Paramedics are emergency professionals who are responsible for taking care of injured patients in a very high stress environment. They are typically dispatched by the 911 emergency operator. Once they arrive on the scene, they work hand in hand with police officers and fire fighters to assess the injured patient’s needs.
Emergency professionals work in chaotic and dangerous situations. They have to be able to work well under pressure and stress. But being a paramedic is not just about blood, sweat and tears. It is also about having compassion and being able to care for a patient as you move him from one place to another. Emergency workers save lives, but they also make an impression on many others.
There are several levels of paramedic and emergency medical technician training. Each state is different and will require different things of their emergency workers. The first level is known as the emergency medical technician basic, or EMT-Basic. Before you’re able to become a paramedic, you will have to become a basic level emergency medical technician. You’ll need to learn critical skills to intervene in life threatening medical emergencies. Your local community college will have courses and programs for you to get started. Keep in mind that you will need a high school diploma or GED before being accepted into any emergency medical technician programs.
Next, you’ll want to get a job working with an ambulance company for at least a year. There are circumstances that cannot be accurately communicated through a book or course. You have to experience these situations in order to really know and understand them. The best time for you to learn emergency medical training is prior to being responsible for all of the various aspects of emergency medical training. Emergency medical training will require you to work on site with an ambulance company or a hospital. In some states you may also be required to have a special driver’s license. Check with your state’s motor vehicle department to find out more.
Next, you’ll want to take preparatory classes that prepare you to become a paramedic. Some states will require certain amounts of training to become a paramedic. Prospective paramedic students need to at least complete physiology and anatomy classes. In addition, they will also need to complete algebra, electrocardiography, and pharmacology. In many states, paramedic training is considered a vocational subject. In other states, paramedic training involves completing a two year degree at minimum.
You’ll want to enroll in a high quality paramedic training school. Do your research and ask questions before you sign up with any training program. Be sure to find out about a paramedic program’s accreditation and reputation. You could locate students or graduates and ask them about their experience with the school or training program. You’ll also want to consider the cost, but remember that there is really no true relationship between the quality of a paramedic training program and the price.
In order to maintain the quality of the paramedics in the EMS system, accountability has to be held. Seek out a paramedic training program that will hold the students accountable. Job opportunities for paramedics are expected to grow faster than average of all other occupations and jobs through 2018. Urbanization and population growth is bound to increase the demand for full time paramedics. In addition, a very large portion of the population, baby boomers who are aging, will further increase the demand for paramedic services.
The entry level pay for a emergency medical technician starts off at $15 an hour to $20 an hour. Entry level pay for paramedics may start off with $25 an hour to $45 an hour. The more education and skills that you have, the better. With more education and more skills, you’ll be able to enjoy more job opportunities as a paramedic.
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