Paramedics possess advanced diagnostic abilities and knowledge of hospital specialties and capabilities. In some circumstances, timely diagnosis by Paramedics can radically improve a patient’s chances of survival. In Ontario, Paramedics require at least two years of schooling for entry to practice, but education is a continuous process.
During a regular shift, Paramedics are expected to respond to a wide variety of calls, from an unconscious person who requires a tube placed into their lungs, to a child with asthma, to an elderly person who needs increased support at home.