First Responder Question

[SirensSong102]

I got a lot of good information from you guys regarding what I should pursue when I turn 18 (EMT-B to EMT-P), but for now I am pursuing what I can, which is CFR. I read the other article about what First Responders do but it didn't cover much.

I live in a very out-there location which is 20 mins from the nearest ER and 10 mins from the closest Vol Fire dept. In my area, there is a major interstate that cuts right through and a lot of accidents occur down the mountain.

I already contacted the EMS office and they agree that this area could use additional support, and I would be a useful asset.

My question is: What do First Responders do? Can you ride along with some crews(fire or EMS)? Do you get a radio? Lights in your own vehicle? etc.. Please list them.

You guys are great!

 

[jjesusfreak01]

I got a lot of good information from you guys regarding what I should pursue when I turn 18 (EMT-B to EMT-P), but for now I am pursuing what I can, which is CFR. I read the other article about what First Responders do but it didn't cover much.

I live in a very out-there location which is 20 mins from the nearest ER and 10 mins from the closest Vol Fire dept. In my area, there is a major interstate that cuts right through and a lot of accidents occur down the mountain.

I already contacted the EMS office and they agree that this area could use additional support, and I would be a useful asset.

My question is: What do First Responders do? Can you ride along with some crews(fire or EMS)? Do you get a radio? Lights in your own vehicle? etc.. Please list them.

You guys are great!

You aren't going to be able to just respond to accidents on your own. What you will end up having to do is associate with a first responder or EMS agency. As a first responder, you might be able to work with a fire agency. You would need to be at least an EMT to work for an EMS agency. If you live in the middle of nowhere, the fire station may let their members respond from home, but this doesn't happen everywhere.

EMT-B isn't something you want to pursue, its just a step on the way to something else. It could be something to do on the way to nursing school, pa school, medical school, or medic school. If you enroll in a medic program, you often can test for basic somewhere in the first year.

 

[SirensSong102]

I know for sure I would have to be affiliated with a EMS facility such as a firehouse, etc. I guess I will find out when I complete everything.

 

[bstone]

Richie, I used to drive an hour each way (55 miles) for EMT school. Make the effort and it'll pay off.

 

[TransportJockey]

In some states (not sure about yours) If you're under 18 you cannot go to scenes deemed 'dangerous', so that kinda limits what you can do

 

[18G]

My question is: What do First Responders do? Can you ride along with some crews(fire or EMS)? Do you get a radio? Lights in your own vehicle? etc.. Please list them.

You guys are great!

First Responders are the lowest tier of EMS provider in an EMS system. They are trained in entry level treatments such as bleeding control, splinting, spinal immobilization, oxygen, CPR, AED, general patient assessment of common ailments like chest pain, stroke, seizures, traumatic injury, etc . Essentially, First Responder programs took the place of the old Advanced First Aid courses.

As far as functioning as a First Responder within a FD or EMS agency... you will be limited to being an assistant... as in getting equipment, hold this, hold that, and if old enough you can be an emergency vehicle operator. It can afford you great first hand experiences and allow you to find out for sure if you want to dive further into EMS. No State allows a First Responder to serve as a primary care provider on an ambulance.

Some volunteer agencies do issue radios, pagers, and allow you to have warning lights on your car. But PLEASE do not get distracted by all of this. It will do you a great disservice. Focus on the medical element of what the job entails and allow that to excite you.

If learning new stuff and things like the cardiovascular system get you excited than your on the right track. If you would rather look at a Galls catalog and flip to the light bar section... your on the wrong track.

Hope this answered your questions...

 

[SirensSong102]

First Responders are the lowest tier of EMS provider in an EMS system. They are trained in entry level treatments such as bleeding control, splinting, spinal immobilization, oxygen, CPR, AED, general patient assessment of common ailments like chest pain, stroke, seizures, traumatic injury, etc . Essentially, First Responder programs took the place of the old Advanced First Aid courses.

As far as functioning as a First Responder within a FD or EMS agency... you will be limited to being an assistant... as in getting equipment, hold this, hold that, and if old enough you can be an emergency vehicle operator. It can afford you great first hand experiences and allow you to find out for sure if you want to dive further into EMS. No State allows a First Responder to serve as a primary care provider on an ambulance.

Some volunteer agencies do issue radios, pagers, and allow you to have warning lights on your car. But PLEASE do not get distracted by all of this. It will do you a great disservice. Focus on the medical element of what the job entails and allow that to excite you.

If learning new stuff and things like the cardiovascular system get you excited than your on the right track. If you would rather look at a Galls catalog and flip to the light bar section... your on the wrong track.

Hope this answered your questions...

Hey thank you for the information. The only reason I want to do this, is because I want to help people and give them another chance to see their family again. I have no problem with being an assistant or helping stabilize the patient. Helping people and the medical element excites me. I want to be apart of something.

I do know in my state you must be 18 to do medical transport and 21 to drive an ambulance. Maybe I can be a 3rd man on a few calls for the first initial part of my volunteer work. I will have to look into it and ask a few questions when I begin.

 

[Jay]

What do First Responders do?

Depends on what state you live in, some states are very limited in scope of practice and others such as Pennsylvania, where I live the scope is actually almost identical to EMT-B with a few exceptions namely being drugs. Remember that this is a good starting point in EMS and was why I choose that route myself. I am now going to be getting certified as an AHA CPR/BLS Instructor this coming month and hope to segue into Medic school shortly thereafter.

Can you ride along with some crews(fire or EMS)?

Sure can though once again your scope can be rather limited. You can work in a full time capacity as a driver if you have some sort of EVOC or CEVO. Luckily I was able to ride along with the ALS guys to get training and decided that ALS is where it's at which was a good deciding factor in wanting to expand my horizons in EMS. If you are really interested, talk with your local EMS/Fire Captain and make sure they know it because people in emergency management enjoy seeing the excitement of the young blood and the opportunities that you get offered may surprise you.

Do you get a radio?

I got one and do respond on a fly car system for a special EMS program. You probably think it will be real cool now, and don't get me wrong, it is kinda cool but the downside is the call at 3:30 AM when you need to be up in 2 hours, and they really need you... Remember that you can't ignore the radio no matter how burnt out you may be feeling... Again, ups and downs.

Lights in your own vehicle? etc..

I DO NOT but many places do. The types and colors of lights vary from state to state and even town to town. Here in Philly, they are very strict about lights and no one really moves for us anyhow even when Code 3 on a rig so we are not using them in POV's even when responding as a fly car from home. If down the road, I can get red lights instead of blue than maybe it will be worth it to use them. That's Pennsylvania but in New Jersey volunteers can only run a "blue cherry" and use an air horn without a siren. Chief's and Assistants can use red with a siren but no one else below that rank. In New York the color for volunteer EMS is green and fire is blue. With the proper permits or if you are an officer you can run red. Down further south, e.g. Virginia, only the police run blue so it can get confusing on what you are aloud to do and where you are permitted to do it.

You guys are great!

I, I mean we know

Hey thank you for the information. The only reason I want to do this, is because I want to help people and give them another chance to see their family again. I have no problem with being an assistant or helping stabilize the patient. Helping people and the medical element excites me. I want to be apart of something.

Glad to hear that you are in it for the right reasons, we have something in common, you may want to check out my post entitled "The simple and not so simple truth" that can be found on the bottom of the page here:

http://emtlife.com/showthread.php?t=19164&page=6

Let me know if you have any other questions and I will do my best to entertain them.

 

[Ewok Jerky]

As a first on scene First responder you could be responsible for a number of things. Mainly scene size-up: WTF is going on. Mechanism of injury, # of patients, scene safety...that type of thing. If you have communication with dispatch you can give units enroute with an update because they probably have no idea WTF is going on on-scene. You will be responsible for major life threats, bleeding control and manual C-Spine stabilization. You can try to get a medical or SAMPLE history. You would also be required to administer CPR and if applicable AED.

Most FRs are not actually medical personnel, they are cops, teachers, lifeguards, security guards, ski patrol and other people who are in positions where they are responsible for the safety of others.

I don't know about how things go in your neck of the woods but First Responders are generally, as someone else pointed out, an entry level EMS position. As such you won't be able to participate in many "cool" aspects of the job. No driving (insurance reasons), no intubating (legal reasons), no IVs...

but if you want to do all those "cool" things FR is a great way to get started. It may be hard to get hired as an EMT-B, because of your age, but thats no reason you can't BE an EMT-B. You can work at camps, waterparks, beaches, resorts, casinos...lots of places that need medical personnel but not Medics. I say skip FR and do EMT-B

 

[Cohn]

Ok ok ok CFR are the same as EMT-Bs but they cannot give meds (Oxygen to Epi pen)

I know this because I work with CFRs and I seen there book.

They can drive, and even respond at my dept. Some times there are only 2 CFRs at my dept to respond to the scene.

And volly dept are not going to turn down anyone that is capable and well not nuts

 

[medicRob]

You aren't going to be able to just respond to accidents on your own. What you will end up having to do is associate with a first responder or EMS agency. As a first responder, you might be able to work with a fire agency. You would need to be at least an EMT to work for an EMS agency. If you live in the middle of nowhere, the fire station may let their members respond from home, but this doesn't happen everywhere.

EMT-B isn't something you want to pursue, its just a step on the way to something else. It could be something to do on the way to nursing school, pa school, medical school, or medic school. If you enroll in a medic program, you often can test for basic somewhere in the first year.

Where exactly are these, straight out of school medic programs? I have never seen one. How are the individuals going to take the NREMT-P exam without first being certified as an NREMT-B or NREMT-I? Maybe I am missing something, but this doesn't seem to make any sense. I have never seen a program that just pursues EMT-P instead of doing EMT-B or EMT-I first.

 

[Cohn]

And why can't you pursue EMT-B? And have a long term goal of Medic?

Something is wrong here.