Should I take EMT-B Course

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mattems

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Hey guys im new to emtlife, but I just wanted to know your opinion on something.

Im a junior in HS, looking to get EMT cert. at some point in my life. No way in hell ill be able to handle it during the school year, WAY too busy with extra curriculars and work.

I want to take this summer course through Yale New Haven Hospital. Its Mon Weds Fri (nights), and one sat a month. My parents are like "well its noble and all, but you'll be busy and probably are going to miss a few classes. Plus your working so id wait."

Im not looking to get an EMT-B cert to be noble, i just want to give it a shot. I feel like knowledge is power and EMS service looks interesting. I might not vollie anywhere (cant in my town its contracted out), but i think it will be a cool experience and could help me get into college.

I have a few questions though:

1. How involved is the EMT-B course?
2. Will i be able to miss and make up a few classes?
3. What are your thoughts on my situation.
 
1. - Depends on what you want to get out of it
2. - Depends on your instructor/program
3. - Go for it.
 
Why do you want to take the course? Just to say you're an EMT? Or do you have interest in doing something EMS related?


An average EMT-B class is equal to a college level class in workload. You'll be having lectures during the week, and then clinicals.

As for missing / making up, that depends solely on your schools policy, but most schools have a limit to the hours you can miss. Pass that amount, and you get the boot. This is peoples lives we're talking about here.


My thoughts are, do what you want, and do it with a serious attitude.
 
Absolutely im serious about it. If i commit to something, I complete it to the best of my ability. Sure, id love to tell ppl im EMT cert., but thats not why I want it. I wouldn't go through an entire course for show-boating. I want to help people, I want to know what its like to save a life.

EDIT: Id also enjoy having the peace of mind knowing that i could help someone in the event of a medical emergency.
 
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So no future in the field?




If you can do a college level class, you can do EMT class in the summer. Work/school has no bearing on it.

There are people who work full time while going through paramedic school, which is exponentially harder, with exponentially more clinical hours.
 
Well we'll see where this course takes me. I didnt plan on making a career out of an EMT-B cert.

And good point about the medic students. ;)
 
June of last year, I had no clue what an EMT was, let alone the difference between an EMT and Medic. Now I'm in paramedic school.


This field has a way of grabbing you unexpectedly.
 
Your pursuit is admiriable, but dont let it take you over. Before we go any further, how old are you. Many states (CT is excluded, I believe) require you to be 18 before offering certification, and even those that allow minors to certify do so with restrictions (not including those placed by employers).

Take out a sheet of paper and write down ten concrete reasons you would like to become an EMT. Consider going to your library and finding an EMT textbook. Read through it. It will look easy (as I recall its written to a 7th grade level), but think about how you will handle what may be 2-3 exams and 5+ quizzes or smaller tests, then an additional practical skill exam (5 stations).

Do you have any idea what school you will be at in another 15 months? Where are you looking? Many schools are growing to have their own college EMS squads (PM me for more info, or go to ncemsf.org). Is being an EMT going to impact that? I know New Haven has AMR (Because I have been to YNH before), but would you be able to work with any surrounding town's ambulance squads? Consider looking into that.

Also consider finding/making a friend in EMS who can guide you through your class, certification, and finding a job. Knowing some one local who knows the ropes is much preferred to going onto a web forum asking for help.

Hope these musings help you in your quest,
Good luck with whatever you end up doing,

Dan
 
In Connecticut, the certification age is 16. I am 17.5 years old. The darien, CT EMS is run completely by High School Students.

The HUGE problem if I wanted to work or volunteer, they want 18+ EMTs, because of their insurance, for driving purposes. So i think volly or paid might not work out until during college.

I could volley at a neighboring town, I just wouldn't be allowed to drive, until the beginning of next year. Don't most EMS services want the EMT to drive?

In another 15 months I will be headed off to college, and I never thought about campus ems. Thanks for that idea, and ill get started on that list. :)
 
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I know Darien is ridiculously loaded. Thank god I dont live there.

How do you know Darien?

Explains what?
 
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Linuss said:
5?!


I did 25 skills in 22 stations!
Click to expand...

5 main ones for the NREMT, the 25 things we needed to be signed off on. Then the 5 main ones NREMT wanted to see.


I wish you luck on your journey. I have worked many different jobs, but non prepared me for EMT-B and the passion I have for EMS. I enjoy it so much, I am going to medic school this fall.

Again goodluck and I worked fulltime and had 3kids to take care of through EMT, so I know you can do it.
 
Thanks VFFforpeople.

Linuss: Just realised that vid from darien on the forum. For the record, I was interested in EMT-B certification before i saw that video. Long before.
 
Yep, you will do fine, like stated 7th grade reading. As you have seen read over the If you haven't already). Even try emtb.com and take a few quizzes to see how you do.
 
mattems said:
I know Darien is ridiculously loaded. Thank god I dont live there.

How do you know Darien?

Explains what?
Click to expand...

there was another thread that was all about Darien!

Honestly, if you feel passionate about doing this, and it is something you want to do, than go for it. I am not sure how much you know about this field already. But taking the class will get your foot in the door and get you exposed to the EMS life. I see nothing wrong with taking the class, but after you take the class you will need to make the choice, DO I THINK I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND CAN I HANDLE A VERITY OF SITUATIONS IN A STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENT.

Good luck, when i took my EMT-Basic, I was working full time and taking other college classes. If you put your mind to it, and set time aside to study than you can do it! The more you put into the class the more you will take out of it!
 
mattems said:
Absolutely im serious about it. If i commit to something, I complete it to the best of my ability. Sure, id love to tell ppl im EMT cert., but thats not why I want it. I wouldn't go through an entire course for show-boating. I want to help people, I want to know what its like to save a life.

EDIT: Id also enjoy having the peace of mind knowing that i could help someone in the event of a medical emergency.
Click to expand...

Hey man. If you are truely serious about it. I would say go for it 100%. I am just graduating high school, graduation is in 5 days, and I just finished my EMT-B class. Although my class was all high school seniors.
My best advise, if you are a junior, wait until your senior year. If you are really serious about it, best of luck to you. It will require a lot of time, effort, and dedicaiton on your half. Expecially with high school involved with it. I can speak here from personal experience. Make sure that your reasoning for the class is more than just "I want to." There is always more involved that just the basic reasoning.
I can tell you, from the other EMT students in my class, I have heard the dumbest excuses for taking it. Yes, "I just don't want to go to high school" is the most common. PLEASE don't be one of those people.
All I can say, do what you think is right. If you think you can, then you need to be willing to give up some other high school activities for the class. It is not a joke.
Best of luck!! B) B) B) B) B)
 
I absolutely would NOT do it unless you are absolutely sure you want to immediately get into the EMS field, and can do so. You will not be able to do so until after high school. And even then, there probably aren't many jobs available for 18 year old n00b EMTs in your area to even use it. Meanwhile, every day you go without using that knowledge is another large chunk of knowledge and comprehension lost. Then, if you do get a job a year from now, after graduation, you will be about as useful as someone who never even took the EMT course.

Bad timing. Don't do it. Good luck.
 
I'll go for the cliche answer and say it depends. How bad is the cost? If you're looking at college out of state, are you applying in states that will recognize your program or let you take a challenge exam? Will you have a chance to keep up your skills somehow between finishing the class and getting an EMS job?

A lot of my classmates took it because they were considering medical or nursing school, and wanted a more hands-on experience in order to tell if medicine was right for them. I don't know how that worked out for them, but that could also be something to consider.
 
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