Actual individual medical capabilities vary greatly among team members. Members may have little or no medical experience, as may be the case of the probationary member, or they may be extremely knowledgeable in the care and treatment involved in advanced life support. Team members are required to hold minimum medical qualification of Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) and CPR. Many are Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s), Paramedics, Nurses or Doctors.
Emergency Medical Responder (Formerly First Responder)
The Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) level of training is obtained by attending a 40-hour course of training that includes how to recognize and treat basic illnesses and injuries. There are a limited number of EMT’s on the team; therefore, EMRs must maintain a reasonable proficiency with assessment and treatment of illness and injuries and use of all medical equipment used by EPCSAR. EMRs must obtain 16 hours of refresher training and pass the skills testing every two years to maintain their EMR status. EPCSAR provides this training and skills testing in-house, using qualified EPCSAR instructors.
Emergency Medical Technician
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) play a major role in the team’s medical system. These people possess thorough training in basic life support and pre-hospital care and management of patients, in addition to an extensive knowledge of “off road” medical care and wilderness medicine. EMTs must hold a Colorado license to practice at that level on EPCSAR. EPCSAR is a Colorado certified EMT Continuing Education Group and therefore provide all Continuing Education required for license renewal (both NREMT and CO EMT) in-house.
