Any EMT's out there?

[freeflyer49 0]

I am seriously considering a career move into the EMT field and was hoping to hear pros and cons if there are any out there...Feel free to email at pmcdonald@epoch.net...
Blue skies

[skymedic 0]

So ya wanna be an EMT huh? Do you have desires to JUST be an EMT. or do you wanna be a paramedic later on? Send me an Email with your questions. I think I can answer almost everything as I have done everything you can in this field. from private ambulance bullshit, to flight medicine both Fixed wing/and rotary wing, I was a Firefighter/paramedic for the city of chicago for 6 years too. we just ask away.
there are aton of benefits to the job(nothing like grabbing someone out of the grasp of the reaper) but alot of drawbacks that sometimes make it not worth it.
talk to ya later,
Marc
Because I fly, I envy no man on earth

[freeflyer49 0]

Thanks Marc...I would appriciate the chane to pick your brain a bit...Cant figure out how to get your email though...

[skymama 37]

You can contact him at skymedic@dropzone.com. He's sick, so bear with him if he starts to babble incoherently.
Andrea
The brave may not live forever, but the timid may not live at all.

[skymedic 0]

skymedic@dropzone.com
Marc
Because I fly, I envy no man on earth

[kevin922 0]

I'm an emt as well - feel free to email me, korkin@yahoo.com
I do it as a hobby - for me, the pay sucks the hours are long it's high stress but it's rewarding at times and a good adrenaline high.
I'm a full time computer guy - pay is much better.

[Kelly 0]

hello. Im an Volunteer EMT and absolutely love it. you can email me with questions, comments, conserns etc. i've got more time than Marc or Kevin to answer questions (grumble grumble, damned cast!!!) haha. sorry, im having a pity party, and EVERYONES INVITED!!!!!!
kelly
freefrogfall@hotmail.com
"i can not attest to what i did, just what i remember...."
~me, after one too many

[Albatross 0]

More Voluteer EMTs here. I just couldn't live on the pay. But ask away.
God bless us and God Bless America
Albatross

[firefly 0]

Ok, I am not an EMT, but I am a volunteer Fire-fighter for 13 years.
Here in Europe the EMT are not included in the Fire-Department.
Fire-fighters do know life-saving techniques, but the ambulanceservice do the rest. In case of an accident they are earlier at the scene then we are.

[skymedic 0]

EMT's are only extensions of a paramedics hands....
Unfortunately EMT's are kind of limited in there treatment ability, as for paramedics, we have all the toys!!!
Marc
Because I fly, I envy no man on earth

[skymedic 0]

Quote

. I just couldn't live on the pay.

I am not sure what you mean, I have EMT's that work with me at my part time job that are making 35,000 a year.
This year I will be grossing in the high 60's to low 70's. So I dont think I have a LOW paying job.
Now that I am going into nursing I am going to take a huge paycut to do it. I am just too burned out to continue doing what I do.
Marc
Because I fly, I envy no man on earth

[flyinmedic 0]

Hi,

Im a paramedic. Skymedic, I an curious as to where you did flight medicine.

[selbbub78 0]

I volunteer as an EMT, and it's probably one of the best things i do. Eventually I think that a paramedic would be cool, but being an EMT has it's rewards. You're doing good things, helping the community, and it's just great. my 2 cents

"Women fake orgasms - men fake whole relationships" – Sharon Stone
"The world is my dropzone" (wise crewdog quote)
"The light dims, until full darkness pierces into the world."-KDM

[lummy 4]

Quote

Now that I am going into nursing I am going to take a huge paycut to do it. I am just too burned out to continue doing what I do.

From what I've heard, there is a big shortage in nursing. This one gal I knew said they were offering 10-15k bonuses to get qualified people.

Just what I heard tho

I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. eat sushi, get smoochieTTK#1

[mjosparky 4]

I was a Firefighter for 30 years, an EMT for the whole 30 and a ParaMedic for 15. If you work in the ambulance field the pay sucks. In the fire service it is not to bad, good benefits and great retirement.

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[dropdeded 0]

I cant offer advice, Im currently taking classes. Im in an EMT class right now, but the course has a LOT more to it. Lots of Emergency Services and Safety Management crap (which can only help).
My intentions are to do the EMT deal, then move up the ladder.
I CAN say one thing, if you have no medical experience or knowledge, like myself, its not easy. BUT, it is what I want to do, so it takes a little more effort on my part, and thats OK.

Good luck.

I caught Skymedic on line late one night while I was doing homework, and he helped me immensely, he's a good guy. SkydiverBrian has also extended the offer to help. So, there is an awesome group here willing to help.

dropdeded

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The Dude Abides.
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[Muenkel 0]

I'm not an EMT, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

_________________________________________
Chris

[Dagny 0]

I just got off of work...as a waitress. Don't ask. I'm a paramedic, though, or at least I worked as one before I moved to Florida. Since I'm feeling beat down by my shift today, I think I'd like to tackle the cons of being an EMT/Paramedic.

Probably the biggest for me was achieving all I could as a paramedic. I worked for several years and had treated a wide variety of patients. I mastered my skills and felt there was nowhere else to go in the field except for a supervisor position. And I really had no interest in that.

There is little respect for EMT's...we're frequently forgotten and not recognized as readily as cops or firefighters. Everyone loves a firefighter. (Me too...they're hot in bunker gear and sweat, but that's another story)

You will always have to take orders from a physician. While your flexibility in the field may be great, you will still have to call to cardiovert someone or push morphine or do the things you know damn well have to be done. Sometimes, you have to walk a newbie resident through your patient report and ask really nicely just to get the orders you need. At least, that's what New Orleans is like.

If you work for a city service that isn't funded well, you may have to deal with lack of supplies. This means you have to be really creative about how to steal things (oops, I mean borrow) from the hospitals and other emt's just so you can do your job.

The job requires heavy lifting and given the number of obese people in the world, your back will suffer. EMS is hard on the body long term.

There is frequent abuse of the EMS system. This means you may have to transport the person who has a cold or the patient who has a hangnail. These people could care less about anyone else in the world, so don't even bother telling them that when they ride the ambulance to the hospital for total BS it leaves their neighbor without emergency assistance. They won't care. (this tends to lead to the high burnout rate among medics)

Some people will hate you no matter what you do or say. Life threats are not necessarily uncommon. You may be hit, slapped, scratched, spit on, peed on, cursed at, or threatened. You may be shot at. If you're lucky, the cops might be able to back you up otherwise you and your partner watch each others backs.

You cannot control where you are called to work. Sometimes you will deal with nasty mean patients, doctors, nurses, or bystanders. You may end up in a project at night or a prison or a luxury home. Actually, that's a pro for me...I love the variety.

Ummm...one more con. Sometimes you work your ass off and your patients suffers and dies and you can't do anything about it. And you feel like crying or hitting something. That's when you need your partners, and sick humor, and an after work beer to celebrate life...or making it through the shift alive. (like on New Years Eve...dangerous)

Okay, wait...now it sounds like I'm bitter about EMS. I'm not. I loved it and miss it. The money was okay, I lived a decent life and I had enough to do the things I loved. EMS can totally rock your world. It is high paced, exciting, and allows you to treat people without a doctor standing over your shoulder critiquing you. You will be autonomous, essentially. You will save lives and that will make you feel great. You will comfort the sick and sometimes people are really nice to you. Your partners will become like family. Once you drive away from your station, you are free to relax in the area you work. This can mean getting something to eat or drink, shopping, watching tv, sleeping, reading, whatever. You can't find that in any other job that I know of. EMS is fun and unlike anything I've ever done before. I loved every minute of it and would do it again if I could right now. It sure beats serving food to people for just above minimum wage.
If you have an interest in medicine and EMS, I say go for it. I don't regret one minute of it!

Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic.
-Salvador Dali

[skymedic 0]

Quote

You will always have to take orders from a physician. While your flexibility in the field may be great, you will still have to call to cardiovert someone or push morphine or do the things you know damn well have to be done. Sometimes, you have to walk a newbie resident through your patient report and ask really nicely just to get the orders you need. At least, that's what New Orleans is like.

No where have I ever had to get orders to push med's untill I started this last job. everywhere I have worked we had relatively free reign to do what had to be done. the only time I had to call in my past jobs was to place a chest tube, do a cut down for a line, or some other invasive Tx..and that wasn't a can I do it...it was a "this is what I am going to do" call. when I worked in FL, if I were to make my radio report in and had to "ask" to do something the Dr's on the other end would have writtem me up in a heartbeat. granted I was flying down there...but I know the FD's were the same way in many places. the FD's I worked at out of the chicago area were the same way's. "DO NOT DELAY TREATMENT TO CALL THE HOSP." is labeled on all SOP's. Do then tell what you did is how it is run. the feeling is if you are a paramedic...you should know when and how to apply your skills. granted stupid medics do not last long and are quickly ousted from the systems, and there are no dual trucks(1medic,1EMT)...my last FD up there almost everyone was a medic from the fire cheif on down.

BUT...alot of what you said on the negative side is very true...abuse, hard work, crappy hours, FAT people....blah blah blah...but on the other hand...I like my work, most of the time.

the last post I had up there was from 2001...I was at a low point in my life...thought I was burned out..but somehow I am still here. I have been a medic for over 10yrs now an EMT for almost 2 yrs before that. but like you...I have no where else to go...I have worked fixedwing, rotory wing, tactical, critical care ground, privates, FD...and it just isn't a challenge any more. time for me to move on. I ended up not going to nursing school that year due to my Ex wife losing her job...that happened to me multiple times with her..thank god I am no longer with her...

anyway...be safe out there...

Marc
otherwise known as Mr.Fallinwoman....

[firediver 0]

I've been a Firefighter/medic for 20 years....It's like any other job, some days are good ones, some days just plain suck. If it's what you truly want to do, then do it....if it's kind of just an idea that maybe you'd like to investigate a little further, then go slowly. The money isn't bad, but you'll never get rich. I make a lot of money, but I also live in the highest cost of living area in the country, so it balances out...

be glad to answer any questions...just email me....Firdiver@dropzone

Skydiving isn't scary;...but clowns...CLOWNS are scary!