Both Fredricks and Vesper are certified paramedics. Emergency medical technicians must complete at least 1,000 training hours before they become paramedics, said Rich Tupica, MMR supervisor. The MICU arrives safely at the hospital where the pair update the doctors as to the woman's status. A cleaning and restocking of the vehicle follows each run. Knowing how to operate the machines in the truck and the different hospitals they visit is important in their daily duties.
More responsibility is laid on paramedics.
However, paramedics should never trust the equipment, but treat the patient instead, Fredricks said. Equally important is understanding the types of medications to administer to a patient. The crew of the MICU has a drug box on board, but Vesper said most trauma patients do not need drugs, but fluids. Operating as a team is a necessity, and knowing one's partner is essential to the operation, Fredricks said. Throughout the day, the pair transports an elderly man from CMCH to his nursing home and administers first aid to a seizure victim at Ric's Food Market.