How To Become A Paramedic In South Africa & Subjects Needed

Are you looking for a way to become a Paramedic in South Africa and you don’t know the subjects needed or even universities in South Africa where you can undergo the course? If yes, then this informative article is for you. You will be given detailed information about how to become a Paramedic in South Africa, Universities and Subjects Needed.

What Does A Paramedic Do?

Paramedics provide pre-hospital emergency care, treatment, and specialised transport for patients with medical emergencies. They also deal with non-emergency tasks such as hospital admissions, discharges and transfers. They usually work as part of a rapid response team dealing with a range of situations, from minor wounds to serious injuries caused by a major road or rail accident.

Paramedics may perform the following tasks:

• Making quick decisions about moving the patient
• Lifting and placing patients on stretchers, loading the stretchers into ambulances and transporting patients to hospital
• Using advanced life support techniques, carrying out surgical procedures, providing drug and fluid therapy, and putting on dressings for wounds and supports for broken bones
• Preparing patient care records and other written reports
• Attending public gatherings, such as large sporting events, where accidents or other health emergencies may occur
• Performing daily vehicle and equipment checks, making sure those medical supplies are accounted for and that equipment and ambulances are working.

What Qualifications Do I Need?

One route to becoming a paramedic involves three levels of training, with a theoretical and practical component to each. The first level is Basic Life Support (BLS) course to become a Basic Ambulance Assistant (BAA), the second is the Intermediate Life Support (ILS) course to become an Ambulance Emergency Assistant (ANA), and the third is the Advanced Life Support (ALS) course, which qualifies you as a Paramedic (ANT).

An alternative route is to enrol for a Bachelor of Technology: Emergency Medicine or Emergency Medical Care, which is offered at various universities and universities of technology. Graduates must then register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

What Subjects Do I Need?

Contact each institution for their specific requirements, but these subjects are recommended:

• Mathematics
• Physical Science

Where Can I Study?

University of Johannesburg

• Bachelor of Technology: Emergency Medical Care
• www.uj.ac.za

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

• National Diploma: Emergency Medical Care
• www.cput.ac.za

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