New Phoenix EMT looking for temporary work

[spacecadetdrew]

Good day folks,

I've just completed my EMT class here in Phoenix, AZ, and am taking my national registry tonight. Not to count my chickens, but I'm confident in my impending results.

Anyway I'm in a weird situation. I'm a seasonal Wildland Firefighter, and took the last season off to pursue my EMT Certification. I expect to receive my Cert in the mail sometime early January, which gives me probably until sometime in April to practice my newly acquired skills. I am very dedicated to getting as much exposure to EMS before the fire season kicks off, but I need help figuring out the best way to get my feet wet.

I don't want to give the impression that I'm a bright eyed and bushy tailed youngster looking to get elbow deep in trauma and action, I'm just looking for a place to put my time in and experience what I can to become an efficient health care provider.

I feel like employment with AMR and Banner are out of the question, as I don't want to get a job, go through all the on boarding, and then quit after three months to disappear for six months. The same goes for Volunteering at Banner, they require six months commitment, and I don't want to burn any bridges.

Any and all help would be more than appreciated, thanks and have a great day.

-Drew

tl;dr: I have three months to be an EMT, where can I work/Volunteer?

 

[DrParasite]

Why don't you call Banner and AMR (and anyone else you are intersted in), explain your situation, and ask them if they would consider you? and should they accept you, would you be looking to go back to working for them with you return?

I don't know much about being a wildland firefighter... do your fellow firefighters have other jobs when they aren't deployed, and if so, how do they work it with their employers? do they collect unemployment when they aren't in season? It doesn't really sound like a job that can be your sole source of income, although I have heard of many municipal FDs that hire wildland firefighters since they have some experience.

I'm kinda surprised you took 6 months off from work (the only 6 months out of the year where you do work) to take a class, vs taking it during the off season.

Good luck on your search, I don't know of many places that will take a newbie only to have them leave in 3 months, but you never know until you call and ask. I'm sure you can find some private IFT companies that would consider it.

 

[spacecadetdrew]

Why don't you call Banner and AMR (and anyone else you are intersted in), explain your situation, and ask them if they would consider you? and should they accept you, would you be looking to go back to working for them with you return?

I don't know much about being a wildland firefighter... do your fellow firefighters have other jobs when they aren't deployed, and if so, how do they work it with their employers? do they collect unemployment when they aren't in season? It doesn't really sound like a job that can be your sole source of income, although I have heard of many municipal FDs that hire wildland firefighters since they have some experience.

I'm kinda surprised you took 6 months off from work (the only 6 months out of the year where you do work) to take a class, vs taking it during the off season.

Good luck on your search, I don't know of many places that will take a newbie only to have them leave in 3 months, but you never know until you call and ask. I'm sure you can find some private IFT companies that would consider it.

Thanks for the suggestion, you're right, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

To clarify, I didn't take this year off of work, just Wildland Fire. Before class started (Which was during the regular semester, which is right in the middle of fire season) I worked a different outdoor job, when class began, I took a part time job to supplement my income. Folks who work seasonally with the feds, professionally, have various ways of keeping busy, but I hardly hear of any ways that involve practicing as an EMT, besides Ski Patrol, which is remarkably difficult in Phoenix.

Thanks again, I'll give those folks a call!

 

[ViolynEMT]

PM me. I'm in the Phoenix area and might have a solution for you.