Is going from EMT-Basic straight to Paramedic a good idea?
That’s a good question. As a professor teaching paramedics, I can tell you that EMTs who come right from the EMT program don’t have a good sense on how to use their tools (like the stairchair, scoop, and stretcher), lack the necessary upper body strength to do the job, typically lack any street sense, etc. For example, it COULD be taught in EMT class that you :Really, really want the Ferno stairchair (below) that folds up like a regular folding chair (not the one with the reverse legs or the really heavy newer ones),You need to put a sheet into the stairchair to wrap up the patient in so they don’t grab things, put the oxygen on their lap, and buckle the strap around the oxygen and through the handles of the oxygen bag,Then buckle the bottom strap to itself and buckle the top strap loosely around the folded chair so you can sling it onto your shoulder for the five floor walkup,And never, ever using those handles.But it isn’t. You need to learn that stuff by doing it every day. Everything from tying an ankle hitch by hand because you lost the one in the traction splint bag to knowing that the scoop won’t latch if the device isn’t totally aligned.I think another thing that I haven’t seen mentioned is your age and if you have kids. Part of the reason to work as an EMT for a few years is to get some actual life experience making decisions and taking care of people. If you’re 19, you probably don’t have that skill set yet, if you are 49, you probably do. My rule of thumb is that if you’ve had some experience, been married, had 3 kids, you can probably go right into medic school (you may have issues with study skills, but not with people skills).Of course, I’m a bad example-I joined the ambulance at 15, got my Advanced First Aid training, then became an EMT at 16 and was in a medic program at 18, and I turned out OK.Scot
Can i become an EMT/Paramedic with a criminal record?
ok I was charged with felony battery(adjudication withheld) for a stupid fight and im going to start an emt paramedic course soon and i wanted to know if i will be able to get a job after a complete the course... Also will i be able to join fire rescue as a paramedic? I plan on having the record sealed/expunged before i graduate...
Ok, if an ambulance takes you against your will?
If an ambulance is called to a sence they have the legal responsibility to treat you if you are not in your "right or clear state of mind" If you aren't thinking clearly or are injuried in a severe way they have the right and actually the obligation to treat you. Once, you got to the hospitial you could've refused treatment if you were "in your right or clear state of mind" and if you were not under the influence of any type of drugs (legal or illegal) or alcohol. If you feel that you were in your right state of mind and you can PROVE it (that doesn't mean being able to remember saying that you were ok and you could make it home) you might search for more professional legal adivce. Try asking this question under the "law" section and doing some internet research. I wouldn't call a lawyer yet because they will try to talk you into starting a case.
What is the starting pay for an EMT Basic?
Post Office! Unless you get on as a Professional (paid) firefighter/EMT, you are looking at transporting folks from the nursing home to the hospital while working for a private ambulance service. They don't answer 911 calls.....the fire department does and those EMT's have a lot of experience (usually from volunteer fire depts or working as a Emergency Dept Tech/EMT in the ER). It certainly wouldn't hurt to take the EMT course and it sure looks good on a resume, especially if you are just out of high school or haven't got a lot to include on your resume. But, I wouldn't plan on making a career out of it unless you get on the fire department.
Firefighter questions! please i want to become one later in life when i'm older. NEED HELP FROM YOU!?
Ok i'm 17 and i want to become one when i grow up but i want to go to college first. I just want to know these easy questions what are the requirements for becoming one? starting from high school. Sure i need a High school diploma and what else? Do i have to take any tests? Do i have to weight a lot? Do i have to be tall? Strong? Smart? i really want to be a firefighter. How much do you get payed? How long do u have to wait after u pass everything? I really want this to be my career! PLEASE GIVE ME SOME TIPS
If you call 911 for ambulance services, but don't get transported to a hospital, are you still charged for the ambulance arrival/patient care?
It depends upon your/the state’s law(s). And sometimes you are only charged for the millage. Or if they've treated you, so for like the equipment, etc.. So say this is the scenario (might not have happened for you, but I’ve come up with this one:)You’re having trouble breathing and/or you or someone you’re with calls 911 for AmbulanceAmbulance and EMS arriveThey initiate oxygen support and fluids and do vital signsYou start feeling better and breathing fine soon after #3 is doneThey ask to transport you to hospital, but you are refusingThe EMS personnel will try to get you to change your mind and explain the risks of you not being transported and treated at hospital(If you’re mentally competent, not under influence of drugs/ alcohol, of legal age, and is fully alert and oriented.) If you meet all of those (again, dependent upon state laws, you may refuse. But an Officer may be called to your location to witness the refusal and you signing off on the documents the EMT’s will give you.)They will probably ask one last time, and if “No” is still the present answer, then they will leave and you may not blame them if you start having issues again. Because you signed the refusal, an officer and EMT’s and a possible 3rd party will have witnessed it and dispatched it probably. Because huge liability for everyone is present, and your condition could worsen and have greater issues if this happens again.I know of course almost everyone is going to worry about costs and such, and that’s normal and means you’re concerned about financial. Maybe something else. But they are very costly.Anyways, it’s better to go when they offer to be on the safe side. Otherwise, have someone else drive you. The EMT’s or whoever else from 911 is on scene could help you call someone to come and drive you to hospital. But again, it’s better just to get checked out. Even if it means going to Urgent Care instead of ER and Ambulance.
Do fire fighters also have to be paramedics or just EMTs? Or neither?
Whether or not a fire department requires EMT/Paramedic licenses depends entirely on the department, and what they do. The large majority of fire departments will run medical calls as first response, as well as fire calls. This means, if an engine responds to a medical call the personnel must have EMT's, Paramedics, or both. Depending on the skill level of the responding engine - BLS (Basic Life Support) or ALS (Advanced Life Support) - dictates the composition of the personnel. BLS engines will have at least one EMT on board, whereas ALS engines must have at least one Paramedic. I would suggest contacting your local fire department and asking them what they require.
As an EMT or Paramedic have you ever worked beyond your scope of practice, how did it turn out?
Not me personally but I know of two providers that got in big trouble for doing this. This an ambulance service near mine. There was a cardiac arrest and two ambulances were dispatched. The closer one was BLS and the farther ALS. The BLS crew arrived and initiated CPR. As I understand it, the BLS crew obtained IV or IO access. This is ok as it's in my state's medical direction to allow EMT-Basics to start IV's. The problem was, they then took verbal orders over the radio from the ALS crew to administer epinephrine 1:10,000. This is performing a procedure outside their scope of practice. That is a big no-no, and it's what got them in trouble. I believe one of the EMT's got fired and the paramedic got an ass-chewing. Don't do procedures above your level of training.
Can you become Cleet Certified before becoming an officer?
It is a little confusing. Just to straighten some things out OK does not call their state peace officer certification POST. Lots of other states do but not OK. Theirs is called CLEET. So he needs CLEET for a smaller department. That is becuase in OK (and some other states) you have two ways pf becomeing a police officer. 1. you are sponsored by an agency after you are hired, most larger departments do this. They send you to their own or another academy, you pass and take the state test. 2, you self sponsor, meaning you apply to, get accepted and pay for the academy yourself. After you make it out of the acadamy you are allowed to take the state test, you pass and you are allowed to hire on with one or more police departments. Many smaller departments, who can't pay well, do this. If you later want to go to a larger department most want you to serve 2 years or more with your smaller departments(s), plural since a lot of guys work for more than one at a time, and then do a lateral transfer. The new department hires you and sends you for a short time to their own academy to learn their ways and policies. So to take the job with the depts that want CLEET first he has to find an academy and attend. He must go to an approved academy. Call CLEET direct to get the newest listing of approved academies, including their own, and the approximate costs at 405-425-2750. Use them instead of internet ads since there are non approved out there. OK only has 6 approved academies throughout the state. The age cut off is 46.