*****The Official Medics/EMTs/Firefighters..Pt II******

[2Rude4MyOwnGood]

i already accepted to study and make this my life for the next 2 years, goodbyes friends and free time lol. I’ll be fine and it’ll be worth it .

If I can offer some unsolicited advice to you...

Don't stress out if you don't feel like you're really "getting it" in school. NOBODY is a good paramedic until they get out in the field and get a fair amount of experience under their belt. It's a line of work where a good portion of the job is literally impossible to learn in a classroom.

I've seen people get really frustrated in school because it wasn't clicking for them, but then go on to become excellent medics.

Anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, cardiology, etc. are all good points of study, but until you get your hands on a bunch of patients and see all kinds of disease processes firsthand...you'll probably suck at it lol. I know I did.

[kingHanley]

If I can offer some unsolicited advice to you...

Don't stress out if you don't feel like you're really "getting it" in school. NOBODY is a good paramedic until they get out in the field and get a fair amount of experience under their belt. It's a line of work where a good portion of the job is literally impossible to learn in a classroom.

I've seen people get really frustrated in school because it wasn't clicking for them, but then go on to become excellent medics.

Anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, cardiology, etc. are all good points of study, but until you get your hands on a bunch of patients and see all kinds of disease processes firsthand...you'll probably suck at it lol. I know I did.

thanks man, I need to start doing ride alongs as well. How do you approach a fire house just walk in and introduce myself ?

[2Rude4MyOwnGood]

thanks man, I need to start doing ride alongs as well. How do you approach a fire house just walk in and introduce myself ?

Ride alongs are typically organized through your medic school. You'll have a certain amount of patient contacts, IV sticks, assessments, etc. that you'll need to complete before you can sit for the National Registry exam. You'll probably have an orientation at the start of medic school where they will go over that with you. They'll schedule everything for you. Then you just show up for your shift (bring donuts or ice cream or something), and you'll run calls with them all day. You'll have a preceptor who signs off that you've performed certain skills on calls, and hopefully teaches you some stuff about the job.

You can probably schedule a ride along with a firehouse where you live, but it'll be as an observer only, too much liability involved in letting you have any interaction with a patient. To be honest it's kinda weird to do a ride along like that. Its not very common for a citizen to do a ride along with us, at least, not where I live. We've had a few people ride along on the engine with us, but it's kind of annoying. Having to babysit somebody on calls can be a pain.

[KMadigan777]

Dam, sometimes I think about getting back into it. But in Colorado its insane ever trying to get on a department, and with only my EMT it feels like a hopeless battle.

[US_Ranger]

Tomorrow is my first day of “ medic school”, I passed my EMT NREMT on Thursday first try so I’m glad I got that out of the way. Now I can focus on medic school. It’s a 2 year course, between now and August I have BIO 160, ECG readings, pharmacology, cardiology , a 12 lead class, and medical terms for pre hospital setting. You have to have a 3.5 GPA to advance to the clinical/internship part of the program and eventually graduate. Wish me luck boyos. I never studied in High school, and never took a college class. But I’m 100% ready to set everything aside and make this my life for 2 years.

You'll be fine. Spreading it out over 2 years is probably the smart thing. I did mine in a year, a major test every 3 weeks or so and if you scored below 70% you were out of the program. Luckily I was in the 90% range on everything but it was long days/nights for that entire year. Soak everything up like a sponge and enjoy it. Cardiology and 12 lead stuff is amazing, I'm hoping to take even more classes on all of that.

[2Rude4MyOwnGood]

You'll be fine. Spreading it out over 2 years is probably the smart thing. I did mine in a year, a major test every 3 weeks or so and if you scored below 70% you were out of the program. Luckily I was in the 90% range on everything but it was long days/nights for that entire year. Soak everything up like a sponge and enjoy it. Cardiology and 12 lead stuff is amazing, I'm hoping to take even more classes on all of that.

Cardiology was my favorite subject as well. So incredible how much information you can gather about the heart just from some squiggly lines. Still blows my mind today.

Dale Dubin's 12-lead book is a game changer.

[Tipys]

Dam, sometimes I think about getting back into it. But in Colorado its insane ever trying to get on a department, and with only my EMT it feels like a hopeless battle.

Colorado Career Firefighter right here bro.

Hey man times are changing in Colorado. I have been Career for 3 years now. I tested for 5 before that. So 8 years ago when I began the process many departments if they were testing, were only hiring for 1-5 spots sometime the bigger departments would have 12. But that was rare. Denver during that time ran its smallest academy in their history, being the only academy for that 2 year list.

However in the last 2 years I have seen not only an increase of departments (that at most require you to have EMT) hiring 2-3 academy’s of 20 plus. Which was unheard of when I was testing. But also smaller departments that require more certs hiring more frequently.

If your serious about becoming a firefighter now is the time in Colorado. Improved economy, increased growth, and firefighter retirements are key factors that are all happening right now. This is the time to put your head down and grind.

[kingHanley]

Ride alongs are typically organized through your medic school. You'll have a certain amount of patient contacts, IV sticks, assessments, etc. that you'll need to complete before you can sit for the National Registry exam. You'll probably have an orientation at the start of medic school where they will go over that with you. They'll schedule everything for you. Then you just show up for your shift (bring donuts or ice cream or something), and you'll run calls with them all day. You'll have a preceptor who signs off that you've performed certain skills on calls, and hopefully teaches you some stuff about the job.

You can probably schedule a ride along with a firehouse where you live, but it'll be as an observer only, too much liability involved in letting you have any interaction with a patient. To be honest it's kinda weird to do a ride along like that. Its not very common for a citizen to do a ride along with us, at least, not where I live. We've had a few people ride along on the engine with us, but it's kind of annoying. Having to babysit somebody on calls can be a pain.

yeah man I was just referring to out of school ride alongs, we did have an orientation regarding clinical hours, internships, etc but that doesn’t start until block 3 next year.

[JamesMUSCLE]

Just took the civil service for Dallas Fire. Should have results in 7-10 days


Also for those interested, Denver Fire just announced they are opening app period February 6th. Written exam will be Feb 26-march 3rd.

Unfortunately i don't think I will be able to swing it since its same time frame as Houston.

[2Rude4MyOwnGood]

yeah man I was just referring to out of school ride alongs, we did have an orientation regarding clinical hours, internships, etc but that doesn’t start until block 3 next year.

Maybe it's more common where you live, but ride alongs for people who aren't in medic school aren't much of a thing here. Sometimes a family member will tag along for the day, but even that is pretty rare.

If you decide to do one, just use some common sense and you'll be fine. Be respectful, dress appropriately, don't ring the doorbell super early in the morning, offer to help clean the firehouse, bring them some nice donuts or something (no cheapo gas station donuts!), stay out of their way on calls unless told otherwise, etc. If you get linked up with a good crew it could be a really fun day.

[kingHanley]

Maybe it's more common where you live, but ride alongs for people who aren't in medic school aren't much of a thing here. Sometimes a family member will tag along for the day, but even that is pretty rare.

If you decide to do one, just use some common sense and you'll be fine. Be respectful, dress appropriately, don't ring the doorbell super early in the morning, offer to help clean the firehouse, bring them some nice donuts or something (no cheapo gas station donuts!), stay out of their way on calls unless told otherwise, etc. If you get linked up with a good crew it could be a really fun day.

thx will do one on Sunday !

[JamesMUSCLE]

Maybe it's more common where you live, but ride alongs for people who aren't in medic school aren't much of a thing here. Sometimes a family member will tag along for the day, but even that is pretty rare.

If you decide to do one, just use some common sense and you'll be fine. Be respectful, dress appropriately, don't ring the doorbell super early in the morning, offer to help clean the firehouse, bring them some nice donuts or something (no cheapo gas station donuts!), stay out of their way on calls unless told otherwise, etc. If you get linked up with a good crew it could be a really fun day.

Ridealongs here for Boise Fire are 8am-5pm. Ride along with Ada Paramedics is usually 1pm-10pm

But definitely what you said.

Dress nice ( don't have to wear a suit, but at least some nice pants and a polo).

[2Rude4MyOwnGood]

Ridealongs here for Boise Fire are 8am-5pm. Ride along with Ada Paramedics is usually 1pm-10pm

But definitely what you said.

Dress nice ( don't have to wear a suit, but at least some nice pants and a polo).

Lol that would be hilarious if somebody showed up for a ride along wearing a suit.

I didn't realize that ride alongs were so common out there. Must be pretty routine if they are posting their specific ride along hours like that. Funny how differently departments operate across the US.

There's got to be some type of screening process or something right? Don't those guys get annoyed having random citizens hopping on the rigs and hanging around the firehouse all the time?

[FOSteven]

I haven't heard of any departments around where I am doing formal ride alongs, mine certainly doesn't. For those of you have ridden along, what did you do? Standing around on scene solely observing sounds a bit boring honestly.

[JamesMUSCLE]

Lol that would be hilarious if somebody showed up for a ride along wearing a suit.

I didn't realize that ride alongs were so common out there. Must be pretty routine if they are posting their specific ride along hours like that. Funny how differently departments operate across the US.

There's got to be some type of screening process or something right? Don't those guys get annoyed having random citizens hopping on the rigs and hanging around the firehouse all the time?

Boise Fire is super laid back. I literally called their office and got one scheduled. Have to schedule 2 weeks in advance. Then you fill out a liability waiver when you get to the station. But it looks like they're changing things up now. They put a temp suspension on the ride along program

Sacramento was a little more stringent. They do a background check. have to fill out a form and mail it in.

https://www.cityofsacramento.org/Fir...act/Ride-Along

I haven't heard of any departments around where I am doing formal ride alongs, mine certainly doesn't. For those of you have ridden along, what did you do? Standing around on scene solely observing sounds a bit boring honestly.

I did a ride with Sacramento Fire in November. Rode on the ambulance at their downtown station. Some standing around, but they let me help with vitals, push the stretcher in the hospital, hung out with the guys at the station, dinner with the crew.

U get your civil service exam scheduled for Dallas?

[JamesMUSCLE]

Los Angeles Fire Dept. application period opens March 5th for anyone interested.

https://www.governmentjobs.com/caree...s-march-5-2018

[2Rude4MyOwnGood]

Boise Fire is super laid back. I literally called their office and got one scheduled. Have to schedule 2 weeks in advance. Then you fill out a liability waiver when you get to the station. But it looks like they're changing things up now. They put a temp suspension on the ride along program

Sacramento was a little more stringent. They do a background check. have to fill out a form and mail it in.

https://www.cityofsacramento.org/Fir...act/Ride-Along

I did a ride with Sacramento Fire in November. Rode on the ambulance at their downtown station. Some standing around, but they let me help with vitals, push the stretcher in the hospital, hung out with the guys at the station, dinner with the crew.

U get your civil service exam scheduled for Dallas?

I'm surprised that more departments haven't suspended (or done away with) their ride along programs as well.

It's a cool program for guys like you, but most people aren't normal like you are. The extreme liability associated with letting citizens go on calls and spend time in the firehouse is pretty mind blowing. What's to stop somebody from suing because they were offended by the language used in the firehouse? Or claiming that some other type of inappropriate behavior occurred? Or running their mouth to the press about something they observed on a call?

Just seems incredibly risky.

[Yeti06]

I'm surprised that more departments haven't suspended (or done away with) their ride along programs as well.

It's a cool program for guys like you, but most people aren't normal like you are. The extreme liability associated with letting citizens go on calls and spend time in the firehouse is pretty mind blowing. What's to stop somebody from suing because they were offended by the language used in the firehouse? Or claiming that some other type of inappropriate behavior occurred? Or running their mouth to the press about something they observed on a call?

Just seems incredibly risky.

HIPAA etc, the only people who i've seen allowed to do any type of ride time is people in some sort of EMT program.

[2Rude4MyOwnGood]

HIPAA etc, the only people who i've seen allowed to do any type of ride time is people in some sort of EMT program.

HIPAA protects medical information, but that wouldn't really be my concern. I'd be concerned that something a member of my department did or said on a call would be reported to the media, a lawyer, etc.

Let's be honest, a firehouse isn't the most PC work environment. The general public just doesn't understand that it's not our "office", it's our home. The stuff we talk about around the firehouse, the language we use, etc., would get you fired from just about any other job.

And on calls...things aren't done by the book 100% of the time. That's just the nature of the job. If a layperson were to see some of the sht that goes on, it could really blow up in our faces.

[Psychotropic]

Can someone explain the combining of ambulance/ems and a fire service in the US? I understand that there are many different small county based services and that you cannot generalise to the entire country.

If someone requests an ambulance do they get a fire truck with paramedics on board?

[2Rude4MyOwnGood]

Can someone explain the combining of ambulance/ems and a fire service in the US? I understand that there are many different small county based services and that you cannot generalise to the entire country.

If someone requests an ambulance do they get a fire truck with paramedics on board?

As you mentioned, there are several different systems used in the US. But yes it's most common for an engine company to be dispatched on the majority of EMS calls.

The main reason for this is that there are less available ambulances than there are available engines. In the US, the national standard that every department aims for is a 4 minute response for BLS care to arrive, and an 8 minute response for ALS care to arrive. Some areas will beat these times, others will fall far short. The engine company is often gonna be able to get on scene and start providing care faster than the ambulance (there are less of them, or they are tied up on calls, etc).

It's also a matter of having extra manpower on scene. Our ambulances are generally staffed with 2 providers. It very common for more hands to be needed on a call. It may be due to the critical nature of the patient's injury/illness, or simply because moving the patient is so difficult (we have a large population of obese and non ambulatory people).

The engine company also serves to protect the scene from traffic on auto accidents, have a hoseline in place for auto extrications, and many other responsibilities. However, it's also common for the engine crew to not be needed on a call. If that's the case, the ambulances crew just sends them on their way.

Some departments have paramedics on their engine companies, but it's not necessarily the norm. Even if there is a paramedic on the engine, an ambulance will still be needed in order to transport the patient.

[Tipys]

Can someone explain the combining of ambulance/ems and a fire service in the US? I understand that there are many different small county based services and that you cannot generalise to the entire country.

If someone requests an ambulance do they get a fire truck with paramedics on board?

I second a lot of what 2rude wrote. That explains the main parts of why.

As for some history it wasn’t always that way. EMS as part of the fire service has only really been that part of it for about 50 years. There is an old video of a firefighter in New York that explain it really well. “No matter what the issue is the fire department shows up. That’s why we get called for all these different things.” This quote was before all those extra things they were called for was normal. As time has gone on and will likely continue more and more is part on the fire department to assist with.

While we show up in a fire engine we can do a lot more then put out fires. Medical care is one of those things.

We truly are closer to being emergency response techs. However to quote the late Andy Fredricks. “What kid grows up saying he wants to be an emergency response tech?”

[daiawa]

There's roughly 5 fire apparatus to each ambulance in our coverage area, 80+% of the FD runs in our coverage area are medical in nature. Most crews are absolutely fantastic, some you want to punch in the face as soon as you show up on scene.

[CanardMedic]

[QUOTE=JamesMUSCLE;1541403231]Los Angeles Fire Dept. application period opens March 5th for anyone interested.


Hell yes!

[Psychotropic]

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Cheers for the replies. I didn't realise there were so many fire service vehicles.

Here the fire brigade aren't directly involved in anything medical with one exception - they are dispatched to suspected cardiac arrest cases. This practice started ?5 - 10 years ago with the rationale of reducing response times. For the vast majority of time a fire crew will be sitting at station as an available resource. It does provide some extra hands for chest compressions, moving furniture, etc. They carry an AED and (most likely) provide BVM ventilation as needed although I suspect they don't break that out too often.

[FOSteven]

You guys, I finally got the phone call!! I was given a conditional offer today after my third interview with this specific department. Still at an absolute loss for words.

[Tipys]

You guys, I finally got the phone call!! I was given a conditional offer today after my third interview with this specific department. Still at an absolute loss for words.

Congrats man!

[QuadraQuint]

You guys, I finally got the phone call!! I was given a conditional offer today after my third interview with this specific department. Still at an absolute loss for words.

Grats bro!


I finished at the fire academy a year ago but I'm hedging by bet by going back to school for nursing since I know how hard it is to land that full time gig. Goal is to do both, even if I work as a volley ff. Does anyone know anyone who's a nurse and a firefighter?

[76MMSRT]

Volunteer FF/EMT from the Seattle area checking in!

[JamesMUSCLE]

Got an email saying I passed the civil service for Dallas.

Now have to fill out their PHQ packet. Guess Dallas requires you be a medic after X amount of time.

As you mentioned, there are several different systems used in the US. But yes it's most common for an engine company to be dispatched on the majority of EMS calls.

The main reason for this is that there are less available ambulances than there are available engines. In the US, the national standard that every department aims for is a 4 minute response for BLS care to arrive, and an 8 minute response for ALS care to arrive. Some areas will beat these times, others will fall far short. The engine company is often gonna be able to get on scene and start providing care faster than the ambulance (there are less of them, or they are tied up on calls, etc).

It's also a matter of having extra manpower on scene. Our ambulances are generally staffed with 2 providers. It very common for more hands to be needed on a call. It may be due to the critical nature of the patient's injury/illness, or simply because moving the patient is so difficult (we have a large population of obese and non ambulatory people).

The engine company also serves to protect the scene from traffic on auto accidents, have a hoseline in place for auto extrications, and many other responsibilities. However, it's also common for the engine crew to not be needed on a call. If that's the case, the ambulances crew just sends them on their way.

Some departments have paramedics on their engine companies, but it's not necessarily the norm. Even if there is a paramedic on the engine, an ambulance will still be needed in order to transport the patient.

That and fire stations are strategically placed around the city.

Boise Fire for example, doesn't transport, but still has every engine staffed with one medic.

When I did my ridealong with Sac Fire, the truck even went on a few medical calls. Was weird. One call was medic and truck, but not the engine. Wasn't anything out of the norm. Just a S.O.B call.

I second a lot of what 2rude wrote. That explains the main parts of why.

As for some history it wasn’t always that way. EMS as part of the fire service has only really been that part of it for about 50 years. There is an old video of a firefighter in New York that explain it really well. “No matter what the issue is the fire department shows up. That’s why we get called for all these different things.” This quote was before all those extra things they were called for was normal. As time has gone on and will likely continue more and more is part on the fire department to assist with.

While we show up in a fire engine we can do a lot more then put out fires. Medical care is one of those things.

We truly are closer to being emergency response techs. However to quote the late Andy Fredricks. “What kid grows up saying he wants to be an emergency response tech?”

There was a video recently I saw on FB. I think it was San Antonio Fire Dept. But the medic had just finished a call and immediately after got dispatched to a fire. Medic was first on scene.

You guys, I finally got the phone call!! I was given a conditional offer today after my third interview with this specific department. Still at an absolute loss for words.

Congrats. What department?