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With all due respect, I will never say thank you for the IAFF working to bring down educational standards, for twisting the facts in their addresses to the general public, or for trying to replace me or any other paramedic with a firefighter so they can keep their jobs. The way I look at it, the IAFF is a drowning man who's latching onto EMS to try and keep afloat, regardless of the fact they're bringing us down with them. I feel bad for them, I really do, they've worked themselves out of a job and now they're trying to keep from going under, but that's their problem to figure out--not ours. EMS is emergency medical services, not fire and emergency medical services. I get that they're drowning, but they don't have to bring anyone down to Davy Jones' locker (+1 for using that phrase in an EMS discussion) with them. Yes they have, but at what cost? This industry is about what's in the best interest for the patient, not "what's in the best interest of keeping firefighter jobs"; and because of that, an organization that exists solely to keep firefighter jobs is NOT working in the interests of the patient but in their own interests. Yes, I can. And I gladly will. I learned from day one that EMS has to constantly fight for its very existence, and I for one will not give up on a progressive, constantly advancing, constantly improving EMS. I will fight for an independent, high quality, progressive and advancing EMS as unapologetically as the IAFF fights for a fire based EMS. Don't get me wrong, I'm not inherently opposed to fire based EMS--if it's done right. But the fire based EMS that the IAFF endorses and that many fire departments seem to endorse is not the kind of EMS I will ever support. You're a hundred percent right about that.

If you remembered where you put things, you wouldn't lose them.

HAHA! Reminds me of my paramedic class...Instructor asks where you tie the tourniquet when you do an EJ. Student(not me!) responds----Around the neck! Seriously??? The rest of us just sat in stunned silence....

Yes, everyone here thinks they are English critics...and it's pretty funny. But I would say go for it. If you think this is what you want to do, it's never too early to start looking into it. And, if you can find a way to get experience through an explorers program, take it! Finishing high school is important, but if you think you can do that while looking into and/or starting an EMS class, you might as well. But never completely dismiss the idea of going to college too if you become even a little unsure about what you want to do after high school.