MFR's

[FutureCop01]

I'm wanting to be a police officer, and i've recently learned of MFR's or Medical First Responders. I was wondering if anyone could fill me in on what exactly MFR's do? and if it would make my chances of getting a job any higher? all comments appresheated!

[BVESBC]

I'm wanting to be a police officer, and i've recently learned of MFR's or Medical First Responders. I was wondering if anyone could fill me in on what exactly MFR's do? and if it would make my chances of getting a job any higher? all comments appresheated!

The amount of time you will spend you would probably be just as well off to go further and get your EMT-B. As for it helping you get a job that depends on how the prospective employer percieves the cert. you have. Some think that a MFR is a half assed EMT-B and a EMT-B is a half assed EMT-P. No mater what level you obtain do it well or dont do it at all!

[mobey]

I'm wanting to be a police officer

Not to be harsh, but if that's what you want go do it. You have no reason to take MFR, EMT or Paramedic. EMS is striving to become a profession. Please do not enter it unless your going to be a professional health care worker, and dedicate yourself to advancing EMS in your area.

[akroeze]

The amount of time you will spend you would probably be just as well off to go further and get your EMT-B. As for it helping you get a job that depends on how the prospective employer percieves the cert. you have. Some think that a MFR is a half assed EMT-B and a EMT-B is a half assed EMT-P. No mater what level you obtain do it well or dont do it at all!

Yeah, from what I can tell there is no difference between the two so you might as well get the "higher" cert anyway

[Dustdevil]

I'm afraid I have to disagree with all of you.

Mobey and Akroeze, remember that our MFR in the U.S. is not really part of the EMS continuum, as it is in Canadia. It's just a forty hour first aid course here. A good one, to be sure. And specifically designed for public safety personnel who will commonly find themselves first on the scene of medical emergencies. But not really training for EMS professionals. It's certainly not like in Alberta, where it is a foundation for paramedic school.

Police officers in most states that I know of are required to have first aid training anyhow (although they are not required to maintain it). MFR, EFR, ECA, or whatever, is just a little better level of first aid, and I'd like my cops to have it. But going to EMT school really isn't a big boost for a cop. It's not like they need to know how to operate stretchers and suction machines and all that nonsense. And, since it is actually very rare that they would get to practise any of what they've learned, they will usually forget ninety-percent of it in short order. So again, it would not really be appropriate to waste time and money on EMT school, unless they were planning to be active as a primary EMS responder.

To answer the original question, no, it's not likely to help you get a job. The criteria used by most police departments, big and small, just really don't include things like that. At best, it will just allow you to skip that one day of the police academy where they teach first aid.

What MFRs do varies across North America. In Canadia, they are as well trained as most EMTs in the U.S., and can practise individually as a provider of emergency care on ambulances and first aid posts. But in most of the U.S., it is nothing more than a level of first aid training for firemen, who, like cops, tend to end up in the middle of the shit before medics arrive. There are really no jobs out there for a first responder certified person. It's only meant to be supplemental training for other public safety professionals.

If you're just really, really interested in first aid stuff, and have the money to blow, then, by all means, take it. You'll be a better person for it, and it could come in very handy for you someday. But don't count on it giving you an edge on paper when it comes application to the PD time. If you do it, you're just doing it for you, not because you're going to get any Brownie points out of it.

[mobey]

I'm afraid I have to disagree with all of you.

Mobey and Akroeze, remember that our MFR in the U.S. is not really part of the EMS continuum, as it is in Canadia. It's just a forty hour first aid course here. A good one, to be sure. And specifically designed for public safety personnel who will commonly find themselves first on the scene of medical emergencies. But not really training for EMS professionals. It's certainly not like in Alberta, where it is a foundation for paramedic school.

Ahh I see. In that case it actually sounds like a great idea. Especially working as a cop.