Emergency Medical Services

MGHS EMS Staff

For specific information about training and certification requirements,
contact the Office of Emergency Medical Services at 906-225-3432.

Dan Wolf - Director of EMS

EMS Levels

First Responder - defined as the first medically-trained person to arrive on the scene. The First Responder is required to attend a state-approved, 40-hour training course and the primary roles and responsibilities are to evaluate, stabilize, and treat patients in the emergency situation. This initial care is typically followed by care from emergency medical technicians, nurses, and physicians. The availability of First Responders provides the patient with quicker access to emergency medical services.

Emergency Medical Technician-Basic - required to attend a state-approved, 110-hour training course. The EMT-B training focuses on care of life-threatening conditions, care of non-life threatening situations, and other issues related to the care of the sick or injured. The EMT-B is responsible for continuing the initial care provided by the First Responder and transporting the patient to the hospital in the ambulance.

Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate - required to attend a state-approved, 36-54 hour course in addition to the EMT-B training program. The main responsibility of the EMT-I in an emergency is patient care. The EMT-I curriculum offers expanded information in order for the EMT to provide a more comprehensive physical exam for the patient. An EMT-I is required to be licensed annually through the Michigan Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners. An EMT-I practices skills learned under a licensed physician by following the physician's established protocols.

Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic - required to attend a state-approved training course which includes a minimum of 1,100 total hours of training and includes 540 hours of didactic, 320 hours of clinical observation, and 240 hours of pre-hospital, advanced life support observation. The training focuses on a more comprehensive physical assessment of a patient, a knowledge of the human body, and the means to regulate certain life-threatening conditions. The EMT-P is trained to provide advanced cardiac life support to patients prior to their arrival at an emergency department. The EMT-P’s main objective is to provide quality, pre-hospital care to a patient in the least amount of time and to transport that patient to a definitive care facility for further examination and evaluation. An EMT-P is required to be licensed annually through the Michigan Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners. The skills are practiced under a licensed physician by following specific protocols established by the physician.