Air Ambulance EMTs?

[Squad4]

Are there any air ambulance job opportunities for EMTs anywhere around Southern California? I know air ambulances are mostly limited to paramedics and nurses but I was wondering if any company hires EMTs for the job

 

[DesertMedic66]

California Highway Patrol will staff EMTs on their airship

 

[Jim37F]

California Highway Patrol will staff EMTs on their airship

Though I assume the catch being you also have to be a CHP officer in addition to having an EMT cert? I don't think there's anywhere you can be a single role EMT only flying on a medical helicopter?

 

[TransportJockey]

Why would there be a single role flight EMT? It's pointless

 

[CALEMT]

Though I assume the catch being you also have to be a CHP officer in addition to having an EMT cert? I don't think there's anywhere you can be a single role EMT only flying on a medical helicopter?

Correct. Although its a toss up wether its a EMT or Paramedic on the bird.

 

[NomadicMedic]

Why would there be a single role flight EMT? It's pointless

"Ohhh. That fracture looks like it hurts! Here's an ice pack"

 

[akflightmedic]

Squad...you want the groovy job then you have to do the groovy education and experience track. In short, there is ZERO point in ever having an EMT in an Air Ambulance situation. There are literally 1000s of highly qualified, educated and experienced paramedics who cannot gain a position.

Do not think an EMT would be cheaper. Labor cost is not a factor in this situation. It is not like a private ambo service where they just need a pulse...if you encounter that type of Medevac Provider...then run and run fast cause it will not be long before you are buried 6 feet under.

You need to go get a degree (it is a competitive field), become a paramedic, take a ton of critical care courses, and get a few years experience as a paramedic in a medium to high volume 911 service before even considering going high in the whirly bird...

 

[DesertMedic66]

Though I assume the catch being you also have to be a CHP officer in addition to having an EMT cert? I don't think there's anywhere you can be a single role EMT only flying on a medical helicopter?

Yes. Aside from that EMTs aren't really used in the air. Since the majority of patients who are flown are critical patients you need providers who have greater knowledge and a way more expanded scope than EMTs.

 

[Summit]

Correct. Although its a toss up wether its a EMT or Paramedic on the bird.

That is nuts unless it is just simple wilderness evac.
Otherwise HEMS should never be BLS. Do they bill helicopter rates with an EMT/LEO attending???

 

[Squad4]

Squad...you want the groovy job then you have to do the groovy education and experience track. In short, there is ZERO point in ever having an EMT in an Air Ambulance situation. There are literally 1000s of highly qualified, educated and experienced paramedics who cannot gain a position.

Do not think an EMT would be cheaper. Labor cost is not a factor in this situation. It is not like a private ambo service where they just need a pulse...if you encounter that type of Medevac Provider...then run and run fast cause it will not be long before you are buried 6 feet under.

You need to go get a degree (it is a competitive field), become a paramedic, take a ton of critical care courses, and get a few years experience as a paramedic in a medium to high volume 911 service before even considering going high in the whirly bird...

It was just a question, I'm a new EMT just asking a simple question to experienced people who know the answer. I do plan on becoming a paramedic as well as getting a degree in emergency medical services and my long term goal is to be in an air ambulance. I just wanted to see if I had any options in my current state. Thanks for the info.

 

[Summit]

It was just a question, I'm a new EMT just asking a simple question to experienced people who know the answer. I do plan on becoming a paramedic as well as getting a degree in emergency medical services and my long term goal is to be in an air ambulance. I just wanted to see if I had any options in my current state. Thanks for the info.

Right now, get as much experience as you can and take paramedic prereqs.
Then get your medic and get experience with sick patients (preferably with intermediate transport times).

 

[Squad4]

Right now, get as much experience as you can and take paramedic prereqs.
Then get your medic and get experience with sick patients (preferably with intermediate transport times).

That's definitely what I plan on doing. Thank you

 

[DesertMedic66]

That is nuts unless it is just simple wilderness evac.
Otherwise HEMS should never be BLS. Do they bill helicopter rates with an EMT/LEO attending???

CHP helicopter is one of the only helicopters we have that can do hoist rescues. If there is no other HEMS unit available then we will use CHP. They usually have a solo provider in the back. If it's a CHP EMT then we will provide the paramedic (we aren't allowed to transfer care to a lower provider level). If it's a CHP Medic then we will fly in if needed. If it's a CA resident then they don't charge (no clue about out of state).

 

[Summit]

CHP helicopter is one of the only helicopters we have that can do hoist rescues. If there is no other HEMS unit available then we will use CHP. They usually have a solo provider in the back. If it's a CHP EMT then we will provide the paramedic (we aren't allowed to transfer care to a lower provider level). If it's a CHP Medic then we will fly in if needed. If it's a CA resident then they don't charge (no clue about out of state).

That makes more sense. What kind of training do you have to go through to attend on the helo?

 

[Gurby]

Definitive answer on becoming a flight medic:

The best and only thing that you can do now to become an attractive candidate for a position as a flight paramedic is......drum roll, please......become the best ground paramedic you can be.

Work for a progressive 911 system. Learn to be calm, respectful of everyone around, and methodical, even on the most hectic scenes and with the sickest patients. Read journals, blogs, and websites. Look things up online and in textbooks. Don't be afraid to say "I don't know". Don't be cocky or a know-it-all. Take classes that you think will help you understand and do your job better. Precept. Teach, both informally and maybe formally. Earn a 4-year degree. In a couple of years, go to work for a ground CCT service and then start this whole process over. Become the type of paramedic that other EMT's and medics love to have as a partner, that docs and nurses and firefighters and cops like to see walk through the door, and that people say about "if my wife or kid ever gets badly hurt, I hope cointosser13 gets the dispatch".....not because you know everything but because you just always do a really_good_job. That should keep you busy for 5-6 years......after you've done all that, start seriously looking into flying. But don't do these things because you think they will help you get into flying, do them so that you can get really good at what you are doing now.

HEMS programs typically look for paramedics with quality experience, who are mature as both an individual and as a clinician, who are easy to get along with, who are confident but not cocky, and who have really good customer service skills and crisis-management skills. They'll figure this out through interviews, scenarios, testing, and talking to people who know you. Some people naturally possess these "soft skills", some don't - but they are critically important - you will NOT get hired by a good program if they don't get the right impression of your personality, no matter how bad*** of a paramedic you are or how many critical care courses you've taken or how much physiology you can rattle off. Reputation is important. Many programs only hire people they know, or at least people that they know have a good reputation in their area.

Don't spend the next few years of your life focusing on becoming a flight paramedic and just checking off the boxes that you think will help you reach that end. Nothing wrong with having a goal and a plan to get there, but enjoy what you are doing now and work hard to be really good at it.

 

[CALEMT]

CHP helicopter is one of the only helicopters we have that can do hoist rescues.

CAL FIRE H301 out of Hemet-Ryan also has short haul/ hoist rescue capability. But transport they can not due to weight of the helo.

That makes more sense. What kind of training do you have to go through to attend on the helo?

Probably CHP's helicopter academy or whatever its called.

 

[DesertMedic66]

That makes more sense. What kind of training do you have to go through to attend on the helo?

Sadly none

 

[chrls]

California Highway Patrol will staff EMTs on their airship

While this is true there is only 1 out of the 4 people who is an EMT still and he has been around for awhile. 75% of the time there is a paramedic on board and you will not get hired into the air unit on the helicopter side these days without being a medic.

Though I assume the catch being you also have to be a CHP officer in addition to having an EMT cert? I don't think there's anywhere you can be a single role EMT only flying on a medical helicopter?

To do any job with CHP air ops you need at least 2 years of "road" time. All pilot/emts/paramedics are officers or sergeants first.

That is nuts unless it is just simple wilderness evac.
Otherwise HEMS should never be BLS. Do they bill helicopter rates with an EMT/LEO attending???

If the EMT is working he will not be the primary care giver. He is either left behind for weight issues and a CalFire/AMR medic is taken along with the pilot or he will sit away from the patient when the CalFire/AMR medic is taken if all 4 people can go.

And no, CHP does not bill for anything helicopter related regardless of residency.

CHP helicopter is one of the only helicopters we have that can do hoist rescues. If there is no other HEMS unit available then we will use CHP. They usually have a solo provider in the back. If it's a CHP EMT then we will provide the paramedic (we aren't allowed to transfer care to a lower provider level). If it's a CHP Medic then we will fly in if needed. If it's a CA resident then they don't charge (no clue about out of state).

We don't bill for anything.

That makes more sense. What kind of training do you have to go through to attend on the helo?

You have to go trough the 6 month academy in West Sacramento, work the road in an area office for 2 years, apply to the air unit, get hired, and go through flight officer training. There is no specific training for medical care.

CAL FIRE H301 out of Hemet-Ryan also has short haul/ hoist rescue capability. But transport they can not due to weight of the helo.

The Riverside Sheriff Department also does hoist rescue but does not provide any medical care.

301 cannot transport because they are not registered in Riverside County to do so.

Probably CHP's helicopter academy or whatever its called.

Sadly none

See training above.

 

[CALEMT]

Im going to go out on a limb here and guess that you're employed with CHP?

 

[chrls]

Yes, been lurking for a long time and saw a tread I could contribute to.