Seeking general advice on EMS/fire in the Seattle area

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Hello all,

I'm seeking some general advice in regards to getting started in EMS in the greater Seattle area. I'm a 23 year old female, about 5'5" and 140 pounds. I currently work a non-clinical, but high patient-contact position in a high volume ER in Seattle. I see and work with the AMR, TriMed, and fire/Medic One ambulance crews daily. I already have a BA from UW (in an unrelated field). I speak Spanish fluently as a second language and have experience interpreting and translating professionally in medical settings. In the spring of this year, I'm taking the EMT-B class over at Everett Community College. I really want to eventually become a paramedic.

I think I have a decent understanding of how EMS dispatch works in my area; fire responds first, and the privates bring patients to the hospital except in more acute cases where Medic One brings them in. I've also done enough research that I think I understand the process for applying to the Medic One program; after 3 years in an FD or working as an ambulance tech, you can test with them. I'm also aware of all the warnings about the Seattle area job markets for EMT-Bs as well as the absurdly competitve hiring process for fire fighters.

Ideally, I'd like to get a position as an entry-level firefighter after finishing my EMT class, get a lot of first on the scene EMS experience, and then enter the Medic One program in a few years. I've thoroughly scoured the King County FD website, and I should theoretically be able to pass all the tests (including the CPAT; I'm in good shape and fairly strong). Realistically, I know that roughly 2,500 people apply for every fire job in this area, so my odds of getting hired are low regardless of how qualified I am. There's also the issue of my gender and smaller physical size, which I'm aware may prevent some departments from wanting to hire me. I'm planning to apply to some of the smaller departments in my area, too, but I know that I will be competing with a lot of other people there, too.

I really enjoy working with and talking to patients in emergency settings. I feel like I've got a knack for it, and I find it rewarding enough (and often pretty fun, as strange as that may sound) that I think I will probably be able to enjoy working for a private company even if the pay is not great and the work is not exactly what I want. I'm aware those jobs will be competitive too, but from what I understand it sounds like with persistence I should be able to come up with some kind of employment within a year or so.

My questions to the EMS community here (and specifically to anyone working in the Seattle area) are:

1. What can I do to make myself a more appealing candidate for either fire or private ambulance jobs?
2. Can anyone advise me on the best strategy for testing with Medic One when the time comes?
3. I'm getting married in a few months. I don't plan on having kids within the next 5 years, but it's likely I will start thinking about it within the next 10. What are maternity policies like at the privates and the fire departments? Am I looking at career suicide if I get pregnant?
4. Is there anything else I should know?

Thanks in advance to anyone that has any advice for me!
 
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