What is a paramedic?

A paramedic is a person who has a high level of training in emergency medical response. They are not physicians, nurse practitioners, but individuals who have specialized training in how to treat individuals with life threatening and non-life threatening situations. 

They have advanced training that allows them to start intravenous lines, administer medications, provide breathing treatments, and deliver pre-hospital care while under the direction of a physician. These individuals do have higher training than basic emergency medical technicians (EMT). These individuals are the ones who respond to the 911 emergency calls.