If you have ever thought about becoming a paramedic, then this article is for you. Mainly, this article is useful to learn more about what are paramedics and what they do. However, you can learn much more. I am motivated to write this article because a lot of people don't really understand what it's like to be a paramedic. There is more than just transport patients to a hospital.
Being a paramedic is stressful because you never know what can happen during your shift. Paramedics need to be mentally strong and stable to be ready to face any situation. There are often traumatic events, so paramedics are at risk of developing mental health problems. Also, paramedics work long hours (10 to 14 hours shift) and their shifts are irregular and may have to work day and night shifts. When paramedics have nothing to do during a shift they can clean the ambulance or restock the ambulance supplies.
In general, paramedics are the first medical people at the scene. They take care of injured people or anyone who needs medical assistance. Paramedics can administer drugs orally or in the muscle with a needle. Also, they can prevent massive blood loss with bandages and stabilize blood pressure. EKGs are a technique those paramedics can do too. It helps to know if the patient is having or not a heart attack. Paramedics do CPR and manage a patient airway and also traumatic injuries. After being stabilized, paramedics transport the patient to a hospital in an ambulance.
On a typical day, paramedics wait at a waiting to point for a call. Once there's a call paramedics respond for emergency medical assistance. Also, according to the patient condition paramedics treat the patient with the best medical support. Every day in this job is different but the principle remains the same : provide first-aid treatment. In other words there's no typical day. They transport the patient according to his condition than return to a waiting point for the next call.
Paramedics can either work in town or in the countryside. An advantage of working in town is that you have a lot of calls, so you're always doing something. However, if you like to take a little break, it may be a disadvantage for you. Also, you don't have a variety of calls because there are a lot of paramedics available in each area so that can be a disadvantage of working in town. An advantage of working in the countryside is that you get a lot of different calls. It can be about someone lost and injured in the woods, etc. However, a disadvantage is that you don't have as many calls as paramedics working in town.
To become a paramedic, you need to do a minimum 3-year training program (a technique) at a college. It can be at Ahuntsic College, Cegep of Sherbrooke, Cegep of Sainte-Foy, etc. You don't need to have done physic class or anything specific in secondary school to apply to this program.
Paramedics make $24,50 per hour, so approximately $48,000 per year. There are bonuses for working at night. However, paramedics with most experienced earn up to $59,000 per year with an hourly rate of $32,00.
Paramedics need to pass an exam after getting his diploma : national registered paramedic's exam to become certified. Two years after being certified paramedics need to certificate again with Education classes. Registered paramedic still need to update his skills to stay up to date. A paramedic who wants to do more on the job such as intravenous need to take advanced class. Paramedics can also train in the army they just need to apply, and they don't have a lot much to do since they already are paramedics.
There are dangers of being a paramedic such as being attacked by an aggressive patient. Another danger is when you drive in emergency because you have to drive faster and go on red light, and it increases a paramedic chance to have a car accident. Also, it can be dangerous to be a paramedic because you are exposes to infectious patients or even needles when needed. You can get infected if you prick yourself.
Paramedics won't be replaced by robots soon because paramedics need to drive the ambulance depending on the situation. Robots won't be able to use sirens and horns in proper circumstances. Also, paramedics may pass a red light and sometimes not. It will be hard for robots to determine when they can or not. Furthermore, paramedics develop trust with patients that's robots won't be able to. It will be hard for robots to give the proper drugs to each patient or any other medical care. Medical care is defined by how you see your patient and how he's doing. You need a human paramedic to do that.
Paramedics normally retire at the age of 50-60. They'll gain experience because they'll see many situations and patients. You can either have a good or bad impact on this work. If, you saved many lives then you'll be proud but if you saw traumatized situations than it can affect your mental health. Along the way, paramedics may have some regrets such as choices those paramedics made during a call (things they said or anything else).
In this career, I'll finish my studies in 1 year, so I'll start working in approximately September 2023. My goals are to do my best on this job and be the best paramedic I can be. As soon as I can I'll start working as a paramedic in Montreal for about 10 years.
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