Caduceus

I do indeed hope to get a BA in EMS and as you said there is only one place is WA that offers that, so that's where I plan on going. I had always been under the conviction that you never had time to work in college, but from what you guys are saying it is very doable. The area I may be living in should have a decent EMS program, but I will look into it more and the areas around it. Thanks Triemal. I hope that I can hold off on the kids till I get out of school.

*puts in a quarter* *Backs away slowly*

Wow that's really really cool. Thank you for sharing that with me, sir.

I looked into other EMS jobs I can hold while I am going to college. Turns out there are quite a few I didn't know about. Thanks go out to everyone for taking the time to share their knowledge with me. There's still a lot I have to learn about being a paramedic, but everytime I log on here everyone is willing and ready to help me learn and grow. Thank you all so much for your time. Someday, I will pay you back by using this knowledge to become a great paramedic.

Whoa. What kind of quarter machine is this?

Typical EMS thing? This is the typical thing period. I am not in EMS but I have experience working with new people on a team (I run an art club). The best thing to do is what everyone has already said--tell the guy why you're POed. Sometimes people don't realize they're being obnoxious and once someone lets them know, they'll get better. Sometimes.

Maybe my opinions aren't valid, but don't EMTs and paramedics deserve the right to protect themselves? I personally think this should be a thing. (Not like the article describes exactly, but EMS needs SOMETHING). As I understand it, paramedics can find themselves in some pretty dangerous situations. What I don't understand is why many are opposed to the idea of arming EMS. I don't mean with guns, I mean with any self-defense tools. And there are a wide range that EMTs and medics could carry without making patients uneasy. Hell, the patients might not even realize that they have something. (For example, pepper spray or a taser as in the above article.) I am not arguing with these individuals' opinions I am just wondering why not? Yeah, there are the issues of extra costs to EMS services for the tools and the proper training, plus the risk of some trigger-happy newb misusing them. Plus if people knew that EMS carried, I guess that would definitely make it harder for patients to trust their medics and to tell them the truth about what is up with them. Even if it was just in urban departments, what do you guys think about arming EMS with guns, pepper spray, tasers, etc?

My mistake. Sorry. I'll admit I didn't know about those job options. What are the ER tech jobs about? I haven't heard of them before, but I guess I knew about the interfacility transports.

I am in kind of a tough spot because in my county, it is impossible to get a job within the fire department without being a paramedic and a firefighter. Anything less, and you're a vollie. Sucks but it's true. There's also no AMR or third service available here--it's all done by the fire department. Now, on the subject of volunteering. I am not an EMS professional. My opinions are going to be single-minded and they are going to be naive. I live in a town of three hundred people. We can't afford paramedic-level care, or paid professionals. We just can't do it. Now I have a bias for these volunteers-they've saved my friend's life. So yeah, I greatly support and appreciate them. I do believe EMS should begin to push its members to obtain college degrees and to minimize large amounts of volunteering in urban settings. But when I am in college, I am not going to be able to work as an EMT. I am going to have to volunteer. That is what's available to me, that is how things are going to work. Whether I am volunteering in a hospital or fire station (or elsewhere) remains to be seen. And now a question for Ruff: What kinds of prejudices will I develop in EMT class? How can I avoid them?

Cool! Thank you very much. I can't wait to get started with this. Now here is another question. Should I volunteer on the department in my town or the one in a nearby city. The city has paramedics but my town does not. Would it be better to try and volunteer with paramedics? Or does it even matter?

Thank you. This is really valuable information. I will be eighteen before I graduate high school. But I thought it was a requirement to have your HS diploma or a GED before you started an EMT class? Is this a case of state government that I should look into for my area? Would it be useful on my EMT or paramedic applications if I took a defensive driving course?

Thanks Mikey. I didn't know that, but I suppose it makes sense. If I can't get into the paramedic classes, and even if I do, I plan on getting a major/minor in mechanics.

I am planning on getting a Bachelor's in paramedicine, and a prerequisite (as you all will know) is being an EMT before entering the program. I have a couple of questions: 1) Is taking a year after high school to get my EMT and do some volunteer work a good move? 2) What other volunteer work can I do to make my application for the paramedicine BA (which seems pretty selective) better? Thanks so much for your time.

Congrats! She's beautiful!

Help me find an EMS system that isn't flawed. There are flaws in every system on the planet. As FormerEMSLT said, even if we can't be entirely trustful of the media, it seems to me there is a serious problem with management here that should not occur in a proffesional organization EVER, let alone one that deals with people's lives.

Hm, interesting. It's always surprising what they come up with next; it might be something that changes medicine or doesn't go beyond a small study.

Why does the capitol of our country have such a poor excuse for a fire department? Shouldn't they strive to be the best? It sounds like they're just lazy.

That's unfortunate, but there are plenty of stories of heroism that are true to hold me over.

This is an interesting question I have been trying to answer for my parents. They're less than keen to let me get into pre-hospital EMS because they view it as an occupation, and as others have stated here, its quite obvious that in some views it is. What I'm wondering is if I obtain a Bachelor's degree in paramedicine, can my personal career be considered a profession? I have personally noticed EMTs and paramedics are oft looked down on by the public (some of whom have not directly required their services, some of whom have) because its considered a job you work on your way to other jobs. But as IslandEmt said, it really depends on the individuals future plans, education, and attitude toward the job.

Huh I had a fun day the other day. My mom had gotten her allergy shots and then started to have an anaphylactic reaction. She drove to the clinic and got a shot of epi and some benadryl. Called my dad and he came, picked us up. I swear, between the benadryl and the tylenol they gave her my mom was passed out the rest of the night -_-"

Okay. Thanks for the clarifiction. Kinda sucks the book wouldn't say that considering it was published late 2013

The second one. . .about the artist. I'm an artist myself and that's pretty much what my reaction would be. So funny. I would be effing pissed.

My EMT book said that an significant MOI for an adult pt was a fall of 20 or more feet, but it seems like a fall of any height would be significant.Can someone clarify?