Emergency medical responder

EMRs have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide immediate lifesaving interventions while awaiting additional emergency medical services (EMS) resources to arrive, typically in rural communities or other remote environments.

EMRs also provide assistance to higher-level personnel at the scene of emergencies and during ambulance transport, if needed.

It is a level of practice that is least comprehensive (clinically speaking), and is also generally not consistent with any medical acts beyond advanced first-aid and oxygen administration, with the possible exception of automated external defibrillation, which is still a regulated medical act in Canada, although one which is increasingly performed by members of the public under a legal exemption that allows members of the public to undertake some controlled medical acts in emergencies.

EMRs can also serve as secondary providers or drivers on ambulances with volunteer EMS services.

Also, some rural communities could not afford the comprehensive training and highly experienced instructors required for a full EMT course.

The American Red Cross conducts a course titled "emergency medical response" that fits this definition.

EMRs in the United States provide initial emergency care first on the scene (police, fire department, search and rescue) and support EMTs and paramedics when they arrive.

The skills allowed at this level include taking vital signs, bleeding control, positive pressure ventilation with a bag valve mask, oropharyngeal airway, supplemental oxygen administration, oral suctioning, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), splinting, and assisting in the administration of basic medications such as epinephrine auto-injectors and naloxone.

Due to the opioid epidemic,[4] EMRs in certain states or regions are also trained and allowed to give Naloxone[5] and utilize supraglottic airways.

Route of administration The National Fire Protection Association standards 1006[7] and 1670[8] state that all "rescuers" must have medical training to perform any technical rescue operation, including cutting the vehicle itself during an extrication.

It is typically required as a bare minimum of medical training for firefighters, police officers and search and rescue personnel.