There are 10 EMTs and 13 paramedics working for Beatrice Fire and Rescue, and five of those EMTs are currently studying to become paramedics, Fire Chief Brian Daake said.
Both work to save lives, Daake said, but the difference comes down to training and what treatments they can provide en route to the hospital. EMTs are required to take 150 hours of training, along with ride time in an ambulance, while paramedics take part in a two-year course that requires some real world training.
An EMT, Daake said, would be able to provide the equivalent of extremely heavy first aid and a paramedic is something comparable to nursing, but with different aspects.