Ridryder911
EMS Guru
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Not to be condescending obviously, but I believe you have not a clue what an EMT really does.
First, an EMT is really a job. Believe me after about 2 weeks, the whistle, lights and sirens gets real old. Actually a basic EMT job can be really pretty routine and dull job. Most aggressive services will only let you drive and at that you will be mainly responsible for moving the patient, cleaning and maintaining the rig and assisting the Paramedic. Yes, it can be fun st times but as also it can be a royal pain in the arse.
No, there is probably not a "true documentary" television show about EMS. Shows would not be very interesting if they televised the "real life" of an EMT. For example transporting the elderly from hospital to a nursing home, responding to car accidents that are only insurance cases and there is really no injuries, yet everyone wants to be transported, as well as the diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, constipation calls. When they do those television shows such as trauma, paramedics, etc.. they stay for about 4-6 weeks to get enough "good stuff" for a 30 minute show. T.V. and reality is not the same. The same as the t.v. show ER. I have worked at some of the busiest Level I trauma centers, and the show ER had more in one episode of real trauma than we seen in 3 weeks. Again, most do not want see or hear about hemorrhoids, poison ivy, toothaches, crotch rot.. etc... Only 10% of EMS patient even warrant an IV, and most of that is CYA.
The same is true they don't show the administrator chewing your crews arse out because some of the EMT's are failed out the paperwork right, or supervisor chewing you out because your partner was laughing at a scene or bumped the stretcher into a door facing...and now the family is griping.
Now, if you do not like education or like going to school, this is NOT the profession for you. I don't know of any state that does not require at least 24 to 36 hours of continuing education and a refresher course, just to keep your certification. This is of course on top of the required usual classes at your service with protocol changes, equipment, and usual B.S. stuff... Education is the main goal of being a good provider.
Not, trying to deter you at all, but so many come in the profession expecting a challenging career, and having exciting occurrences everyday... it doesn't occur that way. Everyone has "passion" when they enter this profession. Unfortunately, this is one of the main reasons so many "burn-out" with unfilled expectations.
Talk and discuss with real Paramedics and EMT's... the good, the bad and the ugly of the business. It has all of those... then make a rationale decision.
R/r 911
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) handy. Since most of our work is more run-of-the-mill MVC's, fire alarms, and so on, we try to use the regular stuff, since proximity suits can run upwards of $1500 per set and don't last long in conventional firefighting use. In regards to my nickname, it's a reference to those long horizontal tin tubes with wings (OK, they're aluminum, whatever...lol) that fly us through the air. I've heard a few references to them as "tin cans" over the years and just thought it would be cool to incorporate it into my nick. (See the movie "Pushing Tin" with John Cusack, Billy Bob, and Angelina to see what I mean.) It's an entirely different world of firefighting, and I feel blessed to be a part of it. 99.99999% percent of the time it's just a regular job, but when the tower calls down with a report of an inbound aircraft with smoke in the cabin and 70 souls on board it does tend to get the old heart thumping a bit. Thanks for giving me a chance to expound a little and feel free to PM if you have any questions. Here's a little trivia for you: did you know that when you are flying at 35,000 feet in shirtsleeve comfort, enjoying your Evian and pretzels, that there is only about 1/8th to 1/4" of aluminum skin between you and temperatures of -70, with 500 MPH winds and nearly no oxygen? Enjoy your flight... 
