollingsworth (jhollingsworth@gadsdenstate.edu)
Phone: (256) 238-9366
Fax: (256) 238-9360

Gadsden State Community College
Address: PO Box 227, 1001 George Wallace Drive, Gadsden Alabama 35902-0227
Program Director: John Hollingsworth (jhollingsworth@gadsdenstate.edu)
Phone: (256) 549-8654
Fax: (256) 549-8276

Herzing University
Address: 280 West Valley Avenue, Birmingham Alabama 35209
Program Director: Leo J. Deason (leo.deason@bhm.herzing.edu)
Phone: (205) 916-2800
Fax: (205) 916-2807

Jefferson Davis Community College
PO Box 958, Brewton Alabama 36427
2200 Alco Drive, Brewton Alabama 36426
Program Director: Susan Mack (susan.mack@jdcc.edu)
Phone: (251) 867-4832
Fax: (251) 809-0178

Jefferson State Community College
Address: Jefferson Campus – 2601 Carson Road, Birmingham Alabama 35215

Shelby Campus
http://www.jeffersonstate.edu/programs/emergency-medical-services/
Address: 4600 Valleydale Road, Birmingham Alabama 35242
Program Director: James (Pete) Norris (jnorris@jeffstateonline.com)
Phone: (205) 856-6066

Lurleen B. Wallace Community College
Address: PO Box 1418, 1000 Dannelly Boulevard, Andalusia Alabama 36420
Program Director: Wayne Godwin (wgodwin@lbwcc.edu)
Phone: (334) 222-6591, Extension 2210
Fax: (334) 881-2300

Northeast Alabama Community College
Address: PO Box 159, 138 Highway 35 West, Rainsville Alabama 35986
Program Director: Tom Dixon (dixont@nacc.edu)
Phone: (256) 228-6001, Ext: 2341
Phone: (256) 638-4418, Ext: 2341
Fax: (256) 638-4418

Northwest-Shoals Community College
Address: PO Box 2545, 800 George Wallace Boulevard, Muscle Shoals Alabama 35662
Program Director: Mark Simpson (msimpson@nwscc.edu)
Phone: (256) 331-5436
Fax: (256) 331-5371

Priority Medical Training
Address: 2207 Jeff Road, Harvest Alabama 35749
Program Director: Richard Wilkinson (prioritymedicaltraining@gmail.com)
Phone: (256) 684-9189

Southern Union Community College
Address: 1701 Lafayette Parkway, Opelika Alabama 36801
Program Director: Steve Simpson (ssimpson@suscc.edu)
Phone: (334) 745-6437, Extension 5533
Fax: (334) 745-6342

H. Councill Trenholm State Community College
Address: PO Box 10048, 1225 Airbase Boulevard, Montgomery Alabama 36108
Program Director: Danny Perry (dperry@trenholmstate.edu)
Phone: (334) 420-4323
Fax: (334) 420-4437

University of South Alabama 
Address: 600 Clinic Drive, Suite 400, Mobile Alabama 36688-0002
Program Director: Amanda McDonald (avmcdonald@southalabama.edu)
Phone: (251) 431-6418
Fax: (251) 431-6525

Wallace Community College
Address: 1141 Wallace Drive, Dothan Alabama 36303
Program Director: Becky Burke (rburke@wallace.edu)
Phone: (334) 556-2442
Fax: (334) 983-3600

Wallace State Community College
Address: 801 Main Street N.W., Hanceville Alabama 35077-2000
Program Director: Allen Patterson (allen.patterson@wallacestate.edu)
Phone: (256) 352-8336
Fax: (256) 352-8320

Check out these pages for more EMT topics:

→ EMT vs. Paramedic: What’s the Difference

→ 35 Excellent Books for EMTs and Paramedics

→ A Guide to Auscultating Lung Sounds