Why Are You an EMT?

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meloabreuu

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As you can obviously tell from my stats, I'm new to this forum. I've spent a few years working dead end jobs, trying to figure out what 'real career' would be best for me, and I think I finally found it in EMS. I've always been an athlete and have had an interest in the human body and the way it works. I also tend to be compassionate and really like helping people out. Considering these two things, I'm surprised that it took me this long, but I really feel genuine excitement and motivation about starting the road to becoming an EMT/Paramedic, which makes me feel really hopeful because the lack of excitement and motivation is what has kept me from succeeding in many other things I've done in my life. So I guess I'm looking forward to learning more about human biology, health sciences, etc, as well as helping people in the times that they need help the most.

Anyway, I'm just curious about what lead some of you guys to deciding to start a career in emergency medical services, if the job was what you expected it to be(or wasn't,) and what your favorite and least favorite parts of the job are.

Also, although I've already seen some threads about it, any suggestions for an upcoming EMT would be more than welcome. :)
 
If you live in FL you will mostly likely need to work as a firefighter to have any sort of career in EMS. Good luck!
 
terrible one said:
If you live in FL you will mostly likely need to work as a firefighter to have any sort of career in EMS. Good luck!
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Aww, well that's a little frustrating. I'm not a native, I've only been here for almost a year and I'm planning on finding an EMT job closer to where I'm from as soon as I can. Do you think it would be easier to find a job in a different state before finding work in FL if I don't have any background in firefighting?
 
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Where are you planning on working? I don't know the specifics on FL employment, I'm sure someone familiar with the career options will chime in, but for the most part the FD runs the show in most places. Similar to CA unfortunately.
 
I'm thinking somewhere in either the northeast or northwest, but the north in general. I honestly wouldn't mind moving to Canada either, so if anyone has any info on that, I'm all ears. I'm not really a "summer for 12 months a year" type, I like my hash winters.
 
Mariemt said:
I'm an EMT for the huge paycheck and the respect I get. :cool:
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I won't deny that the fact that I'll be earning twice as much(at least) as I've earned at any other job I've had is motivation for me, but there's really NOTHING else you enjoy about the job like the fact that(correct me if I'm wrong on any of these) almost every call is different, you're constantly mentally stimulated and thinking on your feet, you aren't stuck in an office clicking a mouse all day... Even if its not a sappy thing like getting to help people, there has to be something other than those two things that you enjoy about being an EMT...
 
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meloabreuu said:
But there's really NOTHING else you enjoy about the job like the fact that(correct me if I'm wrong on any of these) almost every call is different, you're constantly mentally stimulated and thinking on your feet, you aren't stuck in an office clicking a mouse all day... Even if its not a sappy thing like getting to help people, there has to be something other than those two things that you enjoy about being an EMT...
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Oh, you thought I was serious?
Nobody is in ems for the pay or the respect :)
 
meloabreuu said:
But there's really NOTHING else you enjoy about the job like the fact that(correct me if I'm wrong on any of these) almost every call is different, you're constantly mentally stimulated and thinking on your feet, you aren't stuck in an office clicking a mouse all day... Even if its not a sappy thing like getting to help people, there has to be something other than those two things that you enjoy about being an EMT...
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They are being sarcastic. Generally speaking EMTs don't make much money or get much respect. Canada would be a great place to work, idk how the reciprocity works there though. It might be better to get your training there than in the US.
 
In all serious...

I do like helping people. I like that you never have the same day twice. That I can go shopping, eat, play frisbee, and get paid for it.

I love my coworkers. EMS people are a rare breed, and we are like a big family.


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I'm considered a paid call volly.

I don't get paid for being on call, I get paid during calls. A stipend.


However, it is rewarding, people are usually glad to see you. Its giving back to the community and a good outcome is rewarding for the patient and yourself.
 
Mariemt said:
Oh, you thought I was serious?
Nobody is in ems for the pay or the respect :)
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terrible one said:
They are being sarcastic. Generally speaking EMTs don't make much money or get much respect. Canada would be a great place to work, idk how the reciprocity works there though. It might be better to get your training there than in the US.
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Haha, I'm glad to hear that. Obviously I'm new here. I was going to say that I didn't consider EMT salaries to be huge, but I didn't want to sound like like a douche if you really did. I guess I should have said that I'm more curious about what led all of you into the field... like, what you were thinking when you first saw EMS listed as a possible major at whatever college you were attending when you were younger, or when someone first suggested that you look into doing an EMS program. I just want to make sure that this really is something that I'm a good candidate for and something that I'll enjoy for the most part. Sorry for missing the joke. :blush:
 
Anjel said:
...EMS people are a rare breed, and we are like a big family.
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This is why I feel like I would be a good fit for EMT. I saw a youtube video a few weeks ago where an EMT was asked about how he reacts to shocking situations, and he started telling a story about a motorcycle accident he was called to where some guys foot was FUBAR and you could see bones and blood vessels and whatnot. He said that he noticed a big blood vessel or an artery that was pulsating and that he thought, "oh, this is good, blood is still getting to the foot," and I thought, "damn, thats definitely something that I could do for a living." I'm not squeamish at all, and I can usually think clearly in stressful situations, if not better than normal because the tension keeps me on my toes.
 
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Fire/EMS is a family tradition. I tried to brake away, went to college and worked as an engineer (auto industry), but got sucked back in. I love my job and wouldn’t change fields for anything.

Everyday is different for sure and at times it’s exciting, but it can be monotonous. It depends on the department you work for. I work for a large city and averages 10-14 calls per shift (12 hour shifts), but on average only 2 or 3 actually need use. The rest are just cab rides to the hospital, but those people that you actually get to help in one way or another make it all worth it.

On the up side the worse day on the medic is better than the best day stuck in a factory trying to decipher Japanese.
 
meloabreuu said:
I'm thinking somewhere in either the northeast or northwest, but the north in general. I honestly wouldn't mind moving to Canada either, so if anyone has any info on that, I'm all ears. I'm not really a "summer for 12 months a year" type, I like my hash winters.
Click to expand...

terrible one said:
They are being sarcastic. Generally speaking EMTs don't make much money or get much respect. Canada would be a great place to work, idk how the reciprocity works there though. It might be better to get your training there than in the US.
Click to expand...

Send me a PM and I can explain some of the differences in systems and how hard it is to license in Canada.
 
I'm a paramedic because I love the snacks in the EMS room at some of the hospitals.

Seriously, I found about EMS halfway through law school while doing a ride-along with Lubbock EMS. Once I got a job as an attorney, I did night classes for EMT and then paramedic. I love the challenge of medicine and it's a way to give something back and pay it forward. (Yep, I volunteer...)
 
Wes said:
.....I love the snacks in the EMS room at some of the hospitals.....QUOTE]

siera mist and a bag of chips best way to celebrate after bringing in a code:P

im an emt because i was going to school to be a cop and seriously hated it... i grew up in the hospital because of my brother and always loved watching life flight coming and going.. then 12 credits into my 15 i saw a premiee getting life flighted and it clicked i was like i want to do that!! so emt is my first step in a long process of getting to be a flight medic:D
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I really didn't know if I would like being an EMT until I went to EMT school. I loved being on the ambulance and working in the ER. It really opened my eyes to what career I wanted to follow. Originally I thought I wanted to be a nurse, and I might go be one later, but the best time I had was working on the ambulance. When you go to school ask your I structure which EMS company gets a lot of calls. You will want to be on an ambulance that runs a lot of calls so that you can get a good feel for what the average call is like. Plus you sometimes see some really crazy stuff. I'm just starting out so I don't have a lot of experience on the truck yet, but I'm excited to get to work.
 
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