EMTboy

Gee, haha, there are so many options! So much to think about. It feels like this whole new world of opportunities has opened up to me. (I've been working in retail middle management for 4 years..) Thanks for all the help, I have a lot to consider. Gee, haha, there are so many options! So much to think about. It feels like this whole new world of opportunities has opened up to me. (I've been working in retail middle management for 4 years..) Thanks for all the help, I have a lot to consider.

Thank you so much! How do I go about finding a service to work for with a lot of 911 calls (and what's IFT?) What I don't want to do is work for a nursing home just driving folk back and forth, I want to actually help in emergency situations (like most people I suppose). I would guess working directly for a hospital would be best, but am I wrong?

Thanks so much for the replies guys! You are definitely helping me narrow down my approach. I would like to know more about flight medic and such, but you've been loads of help! Also I'd still like to hear from anyone working in the Chicago area! lol Thanks again! And also, another question, do big cities have ambulance services besides private or fire? Specifically Hospital, that's what I'm used to so far and I really like it but I can't find much info on the matter for Chicago.

lol, I hope you don't feel that way about EMTs.. I actually took a really good 10 credit College course for EMT-B so it was well worth the expense. Is it more common for Fire services to segregate the two or to integrate them?

Lol.. that's why I used the '' .. (specifically what I meant is: Do you only handle EMT responsibilities or do you undertake Fire Fighter duties aswel?) Of course I don't feel that way about EMS, why else would I spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours on education for it? Anyway.. You only partially answered my question. You were answering a question aimed at Fire-Medics of Fire-EMTs, so I assume you are one of them. Which one are you, and how is EMS structured into your Fire Dept.? I know different Depts handle EMS differently, so I'd just like to know the different ways it works. Thanks!

Well Hi! This is my first post, so howdy to y'all! Mine is a complicated story.. I grew up in the Chicago area, then moved to Colorado last year and took an EMT course (and I passed, I'm just now a registered EMT-B *yay*), now I'm moving back to the Chicago area (Evanston). As soon as I get back I'll be looking for a job. I'd like to be in an ambulance, but I wouldn't mind an ER tech-type position as well. I know the Fire Lt. in my home-town who will sponsor me to go to Paramedic school next year and after I'm certified I'll have a position available with that Dept. In the mean time though I need to make some money to save up for EMT-P school. I have a million (or so..) questions that I hope all the more experienced people will be able to help me with. -What are the best agencies to work for in that area (especially in terms of salary, flexibility, types of calls, ect..)? -Are there any Hospital-based agencies in the area? Or what are the non-private services (especially that hire EMT-Bs)? (I had my clinicals with Poudre Valley Hospital which had it's own ambulance service that co-oped with the local Fire Dept and I really liked the way that system worked.) I'm considering even skipping the job search and just volunteering with Americorps for a year.. Would that be a good idea in your opinion? The pay is a stipend of about 800-1100 a month and I would probably work in an emergency preparedness program (for terrorism and disaster events) Would it be beneficial (directly) at all for my EMS career? -I'm not yet EKG or IV certified, can I and where are places I can certify at? -How does it work becoming ACLS and/or ATLS certified? Is it a class or course like IV? Where can I find one? -One thing I really want to do is become a flight medic. What is the best path to accomplish this? -Long-ways down the road I'm considering the possibility of becoming a nurse or even going on to medical school, again what's the best route to get there? -Any advice for a fresh green eager-beaver EMT-B? -Oh yeah, For those that are EMT-B or P with a fire service, how does it work, what is the structure? DO you ride in the truck or on a bus? Are you a Fire Fighter or 'just' an EMT or Medic? Thanks for your help!