An Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is a medical professional who provides emergency care to people outside of or on the way to the hospital. EMTs are the most common type of providers in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and are sometimes referred to as EMTs. They provide out-of-hospital emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the EMS system. EMTs learn the essential skills to help in life-threatening situations and are educated in assessing a patient and determining if any life-threatening injuries or illnesses may be present. They stabilize the patient and transport them to the hospital in an ambulance, where they also inform the hospital of the patient’s injuries or illness. EMTs perform interventions with the basic equipment typically found on an ambulance. They can give basic medical and first-aid care until a person can get help at a hospital or other medical facility. EMTs work on ambulances, helping get people to the hospital, and may also work with fire departments and air rescue teams. EMTs can also work for private ambulance services. EMTs are not allowed to use any treatment that breaks the skin, except for a few exceptions, like giving an epinephrine injection to someone having a severe allergic reaction. The eligibility requirements and prerequisites for EMT and paramedic courses may vary from school to school. To become an EMT, one needs to complete a course that is a minimum of 170 hours in length and sit for exams from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.