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Jperritt

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Well fortunately and unfortunately thanks to the internet, I have sensory overload. I have been taking in a ton of information and trying to grasp everything that is involved with becoming an EMT/Paramedic. I found this website as I was looking for reading materials and have read some great stuff here. Here is my situation. I am 40yrs old, live in Florida. unemployed since November. I am in the IT industry and have been since I was a kid. I am over being in this industry as there is no stability or longevity and I am looking for a change. I have always wanted to be an EMT since I was 18. I had a few friends who were and I fell in love with the profession. Unfortunately I was 18 and I wasn't done ripping and running. Once I entered my 30's I had a family and times were pretty good and always thought I was too old at that point to get involved. Now I am 40 and I want to be happy. I want to do what I a passionate about. First thing is, am I too old to do this? Second, where do I start? I know I was to be a first responder and want to help save lives. Where do I go? I am planning on going to my local community college on Monday and speak with someone, but since i came across this forum I thought I would ask people already living it.
I will continue to read the posts and information that is available, I just hope some people can share a plan or course of action that the ones you took or are taking.

Thank you...
 
You're not too old, first of all. Just be in reasonable physical condition.

I am 38 and making a mid-life career change. I'm about 6 weeks away from finishing my EMT-IV course in Tennessee.

I'd suggest finding a First Responder or EMR course near you. If you like that and are proficient at it, then go on to EMT school.
 
no, you're not too old. You sound like me in some ways. I started in EMS out of high school, and did IT part time, left EMS after 13 years and did IT full time (and hated it although I made boat loads of easy money). After I got laid off a few years ago, my wife suggested I go back to EMS because it was truly what made me happy, even though the money was FAR less, so I did. At 43 I'm back doing what I love, and have NO regrets.

If you really want to know if you're going to like it or not, do some ride-alongs. Get to see first hand and then decide if it's really for you. All it will cost is your time. Then, if you decide it's what you want, find and EMT program and you're off.
 
Go for it. I had a 46 year old in my EMT-B class. He is now working for a private ambulance service and he likes it.
 
Not too old at all. One of the guys hired at the same time as me was 49. He started a second career as well. Went to local cc got his emt-B, and FF 1/2 cert and has been on the Job 4 years now.

Also about the same amount of time you can get an ASN Nursing and be an RN. More money and more jobs. Just a thought, plus you can find ambo work as well as an RN or challenge the medic test.
 
There are few times when you would be too old to work on an ambulance, despite what you see on TV show's paramedics do not run 3miles from the truck to the scene or what not, in fact I can honestly say I have never seen someone in EMS run to a scene at all.

There is a few thing's you do need to know prior to getting into this field, most importantly hourly paramedics and EMT's do not make much money at all, it is possible to make a "smooth" living depending on your hours worked though. Another thing to take into consideration is most EMS services run 24 hours shifts, the ability of being employed (especially as a basic, which are about a dime a dozen) and whether it be for an IFT service or a 911 service, also if you do work 911 are you mentally prepared to see some rather graphic scenes and abuse cases?

I used to believe that one should spend time as a basic prior to becoming a medic as you can tell from some early posts of mine on this forum. Though now I realize the more education one can receive earlier on in this career the better. Though this is my opinion and other may differ but keep in mind the EMS system is about to go through some rather big changes in favor of more education. So my advice to you is to go for your paramedic as soon as possible, and do not go through some as they call it here "medic mill" or a trade school go for your degree at a college if you can afford it. Your knowledge of injury and illness and ability to treat will greatly be improved over someone who spent X number of years working as a basic and goes through a medic mill even if you are new to the job.

I had a good friend who recently passed away and was in his late 60s and still working as a paramedic doing 911 calls just fine. So you are definitely not to old for this career change if you decide to go through with it.
 
I agree with Afflixion but would just add.

See if you can do a ride along somewhere.

Many in EMS will save a life only a handful of times in their career. The rest of the work is rather mundane.

There are many unemployed people who think a transition to EMS is an easy healthcare job. ~120 hours to become an EMT has caused an influx of new candidates for every position.

EMT is not the quick jump to a promising and secure healthcare field job. As was said since this jmp is so easy, many have taken it and saturated the market to the point that EMTs might be more lucky standing outside the ambulance bay hoping to be picked to work that day.

Employers know it and while EMT was never a high paying field, it is less so now. You could expect better pay and conditions at McDonalds.

If you go straight to paramedic school, you should expect to apply at least nationwide for a job and be prepared to move in order to get it. Competition for the best jobs is tight. The competitors are not career changers, but career minded EMS people.

Even as a paramedic the only way to make great pay is lots of overtime.

EMS is still considered a vocation and not a profession. So don't expect a lot of prestige or respect either.

If saving lives, driving to the rescue, etc is your thing, it is less than 10% and often quoted as less than 5% of the job.

Examine your motivations with the reality of the job. Consider the impact to your family life. Get a feel for what it is really like. Then be prepared to go all the way to paramedic as soon as possible if you still wat to do it.
 
And since FL is unfortunately primarily a fire based EMS state, you might be over the age limits required by hosemonkeys to get on with them. Private/third service is the big minority in FL compared to a lot of states
 
I really don't have anything to add beyond what others have already pointed out about the realities of working in EMS, nor am I going to try to change your mind about it one way or another.

However, if I were you, I would consider going to nursing school. You'll just set yourself up for a much more stable career with greater longevity and potential for advancement. You can do some pretty cool things as an RN (ED, Flight, CCT, etc.) beyond "typical" nursing options while making significantly more money and enjoying greater professional recognition than EMS.

You'll have to check with your state regs, but usually as an RN you can challenge the state paramedic exam and be able to play around in EMS on the side.

Sort of wishing I had done that.
 
Has anyone every listened to the www.emsnewbie.com podcast? It can provide some good insight into the start of a emt-b school. Also what happens throughout the course.
 
Joedaddy1120 said:
Has anyone every listened to the www.emsnewbie.com podcast? It can provide some good insight into the start of a emt-b school. Also what happens throughout the course.
Click to expand...

One of my favorite podcasts, but then again I'm an Ambulance Driver Fanboy :p
 
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