Is There A Chance in Heck?

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Ghede

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Hi, I'm just wondering if there is even a reasonable chance that I could became an EMT. I have Dyscalculia and EDS type 3.

I am basically at a 3rd grade level in math and barely graduated because of it. (I'm in TX where you have to pass all portions of the TAKS to graduate).

The EDS mainly causes me to be like Gumby. The only pain is in my knees and ankles, which is not severe.

I can:
-Lift 50+lbs
-No problems with blood/guts/smells.
 
You never know mate, those 16 week zero to Paramedic Houston Firefighters can't be much more educated than third grade :D

Brown wishes you the best of luck
 
Ghede said:
Hi, I'm just wondering if there is even a reasonable chance that I could became an EMT. I have Dyscalculia and EDS type 3.

I am basically at a 3rd grade level in math and barely graduated because of it. (I'm in TX where you have to pass all portions of the TAKS to graduate).

The EDS mainly causes me to be like Gumby. The only pain is in my knees and ankles, which is not severe.

I can:
-Lift 50+lbs
-No problems with blood/guts/smells.
Click to expand...

Without looking up any of those coditions, the thing that jumps at
me is the lifting "50+lbs"

Is that what you feel comfortable lifting, because some of the stretcher weigh that much with the equipment on them, without a patient on it. Add a 250-350lb patient on it, and it gets fun.

I'm sure others with more knowledge of those conditions will chime in, but that's what jumps at me.

Best of luck though


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EMS isn't as much about graphing or cosines or anything odd...can you handle basic algebra? (solve for x and y?) Can you calculate rates?

How are you in critical thinking?

I don't see a reason why EDS would be an automatic no-go, plenty of us have similar problems. However, you do need to do an honest assessment of what you can lift- for me, it's approximately 350-375 pounds at most, and I'm pretty in-shape.
 
EMT Basics don't have to do any math.


PS hotel... Some stretchers WITH gear weigh 50lbs?! Must me nice... My ekg alone is like 25 or 30 :p
 
Linuss said:
PS hotel... Some stretchers WITH gear weigh 50lbs?! Must me nice... My ekg alone is like 25 or 30 :p
Click to expand...

lol I use the strykers. I love them, but they are heavy. There's a company around here that uses some off brand, and I swear they don't weigh much.


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Our stretchers are easy. you press the + button and they raise up from ground level ;)
 
NVRob said:
Our stretchers are easy. you press the + button and they raise up from ground level ;)
Click to expand...

but you still have to hold the weight of at least one end while loading it into a rig while the wheels raise, yes?

OP- this may not be the career for you- you could probably get through EMT but you may become stalled when it comes to career advancement- for nursing and paramedic there will be more math involved.

Perhaps dispatch would be a good fit due to the lack of required physicality and math skillz? just a thought...
 
MrBrown said:
You never know mate, those 16 week zero to Paramedic Houston Firefighters can't be much more educated than third grade :D

Brown wishes you the best of luck
Click to expand...

That is just insulting. These people risk their lives at times to save a soul. How dare you make such a comment... Gawd, I am just angered too much to say anymore.
 
Tone it down, Brown. HFD has some amazing paramedics on staff, with world class care.
You need to stop criticizing the American EMS system based on our respective Scopes. Sure, yours might be more liberal and allow you more in the way of clinical decision-making, but our systems are built for a much larger population and more conservative medicolegal environment. You need to realize that.

Criticism is acceptable when done politely. You're just sniping.
 
Rocketmedic40 said:
I don't see a reason why EDS would be an automatic no-go, plenty of us have similar problems. However, you do need to do an honest assessment of what you can lift- for me, it's approximately 350-375 pounds at most, and I'm pretty in-shape.
Click to expand...

Ehlers-Danlos isn't exactly common, so I don't think there are a lot of people in EMS working with it, or with similar conditions.

To the OP, while lifting may not be a issue now, later on when you start getting brittle* you will be at a significantly increased risk of injury. Plenty of people who are healthy end up with permanent back and other joint issues from this job. I don't know how the laws are in Tx, or how the new federal laws affect this, but there could be a risk that your employer will try and blame any injury on your EDS in order to absolve themselves of responsibility, and having to pay workers comp.


* I can't remember if you mentioned what subtype you have, so ignore this if it doesn't apply.
 
Not common, but many of us work around damaged joints and injuries, against arthritis, etc. One of my old preceptors literally had no left hand, and one of his knees sounded like a rock tumbler. There's some broken dudes in EMS.
 
How much CAN you lift? An unloaded ferno is 70lbs and our Strykers (power pro, not sure about manuals)are double that, that is before you put gear or a patient on there.

While there are plenty of people in EMS who can't lift, it isnt right and puts undue stress on your partner if you can't pull your weight.

That being said, you can certainly find people who have overcome physical limitations to work in EMS. We had one medic who lost his hand in an accident and adapted and is a competent medic.

It may take creativity and weight training but im sure you could achieve at least EMT-Basic, there is no math in that.



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