What Path Did You Take to Become a Paramedic?

[fiznat]

I got into this because my roomate in college was working as an EMT-B part-time to pay the bills while we were in school. He would come back from work every once in the while with such great stories, making the job sound exciting, purposeful, important. I thought it would be a good time and needed the cash anyways, so I signed up for class. It was my introduction to medicine as much as EMS, and I've been working to better myself in those fields ever since. I got cut loose as a paramedic this week ( ), and I will be applying to medical school in about a year.

[Code 8 Paramedic]

The manager of the Pizza Hut i worked at was a vol. firefighter EMT, one day we took a bunch of pizzas to the fire house and I thought it was really cool, I was 16, but they didnt have a junior member program. So 2 years later, a few weeks after i turned 18 and graduated High School. I was driving around aimlessly and came upon the fire house again. So I stopped by and joined, then sent me to MRT school a few months later. And like any fire house we did 90% EMS calls and being an MRT i couldnt do a lot... and I have a bit of a control problem... So I went to EMT school... worked as an EMT for a few years and slowly learned that I still cant do very much... and these guys called Paramedics seem to know alot... so I went to Paramedic school... which was probably the most fun I ever had!

[mrmeaner]

The fire department I was on needed 10 people in order to have the first responder class at the department instead of at the college (32 miles away). I promised I would show up for the classes but wouldn't guarantee anything after that. A couple months later a few of the same people wanted to set up a EMT-B class and this time they needed 15 people. I promised I would show up for the classes as I figured having the license would help my chances of getting on a paid FD.

I had my first call: 2 vehicle MVC, 15 patients total, head-on at highway speed. No alcohol involved, just extremely icy roads (several responders fell on scene, but the broken glass helped). Vehicle 1: passenger van with 11 occupants (mostly children), en route to a church camp. 8 green, 2 yellow, 1 red. Vehicle 2 passenger car with 4 occupants en route to a dance at a local high school (first date for the boy and girl in the back seat), all passengers <18 y.o. 4 black initially, (poor assessment by an "off-duty RN" on scene) upgraded to 3 black and one dark red. I was on the transport with Miss Dark Red (aka first date girl). We (more they than me) were able to keep her alive during the transport. I found out that I liked EMS better than fire, although I am still pursuing a fire career.

After months of surgeries and a lot of physical therapy she was completely able to roll a car into a ditch without wearing a seat belt and seriously injure the passenger of the car. I found out that there will be more EMS calls than fire because although they can make things fire retardant, they have yet to develop retard retardant. Apparently EMS throws a wrench in God's plan.

I think the Paragod attitude has lessened but thats from a very small view of EMS.

[Lilacmedic]

This the only profesion that accepts me and my sociological disturbances...actually accepts it with open arms! The road was painfull and the tattoo's worth it! ...although my liver might regret the choice somewhere along the line.

[Dustdevil]

The fire department I was on needed 10 people in order to have the first responder class at the department instead of at the college (32 miles away). I promised I would show up for the classes but wouldn't guarantee anything after that. A couple months later a few of the same people wanted to set up a EMT-B class and this time they needed 15 people. I promised I would show up for the classes as I figured having the license would help my chances of getting on a paid FD.

You got sidetracked with your war stories before you ever got around to mentioning paramedic school, which is what the question was about.

[mrmeaner]

You got sidetracked with your war stories before you ever got around to mentioning paramedic school, which is what the question was about.

Well played, man in hat. I wrote the story while doing other things which made for poor form.

I have been fortunate to be able to work with good medics (including the ones in the story) and decided to increase my training. I also have noticed that if you want to get a decent amount of hours around here you need the medic license.

Also, I wasn't trying to impress anybody with the story, especially someone toting automatic weaponry, although it probably sounds that way. It just pisses me off how little appreciation she has for what happened and the attitude she has developed.

[Dustdevil]

Also, I wasn't trying to impress anybody with the story, especially someone toting automatic weaponry, although it probably sounds that way. It just pisses me off how little appreciation she has for what happened and the attitude she has developed.

LOL! Nah, I enjoyed the story. And you are right, it is a relevant point for us all.

I just wanted to hear the rest of your personal story!

[baseflight]

I was tired of being a Respiratory Therapist in the hospital. Pay and work environment were good, I just got burned out after 16 years. I enjoyed working with my patients, but being contained within those 4 brick walls was driving me nuts.

I drove from my 12 hr night shift twice a week to attend a daytime EMT-B class. I had a great instructor and really enjoyed the class. Then took CCEMTP, Neonatal-Pediatric Specialist cert and all the alphabet soup courses.

I interviewed and landed a part time flight RT position about a 4 hr drive from my home. I commute out there twice a month and live in my truck camper while I'm there. It is a rather unique program in that we are RRT/RN and do scenes, interfacilities, neo, peds, maternals and adult transports by RW and FW.

I started Paramedic school 5 months later. It was tough arranging school with work but like most things in life, it all works out if you want it bad enough. I'm about to start my 3 month PM internship with a local ambulance company. Because of my slightly unconventional entry into EMS I haven't had much street experience....so I'm looking forward to whatever comes my way!

BTW I finally broke all ties with the 4 brick walls (aka Hospital) last week. Yahoo! 8)

[Kaisu]

I spent 25 years in systems consulting. About 4 years ago my husband got very sick. It was one blow after another in terms of chronic and/or life changing conditions. I handled it all. Then, 2 days after we got home from the hospital he started throwing up blood. His medical care was a 2 hour drive away and I just lost it... I didn't know what to do. It was one of the worst feelings I've ever had. I took a leave of absence from my consulting business to take care of him and never went back. I got my EMT-B license a year and a half ago because it was a hoop I had to jump thru to get to paramedic school. I was on a waiting list for a year and a half and am starting on August 20th. Its something I really want to do, if for nothing else than the knowledge. I hope to get out there and start helping people in a real and meaningful way.