What types of emergency treatments are used in the ambulance?

The types of emergency treatments used in an ambulance depend on whether the ambulance is certified as BLS (basic life support) or ALS (advanced life support). BLS ambulances are staffed by EMT-B certified personnel. The services they provide vary by jurisdiction and generally include oxygen, heart monitoring, care and immobilization of traumatic injuries and CPR including emergency defibrillation.

ALS ambulances are staffed by paramedic (EMT-P) certified personnel. Paramedics have additional levels of training and are able to provide more advanced levels of care. Examples of treatments and procedures used in ALS ambulances include starting of intravenous lines (IVs), administration of medications including medications that can alter blood pressure and heart rate as well as tracheal intubation. Tracheal intubation is when a tube is placed orally into the trachea allowing the paramedic to ventilate (breathe for) a patient.