hi everyone. i'm new here.

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josephus320

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i'm abot to start EMT school in mid-january. it's something i've always wanted to do, but i do have some questions. i'm curious about things like starting salary and benefits i can expect at the different levels of training, and whether i should move on to be a firefighter after EMT training or not. i've heard that many medics love their jobs and want to stay where they are, and some decide to go on to become firefighters. what do y'all think? can someone give me some pros and cons? i'm also wondering about appearance requirements. i know it's not important, but i'm just curious about facial hair and hair length regulations. it's a dumb question, but my girlfriend asked me if i'll have to shave my beard off or not. facial hair is the least of my concerns, of course. i've gotten some info on these subjects from different websites, but i'd like to hear it from real, working medics. can anyone shed some light on this for me?
 
The appearance requirements depend on your service. One of my coworkers has a goatee, another has an ear piercing (male), and my service doesn't care. Considering that a moustache is the single most reliable indicator of professionalism and ability when it comes to emergency services, I don't see how neat facial hair would be a problem. Long hair might be a bit more controversial, and if they have no problem with it, you will likely be required to tie it back (just so it doesn't fall into your patient's mouth when you are listening for resps, you don't get vomit stuck in it, and your patient can't grab it).


As far as the other questions are concerned, you can probably find the answers in a search, as these are asked quite often.
 
Greetings from Canada

josephus320 said:
i'm abot to start EMT school in mid-january. it's something i've always wanted to do, but i do have some questions. i'm curious about things like starting salary and benefits i can expect at the different levels of training, and whether i should move on to be a firefighter after EMT training or not. i've heard that many medics love their jobs and want to stay where they are, and some decide to go on to become firefighters. what do y'all think? can someone give me some pros and cons? i'm also wondering about appearance requirements. i know it's not important, but i'm just curious about facial hair and hair length regulations. it's a dumb question, but my girlfriend asked me if i'll have to shave my beard off or not. facial hair is the least of my concerns, of course. i've gotten some info on these subjects from different websites, but i'd like to hear it from real, working medics. can anyone shed some light on this for me?
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Shave your beard in the shape of the star of life. Dye it blue. Kidding.

Welcome to EMTLIFE....lots of good people here.
 
welcome, it's nice to get some more new people in here i dont feel so lonesome now

:)
 
If you're serious about staying proficient in EMS, try to stay with a non fire / EMS provider. The exception would be fire services whereby the EMS arm is independent from the fire and you are not bouncing back and forth between being a firefighter and medic.

In the last few years in my travels, I've been somewhat disappointed in the caliber of EMS service provided by combination systems. I'm not saying they are all this way by any means, but I have seen a decline in the quality of service.

Anyhow, welcome!!
 
karaya said:
In the last few years in my travels, I've been somewhat disappointed in the caliber of EMS service provided by combination systems.
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imagine that. forcing people to do a job they dont want to do half the time just so they can get and do the job they do want to do the other half is an inneffective system. shocking.
 
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