High School EMT in Connecticut

[EMT11KDL]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIkEf2Wu9B4

check this out, does anyone actually know if these High School Students are actually EMT-B certified? This is kinda scary that there under the age of 18!

 

[AJ Hidell]

Yes, they are EMTs. But I'm no more scared by a 16 or 17 year old EMT than I am by an 18 or 19 year old EMT. Age notwithstanding, it's still just an EMT, which is not a good thing on a heart attack run. I'd rather have a 16 year old paramedic than a 40 year old EMT.

 

[EMT11KDL]

my biggest thing is that there still in high school. It just doesn't seem that it would be a great combination that there leaving school to respond to a call. The additional distractions that would be put on them. Also the emotions of the outcomes of calls they have to respond too. I know PEDS can sometimes get to me, depending on what the call is.

how many other states out there is the minimum age 16? I know the Northwest is 18, and some agencies you have to be 21.

 

[medicdan]

The whole idea of teenage responders is a northeast thing-- especially in New Jersey and Connecticut. New Jersey has seperate town(ship) "Rescue" or "First Aid" Squads, which are BLS, and regional ALS resources. Their EMS is regulated by the First Grade Council. ahem, excuse me, the First AID council. "Explorers" or High School members always respond with a duty crew, and at first, only as observers.

In CT, its possible that the high schoolers are the only responders. I guess what I dont understand is how they went from being an explorers post to the primary coverage for their city...?

I have worked in Israel, where at least one 8-hour shift a day all over the country is covered entirely by high school responders. An EMT/Driver and 2 HS FRs staff each BLS ambulance. The ambulances carry no drugs, but otherwise are no different then our ambulances. The EMT assesses the patient on scene, provides whatever treatment is necessary, and transports. En Route to the hospital, the FRs monitor condition, and contine therapies, and alert the driver if there are any problems. The system actually works quite well...

While I cant say anything about being on call while in a class (Because I do it on a regular basis, as a part of my College EMS system), it seems irresponsible for High School students to do it, with the high probability of calls during the day (I have never been called out of class, in 9 months of weekly shifts).

 

[silver]

While I cant say anything about being on call while in a class (Because I do it on a regular basis, as a part of my College EMS system), it seems irresponsible for High School students to do it, with the high probability of calls during the day (I have never been called out of class, in 9 months of weekly shifts).

During the day I believe they are second due at calls. Adults volunteer to cover first due while at school, thus reducing the number of calls they respond to from HS.

 

[AJ Hidell]

Good points, Dan. It is definitely a Northeast thing. The volunteer system is well entrenched as a good ol' boy social club up there, and not a profession. So it is not a significant leap to decide that even kids can do it. And they'd rather do that than to see it become an actual profession and people have to give up their hobby for progress.

Again, I don't have a problem with their age so much as other things. I primarily don't like that the community is using these kids to provide a sub-standard service when it is a wealthy community that can darn well afford full-time professional paramedic coverage. It's not good for the kids. It's not good for the patients. It's not good for the job market. It's not good for the image of the profession. The only thing this is good for is the city budget.

 

[EMTCLM]

thats a town right near mine, and i do think its a little strange how they run some aspects of it, but i dont think 16 is too young if the poeple doing it are appropriate for the job. I'm taking the course over the summer, and i'm 15( turning 16 during the course), but I'm a very responsible person and my mother is a nurse and I want to be a doctor, so I think as long as the people doing it aren't goofing off and really acting like teenagers persay, then its fine, because we can learn the same things an older person can learn. plus, our study skills are more up to date

 

[Shishkabob]

It's not good for the kids. It's not good for the patients.

How so?

Teaches responsibility.

After school activities help keep kids out of trouble.

Teaches work ethic.

Gives the kids insight on if they want to continue to paramedic or some other health profession,

Parents aren't worried that their kids are off doing illegal things as much as kids who DON'T volunteer.

 

[AaronMRT]

If their competent EMTs then I don't see any issue. With school violence the way it is, I think it's an even better idea. As long as the scene is safe they are already there if needed.

 

[nomofica]

It's not the age, it's the maturity; if they're not willing to touch a comfortably touch, say, a penis because they think it's "icky", I wouldn't want them to be near me as an EMT.

 

[Meursault]

How so?

Teaches responsibility.

After school activities help keep kids out of trouble.

Teaches work ethic.

Gives the kids insight on if they want to continue to paramedic or some other health profession,

Parents aren't worried that their kids are off doing illegal things as much as kids who DON'T volunteer.

They're not collecting canned goods or pushing wheelchairs at a hospital. They're providing emergency care, which is a somewhat risky undertaking even for adults who do this full-time, even more so because they appear to be driving. I'm not terribly concerned about the effects on the students (I subscribe to George Carlin's philosophy on the well-being of children, which I can't reproduce here), but they are quite possibly putting patients at risk. EMS is not an extracurricular activity. (says the college volly EMT.)

 

[mycrofft]

Follow the military

They regularly arm eighteen year olds but not until they have passed various screenings, then not until after after the service has tried to reconstruct their senses of ego and responsibility, then secondary training, then under the watchful eye of someone who succeeded.

And as for members providing emergency care other than as organic members of a combat team, by the time they are done with training and OJT, they are not eighteen anymore.

What ever hapened to young people getting their advance lifesaver certificates, maybe joining a local vollie fire dept, or working in a care environment to at least soak up some of the culture and mindset before they go be "Johnny and Roy"?

How about hearing some firsthand accounts??

 

[VentMedic]

OHSA has spelled out what teenagers aged 17 and under can or can not do. NJ has also included this in their EMT statutes.

They can not operate heavy equipment such as some ambulances and fire trucks. States that have separate driving licenses may also have age restrictions especially when it is considered "hauling for hire". Nor can they be present when heavy extrication equipment is being used. Even a come-along is considered heavy extrication. They can not be near anything that is considered to be hazardous materials or substances. As worded in some child labor laws: Placement at the scene of a fire, explosion, or other emergency situation.

OSHA made their child safety laws even tighter in 2007 since there were several occupational deaths involving minors reported.

Here is one quote of the statistics:
http://www.pafirefighter.net/news/newsarticle.asp?section=fullnews&id=787&cat=15"

Young Workers at Higher Risk of Injury
Between 1992 and 2000, a total of 603 workers under the age of 18 suffered fatal occupational injuries--an average of 67 per year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. NIOSH has studied the issue of young workers' safety for many years and notes there are several reasons why young workers are at an increased risk for a workplace accident or death.

Among them are:
• Young workers commonly perform tasks without question for which they have not received proper training in order to display responsibility, maturity, or independence in the eyes of their employer.
• Young workers often lack the experience and physical maturity needed for certain tasks.
• Young workers' continuing, rapid growth of organ and musculoskeletal systems can make them more likely to be harmed by hazardous substances or develop cumulative trauma.

The actual OSHA website is listed at the bottom of the page on that link.

 

[Wee-EMT]

This kind of scares me......

 

[Shishkabob]

They're not collecting canned goods or pushing wheelchairs at a hospital. They're providing emergency care, which is a somewhat risky undertaking even for adults who do this full-time, even more so because they appear to be driving. I'm not terribly concerned about the effects on the students (I subscribe to George Carlin's philosophy on the well-being of children, which I can't reproduce here), but they are quite possibly putting patients at risk. EMS is not an extracurricular activity. (says the college volly EMT.)

They took a certification class.

They took a licensee test.

They passed the test.

The get licensed by the state.



They obviously met the minimum requirements to be competent, just like everyone on this forum has.


Only difference between them and you is they were born a couple of years later.

 

[HotelCo]

I'll be honest, I wish my area had a program like that when I was in highschool. I think it's a good idea. If they have been doing it for this long, it's obvious it isn't going away soon. As long as they are competant EMTs, I have no problems.

 

[Meursault]

They obviously met the minimum requirements to be competent, just like everyone on this forum has.

There's been a lot of debate here as to whether the minimum requirements ensure competence.

Only difference between them and you is they were born a couple of years later.

I'd argue that it's a fairly important 4 years.

As mycrofft points out, the military requires 18 y/o's, and puts them through quite a bit of artificial aging before giving them responsibility.

For more EMS-relevant examples, think about the high school students who occasionally pop up to post on here (try searching for the tag "high_school_career_day"). They tend to be a bit misguided about EMS. For that matter, the EMT-B students I've TA'd are generally a bit misguided about EMS.

if they're not willing to touch a comfortably touch, say, a penis because they think it's "icky", I wouldn't want them to be near me as an EMT.

Although I get your point, I doubt that particular example would be an issue for high school students.

But yes, first-hand accounts would be really interesting.

 

[subliminal1284]

I dont think anyone under 18 should be a full EMT. Whats going to happen when these kids see something very traumatic that scars them for life?

 

[Shishkabob]

There's been a lot of debate here as to whether the minimum requirements ensure competence.

Than that is more an issue for the NREMT to address.

As mycrofft points out, the military requires 18 y/o's,

Actually, it's 17, and as such puts them up after only 1 year of being able to drive a car.

Ever been to boot camp? Trust me, boot camp doesn't make adults out of people. It just keeps them on a tight leash for 6-13 weeks where they get to learn to shoot rifles and throw grenades and march in order.

Why do you think there are the stories of rape near American bases over sees? Or fragging? Or drunk <21 y/os?




Some pretty crappy and immature people finish bootcamp because there's nothing to it. As long as you don't get injured and don't kill your CO, you'll get through. Nothing to do with maturity.

 

[Shishkabob]

I dont think anyone under 18 should be a full EMT. Whats going to happen when these kids see something very traumatic that scars them for life?

What happens if an 18 yearold sees it?

19?

20?

21?

22?

23?

Where's the line? What makes someone instantly mature at 18? Ever been to a college?




You can be scarred for life at ANY age.