Tuesday, 14 June 2011

How To Work For The Fire Department As An EMT



People’s lives often depend on the competent care and reaction of paramedics. They deal with incidents such as heart attacks, drowning accidents, child birth emergencies, gunshot wounds, and car accidents. They provide vital medical attention as they care and transport the injured to a hospital.

In an emergency, the emergency medical technician or paramedic is dispatched by a 911 emergency operator. They often work together with police officers and fire fighters. Once the paramedic arrives on the scene, they seek to determine the patient’s nature and the extent of trauma involved. They also try to ascertain whether or not the patient has any previously existing medical problems. By following the strict guidelines and rules, they are able to give good emergency care wherever necessary.

Some EMTs and paramedics have been trained to treat patients with just minor injuries. They usually work under the direction and care of doctors via radio broadcast. This can be possible preceding the transportation phase and also during the transportation phase. Paramedics are able to provide the most in depth and extensive pre hospital care. In addition to performing the methods above, paramedics may also give medications and drugs. This they usually do either orally or intravenously. They also perform end tracheal intubations, interpret electrocardiographs, and also use monitors. In essence, they work with a variety of complex medical equipment.

The working conditions for paramedics include both indoor and outdoor work. They work in all kinds of weather. The paramedic is required to do a considerable amount of bending, stooping, kneeling and heavy lifting. A lot of people discover that the work of the paramedic can be very exciting and challenging. They really enjoy the opportunity to help people in need. Paramedics are usually employed by hospitals, private ambulance companies and fire departments. They usually work anywhere from 40 to 60 hours a week. In 2010, paramedics held approximately 300,000 jobs. Most career paramedics will work in metropolitan areas and many more work in smaller towns and rural areas on a volunteer basis.

The training for paramedic involves having to first train as a basic emergency medical technician. Before you can enter the basic level EMT training, you have to have a high school diploma or GED. After having trained as the basic level emergency worker, you will have to take an examination from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. After that, you will need to continue up the intermediate level of emergency worker training, before you can begin training as a paramedic. Extensive coursework is involved, which also includes clinical experience. Because of the longer training programs associated with paramedic training, most of the paramedic positions are paid instead of being on a volunteer basis.

Almost all community colleges and vocational schools will offer training and certification to become a paramedic. You may also discover that some hospitals in  your area also provide this kind of training. This training usually consists of anywhere between 750 to 1,500 hours of class instruction. Being able to reach this level will require a lot of studying and sacrifice on your part. By becoming a paramedic, you increase your chances of becoming a fire fighter or working with the fire department.

Approximately 20 percent of all fire departments across the United States are now requiring their applications to become paramedics before they take any examination. You have to first become an EMT before you can become a paramedic. So in order to become a fire fighter, you will have to do quite a bit of training and course work. If you are in the process of becoming a paramedic, feel free to browse the Internet for additional resources. This can include blogs, forums, and websites that have free educational materials available to help enhance your skills as a paramedic. 

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