*****The Official Medics/EMTs/Firefighters******

[medic707]

Update on my attempt to transfer to a department in California:
Most of the departments there seem to want/require my Paramedic cert to be specifically from Cali at the time of application, so I'm going to try AMR to get a job/licensure in Cali, then see if I have luck with the municipal departments.
Keeping my fingers crossed, I know competition is stiff. Thanks to all with advice so far!

Yeah Ca and a lot of states dont recognize National Reg when it comes to coming in from another state, thats why i let mine go.

And Aries not to discourage you but now is a tough time to try and get a job, from the SF bay area i know of at least 3 major dept that have a hiring freezes on, with some getting laid off. Times are tough but in a couple yrs depts are going to be hurting for guys so stick with it.

[sHaDyOneDeath]

Do any you Enjoy working as E.M.T's, even with the low wages, or are you just bearing the dread to reach your goals of firefighter?

[medic707]

Do any you Enjoy working as E.M.T's, even with the low wages, or are you just bearing the dread to reach your goals of firefighter?

I had a great time working as an EMT. it all depends on your attitude and your partner. If you and your partner want to have a good time you will, on calls and just sitting around.
And being an EMT with a medic is cool cause you get to see all the cool stuff and run the hot calls but not have any of the responsibility when **** goes south. You get the chance to sit back and BS with the hot Charlie's Angel CHP officer on BS accidents so ya, being an EMT is what you make of it.

[2Rude4MyOwnGood]

honestly, all those stations are easy. the hardest part for my IMHO was actually the assessment. opa, npa, bvm and o2 all become common sense after a couple of classes, you really need to concentrate on your assessments though b/c they can screw you good

Yea the assessment is a real pain in the ass, but they tell me that we'll have plenty of class time to get it right.

We didnt have much time with the airway stuff, just 2 days worth of 20 minute labs. Its fairly easy stuff but come on, im paying good money for this class, give me more than that!

[GetHimABodyBag]

Do any you Enjoy working as E.M.T's, even with the low wages, or are you just bearing the dread to reach your goals of firefighter?

Yeah the pay sucks, but it is a lot of fun and you get to learn a lot. If you really like people, you shouldn't have a bad day at work, even on the private transport(IFT) calls I enjoy.

[2Rude4MyOwnGood]

Passed all of my airway practicals with no problem today. Suprisingly i felt comfortable at each station, despite limited time with them leading up to the tests.

They also suprised the hell out of us by making us take our patient assessment skills test as well. We were under the impression that we had at least another week. I passed that without issue thanks to a few minutes of cramming.

We had some new instructors there that were certified badass too. This one guy was a flight medic on a helicopter, i bet he has some amazing stories.

[PancakeOfDoom]

Yea the assessment is a real pain in the ass, but they tell me that we'll have plenty of class time to get it right.

We didnt have much time with the airway stuff, just 2 days worth of 20 minute labs. Its fairly easy stuff but come on, im paying good money for this class, give me more than that!

everything you will do is pretty simple in the class, pales in comparison to anything medics do. however, once you get in for a clinical (i assume you have to do at least 10hrs worth) you'll realize it isn't quite as easy to do on real people thrashing around and coughing up blood while you have ER staff yelling in your ear. gets to be second nature after a lil practice though.

[~snake0]

How much more do Paramedics get paid than EMTs?

[JiuJitsuFighter]

How much more do Paramedics get paid than EMTs?

medics are usually on with a fire department. so A LOT more.

[Hardnutcheck]

The patient assessment is a memorized speech

[medic707]

How much more do Paramedics get paid than EMTs?

Depends on the company/dept you work for emts start at anywhere from $9-16/hr and medics $14-mid 20's/hr. Doesnt sound like much (and it isnt) but you also work 12-24hr shifts so anything after 10hrs a day is time and a half and anything after 40hrs a week you get double time. Not sure if thats country or even state wide but the few companys i know of up in Norcal are like that. I know of a couple medics working for AMR that pull in over 100k/yr but thats with a lot of OT.
And like Jiujits said if your with a big FD you'll make more than the average medic.

[GetHimABodyBag]

Passed all of my airway practicals with no problem today. Suprisingly i felt comfortable at each station, despite limited time with them leading up to the tests.

They also suprised the hell out of us by making us take our patient assessment skills test as well. We were under the impression that we had at least another week. I passed that without issue thanks to a few minutes of cramming.

We had some new instructors there that were certified badass too. This one guy was a flight medic on a helicopter, i bet he has some amazing stories.

OPQRST and SAMPLE, know that and you should be fine with your patient assessment

[JiuJitsuFighter]

i have quit smoking

[GetHimABodyBag]

i have quit smoking

Good job, hope you don't start dipping and eating fast food everyday (bad EMT habits)

Did you get a conditional?

[JiuJitsuFighter]

Good job, hope you don't start dipping and eating fast food everyday (bad EMT habits)

Did you get a conditional?

I quit dipping too. Just want to get off that nicotine dependence.
Conditional?

[GetHimABodyBag]

I quit dipping too. Just want to get off that nicotine dependence.
Conditional?

Job offer

[JiuJitsuFighter]

Job offer

I applied to Care and got an interview with them, even though they never contacted me back. I got the email saying that HR will contact me separately with a date for an interview.

[GetHimABodyBag]

I applied to Care and got an interview with them, even though they never contacted me back. I got the email saying that HR will contact me separately with a date for an interview.

Best of luck!

[JiuJitsuFighter]

Best of luck!

Thanks. Thanks for the tips too man.

Btw: who do you work for?

[2Rude4MyOwnGood]

OPQRST and SAMPLE, know that and you should be fine with your patient assessment

I almost forgot to verbalize those acronyms during the testing but somehow i pulled this one out. I had only practiced the assessment a few times in class, and really didnt study it all that much, but it felt pretty natural once i got started. Lots of it is just common sense, its getting things done in the right order that can mess me up.

[PancakeOfDoom]

I almost forgot to verbalize those acronyms during the testing but somehow i pulled this one out. I had only practiced the assessment a few times in class, and really didnt study it all that much, but it felt pretty natural once i got started. Lots of it is just common sense, its getting things done in the right order that can mess me up.

lulz, same here. i got really screwy with the order. practice on friends/family, helps a lot. do it at odd times when you're not concentrating occasionally, helps get you used to testing under pressure/distractions.

gotten to the AED station yet? not particularly hard but i always forgot to tell them to resume, and occasionally you'll get a dick of a tester who will keep their finger on the patient and try to be sneaky when you tell them to clear just to see if you're paying attention.

[N.W.A]

Man these airway questions are getting to me. From now on if I see airway as the answer I think I will choose that. Seems like 95% of the time airway is the answer. Have my midterm and medical assesment skill in a couple weeks. I feel like I will freeze during the practical part.

[PancakeOfDoom]

Man these airway questions are getting to me. From now on if I see airway as the answer I think I will choose that. Seems like 95% of the time airway is the answer. Have my midterm and medical assesment skill in a couple weeks. I feel like I will freeze during the practical part.

lulz. my instructor was awesome, told us that right off the bat.

got bleeding but your airway is compromised? airway first buddy.

broken bones? airway first

LOC problem? AIRWAY FIRST

gunshot to the abdomen? airway first (btw, if in shock don't raise legs, they'll try to trick you with treating for shock on any internal bleeding questions)

unless the trauma/medical condition is so important that if taking the time to protect the airway would kill/injure the patient, do the airway first.

for testing purposes protect the airway and you'll be golden. ABCs buddy, airway (chin lift, jaw thrust, OPA, then your breathing (ventilation), then your circulation (blood loss)

[GetHimABodyBag]

Thanks. Thanks for the tips too man.

Btw: who do you work for?

Going to keep a low profile

I almost forgot to verbalize those acronyms during the testing but somehow i pulled this one out. I had only practiced the assessment a few times in class, and really didnt study it all that much, but it felt pretty natural once i got started. Lots of it is just common sense, its getting things done in the right order that can mess me up.

Assessment is always done after ABC's and mental status

[JiuJitsuFighter]

Going to keep a low profile



Assessment is always done after ABC's and mental status

Thats cool brah.
What do you think about doctors ambulance??

[2Rude4MyOwnGood]

lulz, same here. i got really screwy with the order. practice on friends/family, helps a lot. do it at odd times when you're not concentrating occasionally, helps get you used to testing under pressure/distractions.

gotten to the AED station yet? not particularly hard but i always forgot to tell them to resume, and occasionally you'll get a dick of a tester who will keep their finger on the patient and try to be sneaky when you tell them to clear just to see if you're paying attention.

No we havent done the AED stuff yet, we started our trauma lecture today and spent a little time learning splinting, traction splints, KED, and backboarding. Was just the intro lab but we got a chance to try it all out so we know what to expect on Friday when we start the real labs. All of our instructors have been really cool, pointing out little tricks that the state testers will try to catch us on.

Assessment is always done after ABC's and mental status

Yea ive got it now, just hope all this info sticks with me. We've still got a ton more to learn before the state exam, hopefully we'll have a little refresher class to get us ready but who knows.

[JiuJitsuFighter]

Fire Explorers Tonight.
Need to get my Ambulance Driver's License and my OCEMSA ID Card tomorrow.
AHHHH!

[ChicagoCubz]

Little over a month till I start school.

[GetHimABodyBag]

Thats cool brah.
What do you think about doctors ambulance??

They run 911 calls in South County as well as private/CCT. I hear good things about them, they always seem to be in a good mood when I see them at St. Joseph's, UCI, etc. I think they run with 22, which is one of the busiest in Orange County(Leisure World). Great ambulance company to work in if you want to be a future/aspiring Orange County Firefighter.......speaking of OCFA be on the lookout for the new show, "The Academy" featuring OCFA.

Medix, lost 3 areas to CARE, now they are primarily South County, I believe.

Did you apply to Doctors?

Doctors have nice rigs and some nice looking professional uniforms

[JiuJitsuFighter]

They run 911 calls in South County as well as private/CCT. I hear good things about them, they always seem to be in a good mood when I see them at St. Joseph's, UCI, etc. I think they run with 22, which is one of the busiest in Orange County(Leisure World). Great ambulance company to work in if you want to be a future/aspiring Orange County Firefighter.......speaking of OCFA be on the lookout for the new show, "The Academy" featuring OCFA.

Medix, lost 3 areas to CARE, now they are primarily South County, I believe.

Did you apply to Doctors?

Doctors have nice rigs and some nice looking professional uniforms

I was in "The Academy". I am an explorer for the OCFA so you might see me in their graduation ceremony. I was helping out. Oh lord, Seizure World lol. We have one of those in Seal Beach as well with 48's. I'm getting my ADL so I can apply with Doctors as well.

It's really taking CARE a long time to give me an interview date.