Why I did NOT become an EMT...

[mycrofft]

26 isn't a young man? C'mon Crofty, I'm 30 and you're making me feel like crap.

By then I had been married over five years, worked in a factory and a feed store, did a stint in the USAF and was going into the Guard, and I knew I was going to eventually have joint problems. Feel like crap on yourn own dime. This was in the mid Seventies, now...

 

[DrParasite]

Can I say I agree with the OP? It's near impossible to feed a family on $12 an hour.

Thankfully, I don't make that little, but I do know people who do work FT in EMS for that money. They typically have a second full time job, sometimes in EMS, sometimes elsewhere. I was offered a side job in EMS for $11 an hour. it wasn't worth my time, taking the commute and time away from family factors in account.

I'm on par to make a little more than 60,000 this year as an EMT, with OT included. and I'm looking at getting my MBA (procrastinating, I don't know if I want to put forth the time an energy while working full time and trying to raise a child), and I have two senior level management positions that are being offered to me, completely unrelated to EMS. And even when I end up accepting an offer, and end up making 100,000+ a year, I plan on still doing EMS, maybe for $12 an hour. Just for fun.

I will still be an EMT for as long as my body can handle it. But I also enjoy my job, and want to be able to pay my mortgage and live a comfortable life.

 

[usalsfyre]

I do not get why the EMS "Lifers" have such a disdain towards individuals who move on to other fields.

I don't begrudge anyone who moves on to another field. I do tend to take it with a grain of salt when someone who has never actually worked a day in either field tells me how bad EMS sucks and how great something else is.

 

[Aidey]

I took my EMT class while I was in college taking prereqs. I was always interested in EMS and thought it would be a good way to get some experience and help me decided between paramedic and nursing. Long story short I went to Nursing school and never looked back.

Was I proud to be an EMT? Hell ya, I thought It was great.
Am I now? Nope. I will be much prouder of the RN behind my name then EMT.

According to your standards I am not really an EMT. Does that upset me? Not in the slightest. I was able to find a profession where I could do what I love and still put food on the table as well as have opportunities to continue my education . I guess i'm just crazy. I still love EMS and want to continue to be involved but it will be as a volunteer and not a job.

I do not get why the EMS "Lifers" have such a disdain towards individuals who move on to other fields.

Who are you addressing?

I don't think lifers have a lot of disdain towards people who move on to other fields. I think they have disdain towards people who belittle them for staying, or who assume that people stay because they can't hack it in other fields.

 

[46Young]

It just occured to me, where in the hell does a Gardener make $18.50 an hour and get benefits? That is a $10 an hour job anywhere....... Must work for a city parks and rec department

The OP said private gardner, so it's even more of a dead-end job than EMS, unless you start your own company. The OP is also dependent on the owner securing and maintaining clients, or they can be out of a job.

I also call shenanigans on $18/hr. Immigrants, legal ones will do that sort of work quite well for much less.

 

[Achilles]

T

I also call shenanigans on $18/hr. Immigrants, legal ones will do that sort of work quite well for much less.

Yes sir they will! $8.00 an hour.
Not that i would know

 

[46Young]

Who are you addressing?

I don't think lifers have a lot of disdain towards people who move on to other fields. I think they have disdain towards people who belittle them for staying, or who assume that people stay because they can't hack it in other fields.

+1

Sounds like the OP created the thread just to belittle us for not making $18.50/hr. This thread should be deleted.

 

[46Young]

Yes sir they will! $8.00 an hour.
Not that i would know

For sure. When I worked as a Snapple delivery driver, the helper was hired for $50 cash per day by the owner, typically 6-9 hour days for them. Same deal for any other unskilled labor position.

 

[Veneficus]

I am amazed this thread has drawn 7 pages of response.

Honestly, if I could go back and know then what I know now, I would have worked at McDs instead of a private ambulance job.

There is nothing wrong with going where the money is.

I am also amazed by the "true believer" and the "benefactor of society" arguments.

Society and the world got along prior to any of us. It will get a long after us.

Do not buy that hero worship idea at all. If people really cared about EMS, fire, police, etc, they would put their money where their mouth is. But providers can be had for a song, why give them a dollar?

 

[Achilles]

For sure. When I worked as a Snapple delivery driver, the helper was hired for $50 cash per day by the owner, typically 6-9 hour days for them. Same deal for any other unskilled labor position.

I give my laborers 8 bucks an hour to pull weeds. Buy them lunch as well, and take them up north to go shooting. And cover them under my workmans comp.

 

[Aidey]

+1

Sounds like the OP created the thread just to belittle us for not making $18.50/hr. This thread should be deleted.

I think the OP had good intentions that just weren't executed well. I took it as "EMTs are cool, but other jobs pay better".

 

[Aidey]

Do not buy that hero worship idea at all. If people really cared about EMS, fire, police, etc, they would put their money where their mouth is. But providers can be had for a song, why give them a dollar?

Oh they care about fire all right. Where I live between 1/5-1/4 of the FFs make over 100k a year.

The department has some 230 field employees.

 

[intellectualfish]

I have respect for anyone that does what fulfills them in life. If that means being an EMT and working marathon shifts for little pay, awesome. If it means working a job you hate that pays well so that you can have a bigger house and nicer car, good for you. It's not my place to judge people--as long as what you do brings you satisfaction (on the job or off) I can't argue with your decision making process. Everyone has a different set of circumstances and values in life that determine what's important and what's not. While I chose to pursue EMS as a career, it is certainly not a good fit for everyone. I can respect that and move on. Whatever you do with your life, do it the best that you can and take pride in your accomplishments.

 

[Veneficus]

Oh they care about fire all right. Where I live between 1/5-1/4 of the FFs make over 100k a year.

The department has some 230 field employees.

Perhaps in some places.

It is also cyclical. One minute you are the hero and the next the lazy guy who sits around draining the public coffers.

I think fire institutions have just had a lot of practice defending their wages.

 

[Tigger]

I took my EMT class while I was in college taking prereqs. I was always interested in EMS and thought it would be a good way to get some experience and help me decided between paramedic and nursing. Long story short I went to Nursing school and never looked back.

Was I proud to be an EMT? Hell ya, I thought It was great.
Am I now? Nope. I will be much prouder of the RN behind my name then EMT.

According to your standards I am not really an EMT. Does that upset me? Not in the slightest. I was able to find a profession where I could do what I love and still put food on the table as well as have opportunities to continue my education . I guess i'm just crazy. I still love EMS and want to continue to be involved but it will be as a volunteer and not a job.

I do not get why the EMS "Lifers" have such a disdain towards individuals who move on to other fields.

Did you ever work on an ambulance during college or did you just complete the class?

It's not an attack, I'm just trying to get an understanding on how other approximately 21 year olds are approaching the healthcare industry.

 

[VFlutter]

Did you ever work on an ambulance during college or did you just complete the class?

It's not an attack, I'm just trying to get an understanding on how other approximate 21 year olds are approaching the healthcare industry.

I did for 3 months before moving for school then I got a job in a hospital doing various tech positions.

 

[Anjel]

I give my laborers 8 bucks an hour to pull weeds. Buy them lunch as well, and take them up north to go shooting. And cover them under my workmans comp.

Hey... So... My husband needs a job

 

[Amberlamps916]

Hey... So... My husband needs a job

Walmart......largest employer of Americans.

Always low prices..........always :lol:

 

[Anjel]

Walmart......largest employer of Americans.

Always low prices..........always :lol:

He failed their personality test thing. Lmao

He is a groundskeeper for a doctors private property. But no job in the winter.

 

[Amberlamps916]

Have him try seasonal jobs, especially with Christmas around the corner.....for instance:

UPS
FEDEX
DHL
TARGET WAREHOUSE/STORE
Other retail outlets/warehouses
HONEYBAKED HAM....seriously.
Firewood delivery