San Bernardino County Fire Ambulance Operator

I think I still have a half filled out app for Rialto EMT AO.... (not even sure if that app is still open tbh....I stopped when I started backgrounds for FF at another dept, now I have two BGs started I don't want to try and switch EMT jobs, especially one that requires yet another check at the same time lol but anyways.....) seems like a lot of focus on this thread is about the Paramedic AO, but how is life for the EMT AOs? (Both SBCo and Rialto if anyone has the info :)

I mean I can look up salary and benefits and all that, but how's life and morale inside their stations, like you're not the perpetual probie are you? Are you the medics chauffer or do you attend BLS patients? Etc?
 
Not to further distract or take away frk
@Jim37F's questions, and sort of as a side bar, but when will all of these departments stop referring to them as "Ambulance Operataor" EMT's and paramedics?

Am I the only one who finds this title slightly demeaning? Why not something more along the lines of EMS-paramedic/ EMS-EMT?

It just sounds more professional, IMO. I mean, how professional does "Fire Engine Operator Paramedic" sound?

Sorry @Jim37F, didn't mean to steal your thunder, as you were, good sir...
 
Jim37F said:
I think I still have a half filled out app for Rialto EMT AO.... (not even sure if that app is still open tbh....I stopped when I started backgrounds for FF at another dept, now I have two BGs started I don't want to try and switch EMT jobs, especially one that requires yet another check at the same time lol but anyways.....) seems like a lot of focus on this thread is about the Paramedic AO, but how is life for the EMT AOs? (Both SBCo and Rialto if anyone has the info :)

I mean I can look up salary and benefits and all that, but how's life and morale inside their stations, like you're not the perpetual probie are you? Are you the medics chauffer or do you attend BLS patients? Etc?
Click to expand...
San Bernardino is not able to downgrade calls from ALS to BLS (to my knowledge). Since they only run 911 calls (all 911 calls are considered ALS) with no IFTs I doubt EMTs are going to be getting any BLS patients.
 
VentMonkey said:
Not to further distract or take away frk
@Jim37F's questions, and sort of as a side bar, but when will all of these departments stop referring to them as "Ambulance Operataor" EMT's and paramedics?

Am I the only one who finds this title slightly demeaning? Why not something more along the lines of EMS-paramedic/ EMS-EMT?

It just sounds more professional, IMO. I mean, how professional does "Fire Engine Operator Paramedic" sound?

Sorry @Jim37F, didn't mean to steal your thunder, as you were, good sir...
Click to expand...
Ok helicopter non-operator paramedic....
 
IMG_2138.JPG
DesertMedic66 said:
Ok helicopter non-operator paramedic....
Click to expand...
 
VentMonkey said:
Not to further distract or take away frk
@Jim37F's questions, and sort of as a side bar, but when will all of these departments stop referring to them as "Ambulance Operataor" EMT's and paramedics?

Am I the only one who finds this title slightly demeaning? Why not something more along the lines of EMS-paramedic/ EMS-EMT?

It just sounds more professional, IMO. I mean, how professional does "Fire Engine Operator Paramedic"
Click to expand...
In general, to be referred to as an Operator is not a bad thing. Many depts refer to the positions as Engineers (Engines) and Operators (Ladder Trucks); the term Ambulance Operator may be used to acknowledge that the individual has the required skills to operate the ambulance on top of their EMT scope.

I do not find it unprofessional, but I also am not offended when I am called an ambulance driver, either.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
gotshirtz001 said:
In general, to be referred to as an Operator is not a bad thing. Many depts refer to the positions as Engineers (Engines) and Operators (Ladder Trucks); the term Ambulance Operator may be used to acknowledge that the individual has the required skills to operate the ambulance on top of their EMT scope.

I do not find it unprofessional, but I also am not offended when I am called an ambulance driver, either.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I don't get offended by the term "ambulance driver" when the public uses it either, and in fact, it is an actual job description/ official job title in parts of the country. They don't know what they don't know.

It's fine that there's rank and file in the fire department. I think my point was more so that this does nothing to change the public perception of us (EMT's and paramedics) solely driving, or operating an ambulance. A lot of good folks have worked plenty hard to break away from this stigma.

Lol, and yes I know that's part of it, but it just seems like a misguided step in the wrong direction to the public eye's view of our collective job title. Then again you're talking to a guy who isn't a fan of the "I'm just an EMT" phrase. To each their own, cheers:).
 
I do know if I do eventually get picked up by LAFD I can eventually get promoted to A/O, Apparatus Operator!
 
Jim37F said:
I do know if I do eventually get picked up by LAFD I can eventually get promoted to A/O, Apparatus Operator!
Click to expand...
Back home it was FEO. Here it's Engineer but we call them Driver.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
AO is just a job title. It's not meant to be derogatory or demeaning at all.

So not all patients are ALS in San Bernardino. We can downgrade to a dual EMT box, but base contact has to be made. If the ALS box is going to transport as BLS they can and don't make base contact, just a courtesy call to the hospital you're transporting to.
 
Does anyone know which stations SBCo A/O's work out of? Trying to see what a commute would look like.
 
Incomp said:
Does anyone know which stations SBCo A/O's work out of? Trying to see what a commute would look like.
Click to expand...

Their website provides the station locations.
 
Meanwhile in Texas...paramedic-initiated blood transfusions are a thing, y'all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NPO
wtferick said:
Is Baker EMS not a thing anymore?
Click to expand...
Nope. They closed down a year ago or so. Maybe not that long ago. But it's been a while.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
 
DesertMedic66 said:
At least we have dry land right now...
Click to expand...
We sure as hell do. Very dry, veg-fire dry, blegh. San Joaquin Valley air quality + dust storms + wild fire seasons= nothing to write home, or brag about.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top