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EMTjessi

EMTjessi

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Hey all, I'm new to the site. ^_^ I know what is probably going through the heads of anyone who sees my age... "Oh my gosh she's only 17!" yes yes i know...odd. and truely...i understand. i was kind of curious if any other areas offer a program like my county offered. im in virginia.

here at our Vo-TEC school they offer a program that allows anyone who is 16 to go through both Firefighter 1 and Firefighter 2, HazMat Ops, and EMT-Basic cources and get certified at a state level granted they have the right amount of hrs, pass the class with a C average and pass all the state certification exams.

i know many of you are thinking that its crazy and we arent mature enough to be EMTs and deal with the stress. but ive been involved with our towns volly squad since the day i turned 16 and love every minute of it. i earned my FF1/FF2 and HazMat Ops in January 08, and my EMT-B in June of 08. My county has certain guidelines we have to follow be we are allowed to practices as any other EMT. the only major rule is that we can't be declared as an AIC at any point while we're in the back of the truck with a pt. if we are dispatched i can go to the scene and initiate care but once someone who is certified and over 18 arrives on the scene they become the one in charge...and as soon as we are loaded i become the assistant.

now im just babbling...i guess what im trying to get at is Are there any areas near you that offer the same programs as here?
 
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No volunteer EMS here, and volunteer fire does not respond POV. Additionally, EMS here is required to be at least 18, and a high school graduate. We like it that way here.

BTW, Welcome to the site.
 
Welcome to the tribe!!
 
Sapphyre said:
Additionally, EMS here is required to be at least 18, and a high school graduate.
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Same here, or "equivalent to HS graduate." I think if you're older, but a HS dropout, they give you some slack and take your work history as being the equivalent of a HS diploma.
 
Thanks for the welcome. I've been doing a lot of looking around and I've only been able to find that my county is the only county within a good distance that offers a program like that... -_-' Anyways, here I have my restrictions. As I said above, I can't be AIC until im 18 and precepted. I have to keep a C average in all of my classes, although they don't like to see anything below B's.(I can't say I blame them) I'm not technically allowed to run late night calls but I'm the youngest person on my squad (next youngest is 21. lol) and I'm responsible and mature about it, they don't usually say anything unless my grades drop or I'm just totally wiped out. Amongst other things...I'm allowed to do a lot of the Basic scope, depending on who is in the back with me... there are a lot of older (older meaning 50+) members that don't like the idea of me being around, let alone me actually working on someone. *rolls eyes* gotta love the newbie haters. lol.
 
EMTjessi said:
I'm allowed to do a lot of the Basic scope, depending on who is in the back with me... there are a lot of older (older meaning 50+) members that don't like the idea of me being around, let alone me actually working on someone. *rolls eyes* gotta love the newbie haters. lol.
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As one of of those 50+ members that don't like 17 year olds working on someone :rolleyes: perhaps I can give you a bit of perspective. First... I love newbies. I teach and the enthusiasm that a new person brings to this business is truly inspiring. It often reminds some of us grey haired old fossils of why we got into this initially.

While you seem to be quick to assume that the really old.. 50+ members just don't like new people, you are labeling them which is basically the same behavior. I've seen a lot of youthful faces come and go in EMS over the years. I've seen a lot of new kids who started out as Junior FF who are now working as paramedics or career firefighters.

But I am against a 17yo providing pt care in the back of an ambulance. I believe that while you may be able to provide care, you shouldn't have to. While you may be able to handle emotionally the stuff you see .. you shouldn't have to. Physiologial changes in the brains of young adults can cause difficulty in problem solving, prioritizing and in the processing of emotional information.

Why such a rush? Instead of passing off the reticence of the grey heads in your department, you would do a lot more for your career by attempting to learn from them. Instead of rushing to the judgement that the old people hate newbies, try asking them about it. Engage in a dialogue about the subject. You will learn, and they may gain some insight into your maturity level that may cause them to make an exception in your case.

The ability to do this will show you to be in full possession of the maturity you claim.
 
I wasn't implying that all 50+ don't like new members, especially the younger ones. And I understand your perspective on the views that a 17 yo shouldn't have to deal with the world of EMS, but it is what I have chosen to do, and I plan to stick with it.
The ones that have a problem with me have already told me to my face that I am nothing but "an incapable teenager who won't be in this for long and that I'm only after the 'glory factor' ", although that is far from the truth and reality of it. Several of the members actually try to help me, but seeing that the ones who have a problem with me are also the officers...well...it's hard to even talk to one of them as a lesser, let alone as an equal...or even just talk to them at all. Not to mention that all the officers preach that we must go on a certain percentage of the calls or we lose our place on the squad, hardly ever go on them. They have used the "I'm an acceptance to the by-laws because I'm an officer" excuse...and the fact that we have had the same officers for a good 10 yrs, maybe more...the same ones have been there long before I even thought of joining.
 
EMTjessi said:
The ones that have a problem with me have already told me to my face that I am nothing but "an incapable teenager who won't be in this for long and that I'm only after the 'glory factor' ", although that is far from the truth and reality of it.
Okay, so what in your behavior is creating this perception?
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Several of the members actually try to help me, but seeing that the ones who have a problem with me are also the officers...well...it's hard to even talk to one of them as a lesser, let alone as an equal...or even just talk to them at all.
If you are as mature as you claim, then learning how to approach the inapproachable is a life skill. Taking one of them aside and asking them sincerely how you can alter your behavior to change the perception will go a long way towards changing their attitudes.
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Not to mention that all the officers preach that we must go on a certain percentage of the calls or we lose our place on the squad, hardly ever go on them. They have used the "I'm an acceptance to the by-laws because I'm an officer" excuse...and the fact that we have had the same officers for a good 10 yrs, maybe more...the same ones have been there long before I even thought of joining.
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First.. it's an 'exception', not an 'acceptance' to the rules. If the rules state a certain call response, then it should be universal with no 'exceptions' made. However, for someone who has been running calls for 10 years and doing the minimum, they do have a certain right to expect that from you. After you have put in your 10 years.. perhaps they will be a bit less harsh on their 'expectations' of you.
 
First..I am one of those "grey haired" who has had to deal with the youngin's as we call you, I do so more as a term of endearment. As someone else said, you shouldn't have to go through some of the more mental oh :censored::censored::censored::censored: calls or have to be subjected to some of the things we do...yet. Take your time..also, your an EMT yes, however, I would expect if I showed up on scene to assist and had seniority then you would let me take control of the scene, or be willing to be my hands, as two good basics working together, regardless of their years, work well oftentimes together.

However...I have also had my fill of the new EMT or FF or both who are young, teenagers, playing grab ***, wanting to jump in the pants of any reasonably cute FF or EMT that walks by, has said some very inappropriate things, others who want to play on the band aide box but don't want to stay around to clean, polish, and mop. There is a list of things that I could go on with and I myself don't judge anyone but merely sit back and watch and let the person's actions and words speak for themselves.

I too am in VA and am a volunteer at a really great little rescue squad on the other side of the county I live in. Welcome to the group, hope we can help you and we learn from you as well.
 
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Hi, Welcome to emtlife and thank you for introducing yourself :) You will find all here.
 
i started when i was 17...got my license at 18.....now im soon to be a medic...so i say to all the people that said i couldn't.....I DID...and so can you as long as your up for a long rough...work your a** off couple of years....WELCOME TO THE FAMILY
 
Just remember.... We are in the business of providing medical care. Not hero rescue, lights and sirens, and pride.

Ugh. This all makes me a little ill.
 
First off, good for you for doing all your training, and volunteering at a young age. There is absolutly nothing wrong with that! Everyone starts somewhere. I have trainded alot of students and my advise to you is keep doing it and don't let people get you down about it. A few of these posts state that if you were first on scene and they showed up, you would take a step back and let them take control.......do that if they request, but I would show up and let you handle the situation while observing everything going on and stepping in when needed. The only way to learn to do this job is by doing it, not watching others do. Don't be afraid to ask if you can do certain skills. Anyways good luck with all your training and stick with it!!
 
Well, MedicAngel, it's good to meet another Virginian and thank you for correcting my grammer. I didn't realized that I had typed the wrong thing until you pointed it out. And out of curiousity, what part of Virginia are you from?
 
Go prince william county!!! Wooohoooo
 
MedicAngel said:
Take your time..also, your an EMT yes, however, I would expect if I showed up on scene to assist and had seniority then you would let me take control of the scene, or be willing to be my hands, as two good basics working together, regardless of their years, work well oftentimes together.
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No offense meant but if it was me on the scene and you came rolling up after I had initiated pt care and we're both trained to the same level I'd retain my command and you could assist me as needed. Yes experience helps and you could know something or see something that a newer EMT could miss that's why you help. I don't care if R/r showed up on scene working as a basic and we had a basic on his first day in charge of pt care it stays that way and R/r is his backup. To think that you automatically deserve to be in charge due to seniority is asinine and will do nothing but inhibit quality pt care. Any call no matter how big or small the problem is there are many important things to be done. If the first on scene begins getting a history you as an experienced EMT should know to come in and start grabbing vitals and go from there.

To the OP. I am another one that got started in EMS at a young age and am still young compared to most in the field but it's all about how you carry yourself and really knowing your stuff to get the respect. It's unfortunate for our age group that a few bad apples have given a poor stereotype of us but it's something that if you are mature enough to handle EMS you should be able to handle. Look at it as a tool that forces you to learn more than most new EMT's and use it as a motivator to really do your best every day and eventually people will realize that you're for real out there.
 
I do owe you an appology..I tried to say something that came out wrong. But, others corrected me and I am one to say I am wrong...yes, if you were on the scene, I meant if you needed help I would step in, but only then. Late night, no coffee and not thinking...sheesh...:wacko:

I am a volunteer in Fauquier County and work at Fauquier Hospital. Where you at EMT Jessi? Maybe we've run into each other.

One thing I do love to do, and have offered often enough, if someone needs help, come ask and we can go over it together. I really do enjoy to teach and have learned things as well.
 
No worries, I'm in Botetourt County...kind of in the middle of the state. I know what it's like to have been going all day( and night) w/o caffine several days in a row...and then try to focus. Lol. Not good. ^_^ and I'm sure you'll hear from me later on down the line... *sighs* thanks to several people who like me on my squad, my instructor, and anxious family members...I start my Paramedic level classes this coming fall semester. I'm not to fond of the idea of jumping right into it without having much experience. But, I learn fast so I hope I'm okay.
 
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