When you're in the field, making split-second decisions can be the difference between life and death. As an EMT or paramedic, you don’t always have time to dig through textbooks or search online for critical information. That’s where an EMS field guide becomes an essential tool. Whether you're a student, a new provider, or a seasoned veteran, having a quick-reference guide in your pocket ensures you can provide accurate and effective patient care at all times.
Why Every EMS Professional Needs a Field Guide
Emergency medicine is complex, and no one can remember everything—especially under pressure. An EMS field guide acts as a portable reference manual, helping providers quickly access essential medical protocols, drug dosages, assessment tools, and emergency procedures.
Here are a few reasons why every EMT, paramedic, and critical care provider should carry a field guide:
1. Quick Access to Critical Information
In high-stress situations, even experienced providers can second-guess their memory. A field guide allows you to instantly verify:
✔ Medication dosages and indications
✔ ECG interpretation and arrhythmia recognition
✔ Pediatric assessment and drug calculations
✔ Trauma triage and treatment protocols
Instead of relying on memory alone, a field guide ensures accuracy in time-sensitive scenarios.
2. A Must-Have for EMS Students and New Providers
If you’re just starting out in EMS, a field guide is your best friend. There’s a lot to learn, and while repetition helps build confidence, it's impossible to memorize everything overnight. Carrying a field guide during clinicals and ride-alongs helps reinforce what you learn in class while allowing you to quickly reference protocols when needed.
Pro Tip: Many EMS instructors recommend having a field guide during EMT school so students can familiarize themselves with the content they’ll rely on in the field.
3. Medication Reference and Drug Dosages
Medications play a crucial role in EMS care, but with constantly updated guidelines, new drugs, and changing dosages, staying current is a challenge. A comprehensive EMS field guide provides an updated emergency medications section that includes:
✔ Dosages for both adult and pediatric patients
✔ Contraindications, side effects, and administration tips
✔ Brand-name and generic drug references
For ALS providers, a medication guide is absolutely essential, helping paramedics and AEMTs avoid medication errors in critical situations.
4. Covers the Latest EMS Guidelines
Medical protocols evolve. What was best practice five years ago might be outdated today. A well-maintained EMS field guide provides:
✔ Updated AHA CPR & ACLS guidelines
✔ New airway management techniques (like the I-gel supraglottic airway)
✔ Expanded trauma triage algorithms
✔ Recent additions in poisoning and overdose treatments
For example, the latest editions of EMS field guides now include updated information on COVID-19, Ebola, and mpox, ensuring providers have the most current knowledge in infectious disease response.
Choosing the Right EMS Field Guide: BLS, ALS, or ACLS?
Not all EMS field guides are the same. Depending on your certification level, you’ll need a guide that matches your scope of practice.
1. EMS Field Guide – BLS Version (For EMTs & AEMTs)
Designed for both beginners and experienced EMTs, the BLS version covers everything you need for patient assessment, trauma triage, and basic emergency care, including:
✔ Vital signs, APGAR scores, and stroke scales
✔ Basic medication reference (Oxygen, glucose, epinephrine, etc.)
✔ Pediatric medication dosages
✔ Emergency procedures like CPR and AED use
Ideal for: EMT students, new EMTs, and AEMTs
2. EMS Field Guide – ALS Version (For Paramedics & Advanced Providers)
The ALS version is designed for paramedics, AEMTs, nurses, and physicians who need a more in-depth medication guide, advanced airway techniques, and 12-lead ECG interpretation. It includes:
✔ Expanded emergency medications (including pediatric dosages)
✔ Comprehensive ECG interpretation
✔ Noninvasive ventilation and advanced airway management
✔ Poisoning & overdose treatment protocols
Ideal for: Paramedics, critical care transport teams, and ALS providers
3. ACLS Emergency & Critical Care Pocket Guide (For Advanced Critical Care Providers)
For those working in critical care, flight medicine, or emergency departments, the ACLS Emergency & Critical Care Pocket Guide is the ultimate resource. This guide includes:
✔ Advanced ECG & arrhythmia recognition
✔ Critical care medication dosing and administration
✔ Resuscitation team dynamics and ICU protocols
✔ Lab values, neuromonitoring, and pacemaker troubleshooting
Ideal for: ICU paramedics, flight medics, and emergency department professionals
Final Thoughts: Why an EMS Field Guide is Essential
Whether you're an EMT student learning the ropes, a new provider gaining confidence, or a seasoned paramedic handling complex calls, an EMS field guide is one of the most valuable tools you can carry. It provides instant access to life-saving information, keeps you up to date with the latest protocols, and helps prevent medical errors in high-pressure situations.
Ready to Get Your EMS Field Guide?
At MedTech, we offer a selection of BLS, ALS, and ACLS field guides designed to fit your role in EMS. Don’t leave your success to chance—get the guide trusted by thousands of EMS providers.
