Volunteers – Your Job?

[Timmy]

Well in light of all the volunteer threads on this forum I though it might be interesting to find out what volunteers do for paid employment?

Personally, apart from going to school I work as a sports trainer with a football club and do some occasional paid event first aid work and massage. Volunteer wise I’m with a big first aid squad doing event coverage, I’ve just started as a fire-fighter and do some work in a local hospital.

I’ve never had the desire to work for McDonalds or for the local supermarket. I thought well I have an interest in medical stuff and want to be a paramedic when I leave school so I might as well see if I could get paid to do it. Oh and the other good thing is I’ve never had to pay to do any of my courses!

There seems to be this stereotype of volunteers draining the welfare system, lack of personal hygiene, whackers ect… But in the 7 years I’ve been volunteering I’ve only came across these undesirable types a few times, we have some people that are a bit strange but that’s all. I’ve volunteer along side a heap of amazing people.

What’s your job?

[ladyemt51_2000]

I recently resigned with my dept because I am moving and I don't know whether I will continue "giving it out for free". I am a bartender, which I truly enjoy. It's good money and I like the challenge (yes, there is a certain challenge to my job, if performed correctly).

I also have hopes of finishing Paramedic class, perhaps next year.

I will say that the people on my previous dept had decent jobs, all very hard workers and I was extremely proud to be a part of the group.

[ladyfirefighter36]

I have only been an EMT for the last 15 years. I am lucky enough to be a stay at home mom. My husband has always had a decent job. I didn't begin to volunteer until after my children were old enough to leave them home alone.

I am with a very rural squad and we may only have 10 calls a month, with the exception of last week (10 calls).

[EmtJim]

Full time nurd and computer geek

[SSG G-man]

Full time Soldier!

Sarge

[radiationme]

I'm a Resident Advisor for a high school boarding school. Depending on the call, I take students trained as first responders to help (and to give them more experience).

[CAPEMT]

I actually work part time for our local county ems service, as well as being a full time public safety officer. I volunteer with the fire-rescue dept. in my county, which is a combination dept.

[AnatomyChick]

Full Time Student... searching for work... anyone, anyone?

Jo

[MeekoBB]

I work for a private bls service and help out the neighboring volunteer city with day time calls that the city pays $20/run.

[Rescue0ne]

When I'm not volunteering, I'm a;

1) Career EMS Provider

2) EMS Management Consultant