Be careful... a little bit of medical training and you might get sucked in... just like me... I started with EMT-B... That quickly progressed to getting my Paramedic license, and now I'm on the way to becoming an MD.
Here's my breakdown of your options:
Red Cross / American Heart Association / Others -
first aid and CPR give a foundational base on the very basic basic things... ie positional airway management, bleeding control, CPR and AED use, fracture support, etc. Everybody should get this level of training at a minimum.
Training Company Courses - Tactical Response IAM, Grey Group's NAR Operator FR, Suarez Intl Trauma for CCW etc
..... all teach the "sexy" trauma medicine...including skills you, without a license, can not perform inside CONUS (Intubation & Surgical Airway, IV access, needle thoracostomy, and some other skills some companies are teaching come to mind.). Trauma is exciting and fun... but its the 1/2 of 1% of encounters. You are far more likely to come across allergic reactions, AMI (Heart Attacks), Dehydration / Vomiting / Fever / Infection / General Malaise, and other medical problems. Don't get me wrong, these are good classes that are teaching important skill... and certainly something to think about... but maybe not right away.
EMT-B -
will give you the widest and most balanced approach to medical training. You will cover everything... assessments, physiology, pharmacology, etc. etc.... as well as the medical and trauma training - dealing with that heart attack, to trauma, to controlling crowds and dealing with other responders (a key skill btw...).
Your location says York, PA.... Harrisburg County Community College is COAEMSP Accredited for their EMT-B and Paramedic programs. I'd check them out as your primary medical training institution.
Any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
- Sam
Samuel B. Long
NREMT-P, MICP, WEMT-P
UNM School of Medicine