EMT FAQ- Frequently asked questions about becoming an EMT. By Heather McMeekan 8/20/2000 What is An EMT? An EMT is a professional, licensed or certified, pre-hospital emergency medical care provider. There are different levels of EMT. EMT-Basic is the entry level, and the minimum requirement for working on most ambulances. The EMT-Intermediate is the next level, followed by EMT-Paramedic, or in some states, EMT-Cardiac. The EMT is able to provide emergency medical and rescue services to help other people in their time of need. Many EMTs are volunteer, and have other primary responsibilities, such as police officers, firefighters, educators, and administrators. What Education/Training is required? Applicants to an EMT program must have; a High School Diploma or GED; be 18 years old; and possess a valid driver's license. The basic EMT program is a 120 hour course of study, including both didactic and practical testing. Successful completion of an approved course will allow one to sit for the State or National Exam for license (In Illinois) or Certification (In some other states). If an applicant passes, then they are eligible to be hired by an approved EMS System. What Advancement Opportunities Are There? In reality, there is very little opportunity for advancement. The highest level of pre-hospital care is Paramedic, which is a 1000 hour program. Most people use an EMT license as a stepping stone career, to gain a foothold in the medical or service profession. This profession is an excellent support service for anyone wishing to become a Physician, Nurse, Anesthesiologist, Police Officer, Firefighter, Health Educator, Community Health Professional, Public Health Administrator, Health Educator, Industrial Safety Specialist, Environmental Health or Safety Consultant, Teacher, Athletic Trainer, Coach, Park Recreation Professional, as well as numerous other professions. Additionally, most employers of ANY company view employees who are licensed EMTs as an asset to any company, as work place injuries and accidents cost corporate America billions of dollars each year. What Opportunities Are There For Employment? Most EMTs work for free, as volunteers. There are paid professional jobs available for those desiring to pursue EMS as a career, and many are successful at making it a long term way of life. Your ability to get hired is dependent upon a variety of factors, such as your schedule, where you live, your level of education, and your willingness to work long hours. Paid EMT positions can be found in fire departments, police departments, some hospitals, private ambulance services, and summer camps. What Are The Age and Physical Requirements For This Job? You must be 18 years old, although most insurers of ambulances will not allow EMTs under age 25 to drive a rig (as age and lack of experience is a significant variable in crashes); have good corrected eyesight; be able to lift patients; be able to work swing shifts (at least early in your career), be able to go without enough sleep sometimes, and handle stress well. Is The Job Open to Men and Women? EMS (Emergency Medical Services) is a challenging and stressful line of work. However, any person, regardless of race, sex, or religious affiliation is welcome to be a part of the EMS team as
long as they can meet the training and skill requirements. What Skills Are Required? To be successful in this field, you must have; excellent writing skills, good oratory skills, good general communication skills, above average typing ability, good people skills, know basic math, science, biology, have decent driving skills and record, and have a sincere desire to continually learn new things. What Are The Hours Like? The hours can be very tough on a person. Most EMS personnel swing shift. You may have a schedule that has you working 3 12 hour shifts in a row, and then have the next 4 days off. Or, you may find that you work a 16 hour shift, have 8 hours off, and then have to be "on-call" for 24 hours. You may work all nights, or all days, or switch schedules every month on a rotating basis. In other words, EMS is not a field for persons desiring a 9 to 5, 40 hour a week job, and seems to be especially challenging for single parents (because of the quick changes in schedules). But, with the advent of unionization and worker advocacy, the situation is getting better. What Are Some of the Fringe Benefits? EMTs are very privileged in that we are allowed to be in the middle of the action while others watch; we are allowed to intimately know a human being during their most critical moment of their existence on this earth, and we are constantly reminded of how fortunate we are. No matter how bad your day at work may be, the person lying underneath your hands is having a worse one. Occasionally, someone even remembers to thank us, but most patients would rather not think about what we did for them, as the memories are very painful. If you do it for the gratitude, you will be very disappointed. What Are Some of the Negative Aspects of the job? EMS is known for it's long hours; the severe emotional toll it takes on it's professionals, the lack of fair pay, the lack of funding for decent equipment, the disparity between what the television-educated public expects and what we are able to deliver, and the fact that, most of the time, we do not necessarily make a difference in the way the media teaches the public to expect. Unfortunately, we usually get to try to help people live through a mistake or error in judgment, but we are unable to prevent these events from happening. Also, we seem to have a higher incidence of alcoholism, other drug abuse, eating disorders, divorce, depression and other mental illnesses, and suicide. As with all professions, the best defense against these negatives is practicing good self-care, knowing your limits, being open to seeking professional assistance, learning good assertiveness skills, and keeping the job separate from your personal life, and vice versa. Start the job healthy, keep healthy, and when you can no longer stay healthy in the job, move on. How Does The Job Impact One's Personal Life? EMS affects people differently. Any weakness or character flaws are magnified under stress. Many "real people" are unable to handle our stories as to what goes on in our profession. Many of our loved ones are understanding, but many of them get resentful of the long hours and weird work schedules. Many EMTs are constantly sleep deprived. Many of these problems can be alleviated, however, by learning good self-care techniques and maintaining a good self-esteem. Of course, as with any profession, the ability to say "NO" is always a great way to avoid stress and burnout.