In the United States the majority of EMTs are volunteers, and most volunteer EMTs live and work in predominately rural areas. Working as an EMT in a rural area provides its own unique challenges and considerations. Among them are the distances the EMT must travel to reach the patient, and to deliver the patient to definitive care. The rural EMT must also know how to provide emergency care for a wide variety of injuries.
Resources are often limited, as are opportunities for continuing education.
Travel times are extended, and rural EMTs are often involved in time-consuming transfers of patients from a local hospital to a more specialized care center. Rural EMTs also face the special challenge of being acquainted with the patients they treat, which may create an extreme emotional burden. Another special challenge is that rural EMTs often lack a sufficient number of calls to maintain their skills and knowledge base. This situation contributes to the high attrition rate for EMTs, as well as the falling rate of recruitment. Despite these challenges, being an EMT in a rural area can bring a great deal of satisfaction.