When there’s an emergency, it is helpful to understand the different roles of people who respond, and what they are trained to do. First, dispatchers gather info on where the emergency happened, and what is going on. Dispatchers can provide first aid instructions and suggest the best response that could be  the police, fire department, or Emergency Medical Service (EMS). All three are trained in first aid and CPR—chest compressions and ventilation to help keep patients alive.

There are different roles within EMS. The specific names vary by state but follow the same principle of building on expertise of the level below. In Massachussetts Emergency Medical Technicians start as Basic, then Advanced, then Paramedic. There are currently over 22,000 certified EMTs in Massachusetts. Each level requires additional training and is licensed to administer more complex medical care.