What basic life support intervention can EMTs effectively perform?

Monitoring vital signs is a fundamental intervention that EMTs are trained to perform as part of their basic life support (BLS) responsibilities. Vital signs—such as heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation—provide crucial information about a patient's current physiological status and can help guide further care. Regularly assessing these signs allows EMTs to identify changes in the patient's condition, which is essential in emergency situations.

While establishing IV access, performing intubation, and administering medication are important skills, they typically fall under advanced life support (ALS) or are considered skills that require higher levels of certification beyond basic EMT training. Therefore, monitoring vital signs is not only within the scope of EMT practice but is also an essential component of early patient assessment and ongoing monitoring during emergencies.