First day tomorrow!

[QUEEEEN]

I just got a job as an EMT. My first shift is tomorrow and I'm ridiculously nervous! They aren't really doing any sort of training with me so I feel like Im being thrown to the wolves.

I'm nervous about driving the truck especially. I haven't had any experience with a vehicle this big. The ambulance is esentially a fire engine with a box on back. So it's huge.

I'm also really nervous about getting sick or passing out or something. Hopefully that doesn't happen though.

Anyone have advice?

 

[TransportJockey]

Look for a job to replace this one ASAP. If the company doesn't care enough to do any FTO time or orientation they most likely will not be a good place to work

 

[QUEEEEN]

Thats what I was thinking. But EMT jobs here really aren't very easy to come by. I really want to get experience. I just think it's weird Im being thrown into it so quickly. It's just going to be me and the medic...so if I freeze up or can't drive then we're screwed.

 

[MosquitoXEL]

Tell me how it goes. I'm a high school student and I would like to be an EMT (darn those age limits :angry. But anyways, I'm sure you'll do fine.

 

[mgr22]

so if I freeze up or can't drive then we're screwed.

Not as badly as your patient.

I can understand being nervous about a new job, but what's with the "getting sick or passing out" in your original post? Has that happened to you before?

You asked for advice: If you're going to be incapacitated -- particularly while driving -- perhaps you should tell your employer you've changed your mind about the job. Sure, they'll be unhappy about that, but they'll get over it a lot faster than they will if you hurt someone.

 

[QUEEEEN]

I can understand being nervous about a new job, but what's with the "getting sick or passing out" in your original post? Has that happened to you before?

You asked for advice: If you're going to be incapacitated -- particularly while driving -- perhaps you should tell your employer you've changed your mind about the job. Sure, they'll be unhappy about that, but they'll get over it a lot faster than they will if you hurt someone.

Seeing trauma in person is a lot different than looking at pictures in a book or seeing it from the corner of a room in the ER during clinicals. No, I haven't passed out or thrown up before, but it's something that I think anyone would think about when being thrown into something like this. I don't think it's an unreasonable fear to have.

I never said I was going to be incapacitated. I said that it makes me nervous and I'm worried about how I will respond. Which, again, I think is normal when it comes to this situation. I drive a Camry. Its about ten times smaller than a fire engine. Being thrown into the drivers seat of a 2500 pound vehicle is scary, especially when you have no experience driving anything that large. And then add in driving code three? Yeah, I'm a little worried about that. I wouldn't quit before I've started. I'm just nervous.

 

[DarkStarr]

no EVOC?

 

[rsdaveo]

Seeing trauma in person is a lot different than looking at pictures in a book or seeing it from the corner of a room in the ER during clinicals. No, I haven't passed out or thrown up before, but it's something that I think anyone would think about when being thrown into something like this. I don't think it's an unreasonable fear to have.

I never said I was going to be incapacitated. I said that it makes me nervous and I'm worried about how I will respond. Which, again, I think is normal when it comes to this situation. I drive a Camry. Its about ten times smaller than a fire engine. Being thrown into the drivers seat of a 2500 pound vehicle is scary, especially when you have no experience driving anything that large. And then add in driving code three? Yeah, I'm a little worried about that. I wouldn't quit before I've started. I'm just nervous.

Have you ever rented a U-haul ??? IF you have just think of it as one of those... Only seems big now, you'll get thru it fine

 

[Asimurk]

First day of any job is usually exciting. Get in, get familiar, and be careful, and you should be fine after a bit. Hope it works out.

Have you ever rented a U-haul ??? IF you have just think of it as one of those... Only seems big now, you'll get thru it fine

Just be careful not to break gutters like a uHaul can do, but thanks for this perspective. Not even in class yet, but I keep seeing things I can relate to that I think will help me out.

 

[mgr22]

Seeing trauma in person is a lot different than looking at pictures in a book or seeing it from the corner of a room in the ER during clinicals. No, I haven't passed out or thrown up before, but it's something that I think anyone would think about when being thrown into something like this. I don't think it's an unreasonable fear to have.

I never said I was going to be incapacitated. I said that it makes me nervous and I'm worried about how I will respond. Which, again, I think is normal when it comes to this situation. I drive a Camry. Its about ten times smaller than a fire engine. Being thrown into the drivers seat of a 2500 pound vehicle is scary, especially when you have no experience driving anything that large. And then add in driving code three? Yeah, I'm a little worried about that. I wouldn't quit before I've started. I'm just nervous.

Ok, I understand your concern about the unknown. I don't think any fears are unreasonable. You sound pretty determined. That's a good way to start. I think aggressiveness helps control nervousness.

 

[usafmedic45]

Tell me how it goes. I'm a high school student and I would like to be an EMT (darn those age limits :angry. But anyways, I'm sure you'll do fine.

Don't get in a hurry to take on the burden of carrying for others. I was a teenager when I started in EMS and like everyone else I know who did something similar, the stress takes it's toll. The job and all the crap that goes with it will still be here when you're 18, 21, 25, 30, etc. Enjoy being a kid for Christ's sake.

 

[usafmedic45]

Look for a job to replace this one ASAP. If the company doesn't care enough to do any FTO time or orientation they most likely will not be a good place to work

What he/she said.

 

[usafmedic45]

What he/she said.

The ambulance is esentially a fire engine with a box on back. So it's huge.

You're off by a factor of several times on that one. An ambulance is a van with a box on the back.

Toyota Camry- 2,700–2,850 lbs (curb weight)
Average ambulance (Type III, fully loaded)- 10,450 lbs
Average fire engine (fully loaded)- 56,000+ lbs (this was the weight for the last engine I worked on)

To give some comparsion, the maximum takeoff weight of an Embraer 145 jet is between 48,000 and 53,000 lbs (depending on the model).

 

[ClarkKent]

no EVOC?

I am a volunteer (yes I said it) with the local Sheriff's Department and they even put me through an EVOC for 3 days. And no, I am not driven a squad or a bus, just a small Ford Ranger 4 banger

 

[QUEEEEN]

You're off by a factor of several times on that one. An ambulance is a van with a box on the back.

Toyota Camry- 2,700–2,850 lbs (curb weight)
Average ambulance (Type III, fully loaded)- 10,450 lbs
Average fire engine (fully loaded)- 56,000+ lbs (this was the weight for the last engine I worked on)

To give some comparsion, the maximum takeoff weight of an Embraer 145 jet is between 48,000 and 53,000 lbs (depending on the model).

I know what a normal ambulance looks like. The ambulance at this station is not standard. It's literally a fire truck. It doesn't even fit under some of the ER entrances.

But yeah, ha, I'm definitely off on the weight I'm sure.

Anyhow, the shift went really well! My medic told me I did great.

 

[Bubz628]

They're not gonna have a third person on board with you just for a while? Some companies have an extra Basic or Medic when someone new hops on the truck, just for a couple of weeks or so... But anyways, good luck!

 

[MassEMT-B]

Good Luck. I have orientation this monday and I start as a third rider tuesday.

 

[MedicBrew]

Queeen
Congratulations on your 1st shift, sounds like all went well. As you've seen by some earlier posts you need some thick skin to function in this field.

A few words of wisdom/warning that were pasted to me when I was green. 1) ALWAYS act in a professional manner. If you don't know what you’re doing, at least appear like you know what you’re doing. 2) Ask the old farts as many questions as possible (not in front of the patient!) 3) Anticipate other drivers, as I'm sure you noticed they can and will do anything when they see those light, except pull to the right and stop that is. 4) Always look ahead while driving; these units don't exactly stop on a dime, especially the heavy duty that you have described. 5) Starts, Stops, and Corners are the hardest on the medic in the back. They will feel everything you do, just 3x's as much. When you take of (loaded) if it’s not painfully slow to you, it's probably too fast. 6) Never expect gratitude because you rarely get any. 7) And most important, this is not television! you can't and will not save them all.

Keep your chin up, eyes and ears open and you will learn more in the 1st 6 months on the streets then you ever did in class.

 

[rescue99]

I know what a normal ambulance looks like. The ambulance at this station is not standard. It's literally a fire truck. It doesn't even fit under some of the ER entrances.

But yeah, ha, I'm definitely off on the weight I'm sure.

Anyhow, the shift went really well! My medic told me I did great.

Never a doubt Glad to know you had a positive experience on day one! It sets the tone for these early days