A couple questions on becoming an EMT

n7lxi said:
However, having absolutely no clue about EMS, doing no research and considering it for a career is a bit ludicrous. It would be the same as me waking up one day, deciding that it might be neat to be a plumber, going to a plumber's internet message board and saying, "Hey, I don't know anything about pipes, but you guys get paid a lot. I think I want to be a plumber, too." Obviously, I'm simplifying... but as I mentioned previously, it would behoove the original poster to speak to the EMS program coordinator at his school, maybe the EMS office in the community where he plans to live and do some research.
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I don't recall him stateing he was considering EMS as a career and how do you know he has absolutely no clue about EMS? He must know something about it or he wouldn't be here with his inquiries.

Maybe he's looking for a stepping stone or a starting point in life. He's obviously looking to do something positive so why this forum is kicking him in the shins is mind boggleing to me.

Have a heart and try to give this kid some support. It's not like he's going to personally threaten the job security of anyone here if he becomes an EMT. Good grief.....
 
I think the advice has been solid...

  • do some research on the job before jumping in.
  • talk to the school program coordinator.
  • talk to the EMS office in the state where you plan to live

Why do you think we're beating him up? All of the forum members who responded to this post have been nothing but forthright and honest.

The fact is, if you have a criminal history, it may be difficult to get into an EMT program, obtain your cert or obtain a job. The door could close at any point, and I think we're all encouraging the original poster to get the facts about the job and what impact his background may have upon his ability to work in EMS.
 
Hastings said:
For the record, I don't.
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Maybe I should rephrase that statement. "Anyone who has worked in a large EMS system for any significant amount of time".... Ok, that's better.

And I believe the original poster has already stated that his alcohol offenses are considered infractions and not criminal behavior. Does getting a speedy ticket earn you the label of a criminal as well? I sure hope not or I am a criminal.

I stand by my original thoughts--I don't think he will have any problem getting a job in EMS although he may have to jump through a couple hoops. Big cities are always hireing EMT's and Medics as they experience high rates of turnover.
 
MOflightmedic said:
And I believe the original poster has already stated that his alcohol offenses are considered infractions and not criminal behavior. Does getting a speedy ticket earn you the label of a criminal as well? I sure hope not or I am a criminal.

I stand by my original thoughts--I don't think he will have any problem getting a job in EMS although he may have to jump through a couple hoops. Big cities are always hireing EMT's and Medics as they experience high rates of turnover.
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It could depend on location. Some spots simply don't hire much, while, as you note, others have very high turnover.
 
Wow, a couple things...

1) If you've ever gone to college, you know that 90% of students under the age of 21 have drank alcohol. However very few people, like myself, get caught. But in no way am I in a minority group for simply drinking under the age of 21.

2) Making a career out of being an EMT? No, that's not what I'm planning on and since when is that a requirement to get a job as one? I have loans to pay back so I need a decent paying job while I continue through school.

3) Somebody said I have "no clue about EMS and haven't done any research." The act of me posting this thread would qualify as "research," perhaps you're the one without a clue?

4) I hope prospective employers looks more at ability, qualifications, job history, references, and the interview, rather than something so silly as the choice to drink alcohol under the age of 21. In fact, they probably do. So how many of you have hiring experience? Let me guess...none?
 
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90% drinking underage I'll agree with - but getting caught!?
 
90% drinking underage I'll agree with - but getting caught!?
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That's my point: the only difference between me and the rest of the future EMT's who drank under 21 is I got a ticket for it and they didn't. That fact makes no difference when it comes to our ability to perform a job.
 
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If you were on a University of Wisconsin campus and got ticketed it means you've been caught more than once as their policy is a warning and peer review board for the first infraction and yes I know from experience.

Given your response that you only want to do this to pay off loans and work your way through college I suggest you find another line of work. We make roughly as much as the kids serving our food at Mcdonalds and there is much more involved in being an adequate EMS provider than simply taking class and getting your cert.

When you look around the forum you will see the type of adequate EMS providers that I'm talking about. Take a guess at how many hours of research and study these people have put into the job after passing the lousy 100 hour course or whatever it is.

Take RidRyder for example. In your thirty some years in the business how many times could you have taken the class with the number of hours you spend continuing your learning? I bet if all that continuing education was counted for college credits he could have a PHD by now.

There will be a lot of hoops for you to jump through to get into this profession and I don't think it's really what you're looking for. Good luck in your search of work and whatever your future schooling may bring your way.
 
marineman said:
If you were on a University of Wisconsin campus and got ticketed it means you've been caught more than once as their policy is a warning and peer review board for the first infraction and yes I know from experience.

Given your response that you only want to do this to pay off loans and work your way through college I suggest you find another line of work. We make roughly as much as the kids serving our food at Mcdonalds and there is much more involved in being an adequate EMS provider than simply taking class and getting your cert.

When you look around the forum you will see the type of adequate EMS providers that I'm talking about. Take a guess at how many hours of research and study these people have put into the job after passing the lousy 100 hour course or whatever it is.

Take RidRyder for example. In your thirty some years in the business how many times could you have taken the class with the number of hours you spend continuing your learning? I bet if all that continuing education was counted for college credits he could have a PHD by now.

There will be a lot of hoops for you to jump through to get into this profession and I don't think it's really what you're looking for. Good luck in your search of work and whatever your future schooling may bring your way.
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Yeah, especially where I live with what you are saying about the pay... Most I can ever EXPECT as a B, would be 10/hour... And that's if I'm lucky.
 
yeah, do some pro-con research: McD's you get to stay indoors, EMS outside in 90 degrees and -20, McD's you get free food, EMS you get to eat cold squished food as fast as you can on way to next call, McD's fairly clean environment, EMS you get puked on, blood everywhere....
 
exodus said:
Yeah, especially where I live with what you are saying about the pay... Most I can ever EXPECT as a B, would be 10/hour... And that's if I'm lucky.
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Really? Most of the companies up in OC were starting at around 10/hr.
 
Those two companies that I posted earlier start around 10.50 for basics but our Mcdonalds around here starts at 8.35 or something. Go work in a mill where you start in the 20's and you'll have those loans paid off in half the time.
 
JPINFV said:
Really? Most of the companies up in OC were starting at around 10/hr.
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I was told by another member here about 9-10 dollars. And that's pretty much re-iterates what I have seen online for this area.
 
why is it that i always have trouble feeling compelled to help people that come here looking to be spoon fed information and then respond with attitude when they dont get exactly the answer they want.

weird.....
 
KEVD18 said:
why is it that i always have trouble feeling compelled to help people that come here looking to be spoon fed information and then respond with attitude when they don't get exactly the answer they want.

weird.....
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I'll second that.
 
Yes we all make mistakes. Yes we are all human. Yes underage drinking is something that a majority of college students do.

None of that has anything to do with your hireability as an EMT. An employer is going to look at the applicants for a job with the intent of weeding out the ones he doesn't want and determining which one is a better candidate for the job.

Your driving abstract, criminal history and in some cases your financial history are going to be factors in your hireability regardless of the circumstances surrounding the event. Do you honestly think that the manager of a large urban EMS organization cares if it was the only time you got drunk or if there were 30 other people at that party that didn't get tickets?

There are consequences to our actions. We can't erase our past. Yes people change and its possible that you can get past your past and create a new future. I've known several people in a similar situation. One was in a resident Fire Program, and was in line for a scholarship to paramedic school when he got charged with MIP and DUI. He is currently doing tile work in another area of the state.

The other was a paramedic student when he got a DUI. He had to wait for the DUI to drop off his driving abstract before applying for a job. He was unable to activate his cert because he wasn't able to find an agency to sponsor him. He waited it out, retook the EMT-P and is currently working as a FF-EMT-P.

The best advice I can give you is to quit whining about how unfair it is, and how you didn't do anything that bad. Serve yourself a big old slice of humble pie and act like a grownup. You can get past this, or you can let it make you bitter. Your choice.
 
Not just EMS

It is important to note that EMS is not the only field of employment where history comes into play. Regardless of what field you enter, be it temporary or 'career' your past will stay with you.

Not saying all is lost, or anything of that sort. I'm just saying that when hiring, all factors come into play. One of the sad facts of our society is that it is impossible to make some young people understand that what they do now can have an impact on their futures.

To the OP, only the state(s) you are interested in working in, and the potential employers there can answer your questions with any certainty. I hope you realize from this situation that all the choices you make will have consequences, good or bad.
 
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