Are they called "Paramedics" or "Medics"?

mattyb

Forum Ride Along
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What's the difference and why do I see Paramedics referring to themselves as medics?
 

DrParasite

The fire extinguisher is not just for show
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because it beats being called ambulance drivers
 

VentMonkey

Family Guy
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When alone, we are a "Medic"...

When with another "Medic", we become a "Pair O' Medic".
Such a dad joke...
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CALEMT

The Other Guy/ Paramaybe?
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I typically say bandaid slinger but to each their own I guess.
 

Peak

ED/Prehospital Registered Nurse
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In the strictest sense para is a prefix meaning along side, in the absence of, under a ... of the base word. In this sense the medic is from the Latin medicus, which was the term for a physician. So in this sense a medic is a medical physician, the paramedic works along/in the absence of/under a physician.

Same general idea for paralegals and all other kinds of paraprofessionals.

In the real world, nobody cares. I personally almost always use the term medic in the same way I usually use the term nurse instead of registered nurse, child life instead of certified child life specialist, or respiratory therapist instead of registered respiratory therapist. I'm a typical American in that I'm pretty lazy articulating the English language, and I like shortcuts.

Medics are also a bit more of an all encompassing term. It could include fire medic, street medics, transfer medics, flight medics, critical care paramedics, and military medics (who often have ALS training that in some ways exceeds stateside paramedic training, but may be less advanced in other topics).
 

chriscemt

Forum Lieutenant
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In the strictest sense para is a prefix meaning along side, in the absence of, under a ... of the base word. In this sense the medic is from the Latin medicus, which was the term for a physician. So in this sense a medic is a medical physician, the paramedic works along/in the absence of/under a physician.

Same general idea for paralegals and all other kinds of paraprofessionals.

In the real world, nobody cares. I personally almost always use the term medic in the same way I usually use the term nurse instead of registered nurse, child life instead of certified child life specialist, or respiratory therapist instead of registered respiratory therapist. I'm a typical American in that I'm pretty lazy articulating the English language, and I like shortcuts.

Medics are also a bit more of an all encompassing term. It could include fire medic, street medics, transfer medics, flight medics, critical care paramedics, and military medics (who often have ALS training that in some ways exceeds stateside paramedic training, but may be less advanced in other topics).

Well, shucks, I just learned something.
 

Jim37F

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In the strictest sense para is a prefix meaning along side, in the absence of, under a ... of the base word. In this sense the medic is from the Latin medicus, which was the term for a physician. So in this sense a medic is a medical physician, the paramedic works along/in the absence of/under a physician.

Same general idea for paralegals and all other kinds of paraprofessionals.
Huh, I always kinda wondered where the "Para-" came from.

Especially since I started off in the Army where medics were just that, Medics.
And "Para-" almost always had something to do with parachuting and Paratroopers (in the British Army, they're just the Paras)...
So I always kinda wondered how civilian medics who didn't do any parachuting came to be known as Paramedics lol
 

Phillyrube

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Me? I'm a First Class All American Hero With Heart and Mind Wired Full Tilt Boogie for Freedom and Justice!
 

CALEMT

The Other Guy/ Paramaybe?
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Some people call me the space cowboy.... some call me the gangster of love... some people call me Maurice...
 

PotatoMedic

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They call the wind Moriah.
 

johnrsemt

Forum Deputy Chief
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Military Medics straight out of training are usually trained more in trauma, but no where near as much in medical, but then they get more medical as time goes on
 
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