Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you signed for one of the emergency medical technician courses that would train you as an EMT or paramedic. You may have heard people talk about some of the challenges and requirements of these jobs, but now it’s time for you to learn what these careers demand on a daily basis.
You may not be aware of the long hours that are involved for workers in the emergency medical service field. Forget those 8 hour days because once they have successfully passed the required emergency medial technician classes, EMTs are on duty for 24 hours at a time. While this might sound impossible it really is a little less strenuous than it sounds because for each 24 hour shift you work you are given a 24 hour period off beginning at the conclusion of your shift.
Most people who work as an EMT will only work 2-3 days in any given week. You will also be given a 5 day “vacation” period every 6-8 weeks so that you can rest and relax without rushing back to work. Almost all EMT workers will also be given an official 7-8 day vacation two times a year.
When you are on duty there are usually times when there are no calls and then you can relax for a few minutes. Some workers might grab a quick catnap while others will study, cook or read. How you spend your available free time is up to you but remember there is no guarantee that you will even get any downtime in the course of your regular shift.
The work of an EMT or paramedic requires that you be able to handle a lot of physical activity. Most programs featuring emergency medical technician courses begin to get you prepared for the fast pace and tough tasks that you will encounter. You will have to be on the go during most of your shift, and the majority of these workers routinely pull shifts that are generally 24 hour long. Lifting, squatting, climbing and bending are all part of the job and you must be prepared to meet these physical challenges on a daily basis.
There are specific uniforms for EMT and paramedics and these will be different depending on what company or government service they are working with. Some workers wear navy or black work slacks. These pants might be teemed with a work shirt or a polo shirt. The shirts worn by most EMT workers will be white, grey, black or blue. They will usually wear black work boots and these individuals will also have specific insignias and name tags to wear at all times. You only receive these patches and other forms of ID after you have successfully passed all the requirements specified by the emergency medical technician courses.
You will not work alone and you are generally going to be partnered with one person as you are dispatched out to answer calls. One EMT will handle the driving and the other will provide 1on1 care for the patient. In some cases there could be 3 EMS workers sent out to answer a call if the dispatcher feels that more assistance is going to be needed.
Once you are part of a team you will discover that there is a lot of work that needs to be done each and every day. In addition to answering calls and caring for patients you will have assignments to do around the station where you work. You might be asked to help clean the equipment and the interior of the station, or you might be responsible for leading a review class that covers some of the materials presented in your original emergency medical technician courses. Practicing your techniques, learning new skills and reaching out to others in the community are all part of the job for any EMT worker.