Paramedic girl or a guy?

[Liya]

Hello everyone,
I always wanted to become a paramedic, and after spending 2 years in college for pre-meds, I'm thinking to go for paramedic. But I have a question: is there's a preference for a guy when they hiring for new people? I mean it bothers me because I'm a small bodied girl =) LOL well I weight 100 pounds, would that be a factor I will have a hard time finding a job? I know it sounds silly, but most paramedics I saw are guys, and I don't want to work for something I wouldn't be able to get a job.

[ZVNEMT]

I've rarely seen any discrimination based on sex, race, creed, orientation. at least w/ the companies around here... i see bariatric units where the crew is 2 small women the don't weight as much as my right leg.... combined... you'll be fine... if anything you have an advantage over the excessively fat guys... good luck

[edit] with the present equipment used today, physical strength isn't a big issue... hydraulic stretchers... winches on bari trucks. should you come across a situation you can't handle, you can always call for assistance [/edit]

[Akulahawk]

Most of the services I've ever worked for simply have a series of physical tests. You pass the tests, you're good to go. One of my partners was a woman who was probably 100 lbs soaking wet in her uniform & boots... she knew and used good, proper lifting mechanics and could lift and move large patients as well as anyone I'd ever worked with, male or female. Don't let your size hold you back! Besides, there's more assistive devices available now than even a few years ago.

[phabib]

Small girls in my program get through the lift tests just fine once they get proper lifting technique down.

[Seaglass]

What they all said. If you want it, don't worry about discrimination.

I'm an average-sized girl. Never had any trouble getting hired that I think could be chalked up to my gender, and I work for a pretty redneck place. I think I had to work harder at lifting than my guy friends at first, but I'm fine with it now.

[bunkie]

My instructor is a male medic, my secondary instructor is a female medic. I haven't seen an issue so far but I'm not in the field. And I dont get any crap for being a thin female from any of my fellow students (mostly tall/muscled males).

[Sasha]

I'm a tiny, 98lb woman, and I'm a paramedic. I didn't find it hard to get or keep a job. you may get partners who percieve you as weak without even giving you the chance to prove you can lift your fair share, but they're butt heads and will get over it once you prove them wrong.

As previously stated, as long as you can pass the physicals and lift tests, you should be good. Compared to some, I've been in EMS a relatively short time, (about a year and a half.) but, I've never encountered discrimination because of my gender.

[EMSLaw]

I've seen plenty of female paramedics. Some of them are slight, some of them are larger, but it doesn't seem to make a difference (and frankly, I could care less as long as they know their stuff).

It might also depend on where you are, a little bit. Paramedics around here rarely move patients. Since we have tiered response, they have BLS crews for that.

[JonTullos]

Some of the best EMTs/medics I've ever seen have been women. Don't let that hold you back, go for it! Go for it!

[firecoins]

Originally Posted by JonTullos

Some of the best EMTs/medics I've ever seen have been women. Don't let that hold you back, go for it! Go for it!

some have have been women and some have been men and the rest were God. Or at least they thought they were.