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Allen Svirgun

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I was wondering what classes I should take (such as science, math, communications) before I take fire science or before trying to become an EMT/Firefighter? Thxs for your time!!!
 
Your other post says you're 16 years old?

I would say to focus on doing well in high school, and take the most advanced science courses you can get into. If your school offers them, AP Biology and AP Chemistry will give you a good head start for your EMT class. AP Physics may be relevant for Fire Science, I'm not sure.

Put more effort into your English classes too. Organized documentation and communication are really important in EMS, and a lot of people are bad at it. AP Language and Composition could be a great class if your school offers it.
 
Gurby said:
Your other post says you're 16 years old?

I would say to focus on doing well in high school, and take the most advanced science courses you can get into. If your school offers them, AP Biology and AP Chemistry will give you a good head start for your EMT class. AP Physics may be relevant for Fire Science, I'm not sure.

Put more effort into your English classes, too. Documentation and organized communication are really important in EMS, and a lot of people are bad at it. AP Language and Composition could be a great class if your school offers it.
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I am 16 but I go to a University (Im not in high school). Im also gonna be certified in EMR in March...THXS for the help!!!
 
Allen Svirgun said:
I am 16 but I go to a University (Im not in high school). Im also gonna be certified in EMR in March...THXS for the help!!!
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Do you live in the USA?
Did you graduate high school early?
Are you planning to get a 4-year degree?
What college-level classes have you taken thus far?
 
Gurby said:
Do you live in the USA?
Did you graduate high school early?
Are you planning to get a 4-year degree?
What college-level classes have you taken thus far?
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Yea, I live in Washington, and I'm technically in 11th grade but I take my classes at a University (On-Campus) and I don't know yet about 4 yr degree....Also, so far I've taken English 101 and taking 201 next quarter...Math Reasoning and Statistics and i'm taking Chem 100 next quarter.
 
Allen Svirgun said:
Yea, I live in Washington, and I'm technically in 11th grade but I take my classes at a University (On-Campus) and I don't know yet about 4 yr degree....Also, so far I've taken English 101 and taking 201 next quarter...Math Reasoning and Statistics and i'm taking Chem 100 next quarter.
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Let's clarify. There is a difference between taking Dual Credit HS/College courses and actually being in College. So which are you at? I'm assuming Dual Credit. The alternative doesn't make sense. If I'm wrong, please clarify.

All depends on your end-all. If you want to be a career EMT/Firefighter and promote up, that's cool. AP is your friend, but if you're already doing Dual Credit then that's accomplishing the same thing (obtaining college credit while in high school).

Look at the Fire Science degree plan for whatever college you're looking to get it at. Take Dual Credit and/or AP classes that would check the boxes on that degree plan. Follow the degree plan. If you're in a position where you have to take something (ie, specific number of classes in HS) and nothing lines up to the degree plan, that's fine and is called High School, so just take something that you want to take, whether or not it is relevant. I took Photojournalism and Newspaper in high school, because it was fun and doing anything else wouldn't really shorten my time in undergrad anyway.
 
Looking back I wish I coulda taken shop and/or automotive in HS, doesn't directly apply to fire science, but in my experience that's a daily use knowledge base in the fire station :P
 
Math? Eh... English would definitely help if you want to move up. But definitely the sciences. A&P, A&P, A&P. I hated Chem/Bio, they're actually partially what pushed me to EMS, but A&P was the most relevant. Chem just made me angry.
 
Actually English is very important. You write a narrative on every single patient. You need to know how to compose a legible, professional report. Please take English. I'm so sick of reading students' narratives that could fill an entire page and contain only three marks of punctuation.

And math- you don't need to know advanced calculus, but you should at least be pretty solid in college-level algebra. Students often struggle with drug calculations, which is really quite simple mathematics.

Edit: Just saw you were looking at just Fire/EMT. Math is still important. You need to know how much weight you're putting on the bar, or how many calories you haven't burned while sitting at the station...
 
Jim37F said:
Looking back I wish I coulda taken shop and/or automotive in HS, doesn't directly apply to fire science, but in my experience that's a daily use knowledge base in the fire station :p
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I took construction class in high school...don't regret a thing
 
Grimes said:
Let's clarify. There is a difference between taking Dual Credit HS/College courses and actually being in College. So which are you at? I'm assuming Dual Credit. The alternative doesn't make sense. If I'm wrong, please clarify.

All depends on your end-all. If you want to be a career EMT/Firefighter and promote up, that's cool. AP is your friend, but if you're already doing Dual Credit then that's accomplishing the same thing (obtaining college credit while in high school).

Look at the Fire Science degree plan for whatever college you're looking to get it at. Take Dual Credit and/or AP classes that would check the boxes on that degree plan. Follow the degree plan. If you're in a position where you have to take something (ie, specific number of classes in HS) and nothing lines up to the degree plan, that's fine and is called High School, so just take something that you want to take, whether or not it is relevant. I took Photojournalism and Newspaper in high school, because it was fun and doing anything else wouldn't really shorten my time in undergrad anyway.
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Well I'm get credits to graduate too but I take classes on campus and with like other college students...I'm not in any special classes for high school students so I don't know what you would consider that. But thxs for the information, its definitely will help me.
 
STXmedic said:
Actually English is very important. You write a narrative on every single patient. You need to know how to compose a legible, professional report. Please take English. I'm so sick of reading students' narratives that could fill an entire page and contain only three marks of punctuation.

And math- you don't need to know advanced calculus, but you should at least be pretty solid in college-level algebra. Students often struggle with drug calculations, which is really quite simple mathematics.

Edit: Just saw you were looking at just Fire/EMT. Math is still important. You need to know how much weight you're putting on the bar, or how many calories you haven't burned while sitting at the station...
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Thxs for the information. Yeah like I said, Im currently in an EMR class and we often have to do a write up on a scenario (such as the OPQRST, SAMPLE history etc...) and even though those things are fairly easy you still need English to make it look good and professional. Thxs for your time!!!
 
Im taking the EMR class/training at the University and no I'm not part of an EMS agency.
 
Allen Svirgun said:
Im taking the EMR class/training at the University and no I'm not part of an EMS agency.
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Have you considered joining a volly FD? Training is usually paid for by the department, and the experience might give you a leg up.

Regardless, the best thing you can do is work hard in high school and get a good GPA.
 
redundantbassist said:
Have you considered joining a volly FD? Training is usually paid for by the department, and the experience might give you a leg up.

Regardless, the best thing you can do is work hard in high school and get a good GPA.
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2 questions...1) What is a volly FD? I actually never heard of it and 2) do you have to be 18 and older to do the training/program or whatever it is?
 
Allen Svirgun said:
2 questions...1) What is a volly FD? I actually never heard of it and 2) do you have to be 18 and older to do the training/program or whatever it is?
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1. Volunteer Fire Department 2. Depends on your state. In New York, I was able to become an interior firefighter before I turned 17. However, some departments let folks 16-18 do a lot of stuff except structural firefighting, and some have "junior firefighter" programs which, from my understanding, let you take courses and do trainings but otherwise restrict you from participating on calls.

If you have a volunteer FD in your area, and you are interested, I would suggest contacting them and see about applying for membership.
 
redundantbassist said:
1. Volunteer Fire Department 2. Depends on your state. In New York, I was able to become an interior firefighter before I turned 17. However, some departments let folks 16-18 do a lot of stuff except structural firefighting, and some have "junior firefighter" programs which, from my understanding, let you take courses and do trainings but otherwise restrict you from participating on calls.

If you have a volunteer FD in your area, and you are interested, I would suggest contacting them and see about applying for membership.
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Oh okay, thanks I'll check the age requirement and etc.
 
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