Too young to work, any advice?

Houstonemt

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I recently got my basic certification and I can't find anyone to hire me. They all say the same thing, that I need to be 21 years old to be insured and they won't hire me until then. I'm only 19 years old and this is all I've wanted to do since I was 13. I really don't want to work in a hospital but of the 7 different companies I've looked into (fire departments, municipal ems, and private transport) No one will hire me this young and I would rather have at least some healthcare experience. Anyone know of anything I could look into?
 

RocketMedic

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Look a little farther out. Galveston, Lake Jackson, Acadian, AMR, ESD48, Austin County. Also keep going to school. Can also volunteer at Cypress Creek.
 

medichopeful

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Reconsider hospitals. Look at ICUs (or ERs).
 

Foxem

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That must be a regional thing. I see a handful of 18-20 year old guys working as basics, myself included. You might be able to find something an hour or so away perhaps. It'll be a commute, since none of the areas immediately around you will take you, but it might be worth seeing whats out there. Do you have work experience? If not, just pick up a job at a grocery store and get some customer service experience. I applied at 18 and they told me no. Came back 8 months later with actual job experience and I was set. Things might not happen instantly, but thats something you just have to get through. You've gots this.
 

Jim37F

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Can always get a job flipping burgers, with a local construction crew, at a retail store adding to those "retail customers suck" "horror" stories you see floating around the interwebs...heck go to the local CC and take classes in anything, get an Associated in Underwater Basket Weaving to pass the time till your 21.

Nothing you do HAS to be medical field related, 21 is still young, the ambulance jobs will still be there in 2-3 years. And this way you can rack a bit of variety in the life experience category. Just make sure you stay out of trouble, make sure you stay/get into shape to lift and carry a patient without destroying your body and your good to go.
 

jdemt

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I don’t know about your area, but I would try for a job in the ED (good IV experience and you have doctors to ask lots of questions). And try to do an internship or explorer program to get your EMS fix. That or do lots of ride alongs if you’re able.
 

CVJPMG

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Well my advice is going off what I've been told about my situation (Can't find a job but for a different reason). I would work in a hospital for a little bit and work towards your Paramedics. I work in a mental health/rehab section of the hospital and it's alot better than I thought it would be, it counts as experience but you do have to word it properly
 

VentMonkey

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Lol, I find the thread title remarkably entertaining. My wife has been working since she was 15.
 
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Houstonemt

Houstonemt

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Well my advice is going off what I've been told about my situation (Can't find a job but for a different reason). I would work in a hospital for a little bit and work towards your Paramedics. I work in a mental health/rehab section of the hospital and it's alot better than I thought it would be, it counts as experience but you do have to word it properly
That's kinda what I've been leaning towards... It's not ideal but at least its something.
 
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Houstonemt

Houstonemt

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I don’t know about your area, but I would try for a job in the ED (good IV experience and you have doctors to ask lots of questions). And try to do an internship or explorer program to get your EMS fix. That or do lots of ride alongs if you’re able.
I would definitely not mind getting IV experience but our program doesn't train IV's until intermediate and I worry that a hospital will not want to waste time training a basic to do something like that when they can just hire someone already trained.
 

CVJPMG

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I would definitely not mind getting IV experience but our program doesn't train IV's until intermediate and I worry that a hospital will not want to waste time training a basic to do something like that when they can just hire someone already trained.

Some hospitals wont let a basic do IV's on patients but I've still had other workers offer to let me practice on them. If they do it would be more of a pay thing, basics get paid less so it saves them in the budget.

Getting into an ER may be pretty hard from what I heard, It would be better to find a unit that accepts EMT and get experience there to either transfer to an ER or try at an ambulance service down the line
 

Lo2w

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Like others said:

1) Suck it up and do the hospital for a few years. I initially thought I was doing RN and got a gig as a tech in the SICU. Went for my EMT to move to the ED but found I enjoy the truck life more (I know, I know...). I've found the experience I got with things like 12 leads, helping with wound care and dressings, talking vitals helped a lot moving into EMS.

2) Get your education out of the way - medic, fire card etc. that will help you stand out. Keep your driving record clean, stay out of trouble. Get a gym routine of some sort to help stay prepared for any agility testing.

3) There may be some non-transport EMS gigs in your area - amusement park, special event, lifeguard, security. You may also look at some of the larger EMS gigs and see if there's some kind of support role you could take to get your foot in the door.
 

RocketMedic

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Acadia and AMR both hire at 18.
 

VFlutter

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Hospital jobs can be great. I worked as a monitor tech after getting my EMT and I learned a ton about rhythm interpretation while getting paid more than I would in EMS and even got tuition assistance for school.
 

RocketMedic

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Army is a good option too.
 
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