Walmart Raises Minimum Wage to $10 - Why Not EMS?

[RocketMedic]

Yea I never expected to change any minds, only to make them understand my position. As I read the recent posts I can still see they do not understand because I do not believe EMT's should be paid a great amount of money I believe it should simply be at the very least a little higher than minimum wage. I do not work as an EMT for the money, I do it for the kind of work that it is and I only hope that EMT's can be paid enough to make a living. It is as simple as that.

Why? If people will literally work for legal minimal wage or below, why pay more?

 

[gonefishing]

Why? If people will literally work for legal minimal wage or below, why pay more?

Because it comes down to either starve or qualify for food stamps and government assistance while holding a job. Atleast with a poverty wage you qualify for low income housing, food stamps and government medical care. It than just makes taxes go up lol

 

[SandpitMedic]

We are not saying you are a bag boy... no one is forcing you to continue to be an EMT.

No one said "EMTs don't do anything".

Someone pretty much did.

@Refried, until I became a medic I didn't understand how little an EMT actually does.
...a career EMT someone who enjoys the attention but lacks testicular fortitude...
No points for standing on the sideline.

I'm willing to bet you two didn't feel that way on your first day of EMT school about being an EMT with your shiny new boots and great attitudes.

Do you even Paragod, bro?

 

[RocketMedic]

Because it comes down to either starve or qualify for food stamps and government assistance while holding a job. Atleast with a poverty wage you qualify for low income housing, food stamps and government medical care. It than just makes taxes go up lol

Those don't sound like problems a business owner worries about. They are certainly things to consider when discussing how to retain qualified employees, but they're not something to worry about when it comes to keeping the doors open if you've committed to supply a minimal-level service.

 

[Chewy20]

Don't know what the issue is. ****** EMTs that look like absolute dog crap, posting pictures on Instagram about how they are saving lives on shift today with their trauma shears at the ready, when the most they will use them for is cutting out coupons while posted in a truck, waiting to take grandma back from here doctors appointment deserve way more money...

 

[NomadicMedic]

@DEmedic What if that person has no desire or no need to advance, or for more money. If they work 5, 10, 20 years as an EMT. Is that not a career?

@Chimpie It depends on how we define career: If we use the following

an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and with opportunities for progress.

then no.

If we use this as the working definition,

the time spent by a person while committed to a particular profession.

then sure.

I believe there is a distinct difference between a career and a job. If an entry level employee stayed at the same position for 15 years with no ambition or initiative to move up or grow, I would say that person worked at a job for 15 years.
When they eventually left, I'd thank them for their service.

If an employee started work as an entry level EMT, and over 15 years, through a program of formal education, coupled with personal and professional growth, earned a paramedic certification, CCEMT and then a BS in Management, subsequently moving into administration, I would say that the individual had a successful career in EMS.

We need to be realists. Bag boys don't stay as bag boys at the Kroger unless they have ZERO options. McDonald's counter help doesn't put on that polyester suit everyday counting down to the gold watch at retirement.

EMT's, as the system is set up now, are not career employees. They're simply filling a job slot.

 

[SandpitMedic]

Lol.

Don't know what the issue is. ****** EMTs that look like absolute dog crap, posting pictures on Instagram about how they are saving lives on shift today with their trauma shears at the ready, when the most they will use them for is cutting out coupons while posted in a truck, waiting to take grandma back from here doctors appointment deserve way more money...

Tell us how you really feel.

Haha. EMT bashing on an EMT forum. Classic.

 

[Chewy20]

Lol.

Tell us how you really feel.

Haha. EMT bashing on an EMT forum. Classic.

Lol see about ten of those pictures a day.

 

[SandpitMedic]

Lol see about ten of those pictures a day.

I don't even know what that means.

 

[COmedic17]

Someone pretty much did.

I didn't see anyone say they don't do anything. People have been saying they do very little. And that's true. Half of what they can do ( compressions, use of a bvm) are taught in a BLS CPR course. Anyone with a pulse can take a cpr course. Aside from that, they can take vitals, and use BLS airways and in some states, supraglottic airway. But that's pretty much it. Is it more then a bag boy? Yes. But not profusely more.

 

[RocketMedic]

In most pit-crew CPR layouts, the EMT is literally assigned to handle the bag, set up meds, etc. as soon as enough assistance arrives to turn the BVM and compressions over to the firefighters and paramedic(s) on-scene. So yeah...literally bag boy.

 

[OnceAnEMT]

In most pit-crew CPR layouts, the EMT is literally assigned to handle the bag, set up meds, etc. as soon as enough assistance arrives to turn the BVM and compressions over to the firefighters and paramedic(s) on-scene. So yeah...literally bag boy.

Here in Austin where a secured airway is a secured airway, Basics can and often are in the airway position in pit crew, including dropping an IGel (used to be King). The only difference in a BLS and ALS code is the use of the LP and ACLS, which is 2 paramedics (one on the meds, one on the monitor as Code Commander).

 

[Chewy20]

In most pit-crew CPR layouts, the EMT is literally assigned to handle the bag, set up meds, etc. as soon as enough assistance arrives to turn the BVM and compressions over to the firefighters and paramedic(s) on-scene. So yeah...literally bag boy.

Except you don't do 911 correct? So what does that make a paramedic? Gurney boy with a monitor?

PS, I don't give up my responsibilities on an arrest.

 

[Chewy20]

Here in Austin where a secured airway is a secured airway, Basics can and often are in the airway position in pit crew, including dropping an IGel (used to be King). The only difference in a BLS and ALS code is the use of the LP and ACLS, which is 2 paramedics (one on the meds, one on the monitor as Code Commander).

Actually we are never in the airway position. Can be, but all I am doing on scene is drawing up meds and making sure everyone is on track. Unless we beat fire there somehow airway is their job. Which is good, because I don't want to sit there for 45 mins squeezing a bag. I've dropped kings in the back of the truck. The commander is there really as a helping hand and brain.

 

[RocketMedic]

Except you don't do 911 correct? So what does that make a paramedic? Gurney boy with a monitor?

PS, I don't give up my responsibilities on an arrest.

I have never actually run a 911 call. I tend to use a "range walk" because it works better. It's been like forty hours since my last one, I think I forgot how to do it. (although Acadian will drown you in BLS transfers here in San Antonio).

 

[RocketMedic]

I've not ever done an arrest though, my amazin'Basic Chewy is always there to SAVE me from mahself.

 

[looker]

....
The thing is that employers like looker are, by their own decisions, limited to the market they target- kind of like "dress for the job you want", "pay for the market you want". Places that pay minimum wage for EMT and argue over whether or not to pay every hour at work are never going to go away, but they're one audit away from bankruptcy themselves and by definition cannot attract enough of the right people to ever be more than a taxi. looker Ambulance might be a great animal in its chosen environment, but it can't compete outside of it and is exceedingly vulnerable to any changes. Looker knows this and accepts that risk, and continues to accept it by Scrooging hard. As a side effect, his short-term savings lock out potentially lucrative sources of income like county 911 contracts, etc. He relies on a steady flow of fresh blood to live.

....

911 is not money making for company instead it's level /prestige when it comes to getting other contracts. IFT is bread and butter of most ambulance as depending what area you are doing 911 in, it might result in you actually losing money. Getting in to 911 in Southern California is not easy being how many ambulance companies we got in addition that usually prior 911 experience is preferred/required.

 

[Chewy20]

Uhhh k? @RocketMedic

 

[RocketMedic]

911 is not money making for company instead it's level /prestige when it comes to getting other contracts. IFT is bread and butter of most ambulance as depending what area you are doing 911 in, it might result in you actually losing money. Getting in to 911 in Southern California is not easy being how many ambulance companies we got in addition that usually prior 911 experience is preferred/required.

Exactly, looker. It's a prestige and recruitment tool. You simply decide not to buy that tool because it's expensive and you don't need it. A lot like how a Steerman is perfectly adequate for recreational flying, but not modern air combat.

 

[irishboxer384]

Off the top of my head most of us wish for these things in a job:

1- good pay/benefits/pension
2- job satisfaction
3- decent amount of vacation
4- within close proximity to home
5- good management
6- advancement
7-good equipment

So unless you are 'ticking' most of those boxes at your current position...MOVE ON AND STOP COMPLAINING. Or, facilitate change by being proactive: become management, form a union, move into politics and lobby for better pay/benefits. The old 'not enough pay when compared to....' argument can be made to apply to pretty much any career.

In my experience one huge reason for people not advancing themselves educationally or professionally is simply fear. Fear of failure and fear of the unknown. Which is why I have utmost respect for those who attempt to set up their own company, float or sink. I've had colleagues set up their own firms to the sound of sniggers from so-called 'friends', only for said colleagues to go on to make millions. In EMS noone is going to hand out extra money, there has to be huge change...and if you are not happy with your pay, move up or move out or simply...stop complaining.