First Responders can perform a variety of medical techniques not available to First Aiders.  These include the following:

• Oxygen Therapy
• Childbirth
• Triage and Multiple Trauma
• Airway Management
• Moving Patients
• Assisting Patients in using medications such as inhalers, epinephirine auto-injectors, nitroglycerin pills, etc.
• Transportation of Patients
• Assisting medical professionals

First responder skills and limitations

Lifesaving skills in the first responder course include recognizing unsafe scenes and hazardous materials emergencies, protection from bloodborne pathogens, controlling bleeding, applying splints, conducting a primary life-saving patient assessment, in-line spinal stabilization and transport, emergency defibrillation, when to call for more advanced medical help, and the use of oxygen and airway adjuncts. First Responders can recognize and treat a wide variety of ailments, including, but not limited to, strokes, heart attacks, poisonings, shock, hypo- and hyperglycemia, and heat- and cold-related emergencies. First Responders are also trained to assist with the delivery of babies. However, a first responder does not have an EMT's skill at patient assessment and evaluation. They may have the basic pharmacology training EMTs receive, and may be allowed to administer oral Glucose and Activated Charcoal, or assist with Nitro or inhalers. First responders do not have enough training to be the highest level of certification on a BLS ambulance, but may be present, although this is not their primary duty. They serve as secondary providers with some volunteer EMS services. A certified first responder can be seen either as an advanced first aid provider, or as a somewhat limited provider of emergency medical care.

First Responders can also administer the following airways when indicated and where standard of care permits:

• Oralpharyngeal Airway
• Nasopharyngeal Airway

The Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (EMT-B) is a basic level provider of Emergency Medical Services within the United States of America. EMT-B's work usually under supervision of a higher level EMT or a doctor or nurse. EMT-B's provide BLS, basic trauma, fractures, AED, burns, medical problems and other health needs of an emergency nature until such time as a more qualified person can take over.

EMT-B's within the United States differ in their skills and rights from state-to-state.

EMT-B skills include CPR, first aid, airway management, oxygen administration, spinal immobilization, bleeding control and traction splinting.

• Emergency Operations
  • Emergency Vehicle Response
  • Emergency Scene Operations
  • Patient Extrication and Rescue
  • Mass Casualty Triage and Staging
  • Emergency Medical Transport
  • Radio Communications and Notifications
• Basic Life Support
  • Rescue Breathing and CPR
  • Obstructed Airway Maneuvers
  • Splinting and Bleeding Control
  • Cervical Spinal Immobilization
  • Oxygen Therapy and Vital Signs
  • Medical and Shock Trauma Assessment
• Advanced Life Support
  • Asthma and Respiratory Crisis Intervention
  • Treatment of Anaphylaxis/Severe Allergic Reactions
  • Drug Therapy for Diabetic Shock and Seizures
  • Pharmalogical Stabilization of Cardiogenic Shock
  • Chemical Sedation, Restraint, and Analgesia
  • Intravenous Fluid Replacement Therapy
  • Drug Therapy for Pre-eclampsia/Post-Partum Hemorrhage
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support - ACLS Such as:
  • defibrillation;
  • Synchronized cardioversion;
  • Transcutaneous pacing;
  • Cardiac monitoring and interpretation of EKGs, including 12-lead ECG;
• Pediatric care, such as Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) or Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals (PEPP);
• Trauma care, such as Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) or Basic or Advanced Trauma Life Support (BTLS or ATLS);
• Medical Care, such as Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS)
• Basic and advanced airway management, including:
  • Visualization the airway by use of the laryngoscope
  • removal of foreign bodies with Magill forceps;
  • Endotracheal and nasotracheal intubation;
  • Esophageal intubation using an EOA (now discontinued), LMA or a CombiTube;
  • Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI);
• Surgical cricothyroidotomy or needle cricothyrotomy;
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP);
• Vascular access for medication administration and fluid resuscitation via several routes:
  • Central venous access (central venous catheter by way of external jugular or subclavian)
  • Intraosseous (IO) cannulation (placement of needle into marrow space of a large bone)
• Pulse oximetry and capnography;
• Needle thoracotomy for tension pneumothorax;
• Glucometry (testing blood sugar);
• Ventilator and IV pump management;
• Administration of medications via intramuscular, subcutaneous, intravenous, sublingual, endotracheal, rectal, oral, intranasal, intraosseous, inhaled.