If you have ever thought about becoming a paramedic, then this article is for you. You'll learn everything you ever wanted to know about becoming a paramedic, where the paramedics work, how much they get paid, what kind of additional in-service training they need, how you can become a paramedic, some of the dangers involved in the job, when you can expect to retire and how you can make difference in the lives of the people you serve. Everyone can read it if they want to learn more about it. I am motivated to write it, because it's my field of study, and I am passionate about it.
Be a paramedic, is a grateful job. You are constantly helping people in their vulnerability. You are literally a super-hero to them. You will see a lot of difficult call but also beautiful ones too!
Paramedics drive an ambulance. When they arrive at a call, they are making sure the scene is safe for them. They are checking the vitals, they can give some medication, they can do an EKG, they can make bandages, they sometimes need to carry the patient in some difficult position, they can do CPR, and they are collecting all of the info about the patient. They are helping all type of patient, it can be traumatic like a car crash victim and even just medical like a victim with intestinal problems.
The first thing they are doing on a shift, it's to inspect their rigs. After that, they need to making sure they have everything they need for their shifts. When everything is good, they can go to a certain waiting point. The waiting point can be at a fire department, at a Hospital, at a shopping parking, etc. They will wait to receive a call and a location to go. When they receive a call, it will indicate if they need to hurry up to the victim or not. If they need to go quick, they will put on the lights and the sirens. When they arrive at the scene, they need to make sure that the scene is safe for them to go. They need to stabilize the victim as quickly as possible. It can be buy administrate some oxygen, stabilize the bleeding, making CPR, giving medication, deliver a baby, etc. After, they are going to carry the victim to the hospital depending on the type of injury and degree of instability. Paramedics are always team up in a team of 2. So, at this point, the're will be one who drives and the other one will stay in the back of the ambulance with the patient to do the monitoring and giving the care that he needs. Arriving to the emergency room, they will give all the patient info to the nurse. They are gonna let the patient at the emergency, and they will go clean up the ambulance and restock it. When they are done they will go to another waiting spot and do another call. At the end of their shift, they will refill the ambulance with fuel and, then put the ambulance back in the department.
Paramedics can work for a fire department or for a private ambulance company. They can work in different area, as the city or the countryside. The advantage of the city is that you receive a lot of calls during one shift and you can work on different types of patient emergency. On the other side, the countryside you receive fewer calls, but you have more chance to go on big calls like plane crash or big car crash. Both sides have their advantages and disadvantages. Depending on where you work, you can be affected to work on a special event, like concert, sporting events, etc.
The typical path to become a paramedic is to go in the Pre-Hospital Care Program in College or University. You will need a lot of hours in classroom sessions, internship in a hospital emergency room and hours on an ambulance as an intern. After that, you will continue your training as a real paramedic, on the road, with all the experience that you will collect.
Paramedic in Quebec are making an average of $27,13 per hour, and an average of $53k-$64k per year.
Before their career, it depends on which country you are working in, but in some of them you are going to need some additional training, as in the intravenous fluids, the patient assessment, the anti shock garments, and esophageal airways. You will still need active training in the field, an update on all the new changes in the protocols, and education the new equipment.
You never know when a call can get worst and put your life in danger. Everything you need to do is in the rush when your patient is unstable, because you need to save his life by going to the hospital quick. At least, when you see that the victims or even people around are putting your life in danger, you can call for reinforcement, so you can do your job safely.Also, the place of the calls can be a danger for a paramedic, when they are bombs attack, fire, electrocution, etc.
The chances are really low that the paramedics will be replaced by robots soon, cause paramedics are always on the move. They are driving, moving towards the patient to get him and again moving back to the ambulance and then the hospital. The're is too much movement, and it will not be safe for the population to let robots move this much between them, and be driving in emergency. Robots can be safe for doing only one job and stay in place, but to drive an ambulance, do the monitoring and all the care towards the patient, it's impossible for a robot to do all of that.
Paramedics retire at 65 years old. The experience that you will gain during those years, will be by helping a lot of people and be grateful for your life. You never know when your life can end by an accident. So, this job will push you to live your life to the fullest. You will develop skills to always find a solution when something unpredictable come up, but you will also gain confidence towards yourself. You can have a big impact on other people life, like saving them. You can be grateful for that. The regrets you can have during this job, it's when you will not be able to save someone's life, even if you did everything in your power. If you pass opportunities like an upgrade position, you will probably regret the upgrade salary that comes with it.
Right now, I'm still in College.I am at the end of my second year on a total of 3 years. I would like to work in Montreal at Urgences-Santé when I am a paramedic. This is my dream job and I can't wait to be in the field!
Rationale: to inform or educate
Authority: peer-reviewed wiki
Date: still relevant
Accuracy: probably true
Relevance: relevant for this document
Sources: no sources cited
Rationale: to inform or educate
Authority: peer-reviewed wiki
Date: still relevant
Accuracy: probably true
Relevance: relevant for this document
Sources: no sources cited