First Responders can perform recognizing unsafe scenes and hazardous materials emergencies, protection from bloodborne pathogens, controlling bleeding, applying splints, conducting a primary life-saving patient assessment and a variety of medical techniques not available to First Aiders.  These include the following:

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
• External Defibrillation
• Administer supplemental oxygen
• Monitor vital signs and control bleeding
• Immobilization and spinal stabilization
• Transportation of Patients
• Assisting medical professionals

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

• Oral pharyngeal Airway
• Nasopharyngeal Airway

First Responder within United States may differ in their skills and education requirements from region to region.

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 provides the following:

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
• External Defibrillation
• Oxygen administration
• Airway management
• Spinal immobilization
• Traction splinting
• Bleeding control
• Treatment of shock
• Bandaging wounds
• Assist patients to administer prescribed nitroglycerin, metered dose inhalers and epinephrine auto injectors
• And other health needs of an emergency nature until such time as a more qualified person can take over. 

EMT-Basic's within the United States may differ in their skills and education requirements from region to region.

• 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);
• 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 Laryngeal Mask Airway or a CombiTube;
  • Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI);
• 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);
• Administration of medications via intramuscular, subcutaneous, intravenous, sublingual, endotracheal, rectal, oral, intranasal, intraosseous, inhaled.