Most of us can relate to the young-adult phase in our lives when we struggled to figure out what it was we wanted to do for the “rest of our lives.” School was somehow supposed to prepare us for the world ahead, and yet it sometimes never seemed to relate directly to what exactly we would do.  The reality is that most of us choose a path that’s heavily influenced by our parents or guardians. Some choose a path based on potential wealth. Others choose the path of the masses. Very few people can say that they choose a vocation based on fulfillment and contentment.

To choose a career based on the things you enjoy seems like a dream, not reality. Some might say a “pie in the sky” type of discussion is not reasonable or responsible: “In this time of economic hardship, I just want to have a job that pays my bills and puts food on the table.”

Imagine what it would be like to work in an environment where you spend a lot of time outdoors? How exhilarating would it be to know that your job could make a difference in someone else’s life, or even save a life? What would it be like to know that when you go to work, every day could be filled with new challenges and the adrenalin rush of emergencies and events?

Some might say uniforms are only for super heroes in the cartoon. Others say camaraderie only happens in the military because of the “combat” experience.

These jobs do exist, and it’s never too late to give up on the dream…

This is my 22^nd year as a paramedic. To this day I still love what I do, and I’m challenged to keep my skills at the top of my game. To be sure, every day is different, filled with new experiences. There is never a single event that is exactly the same as a previous event. Some days, I can honestly say that I saved a life. Other days I can say that I prevented more disaster. And still on others, I belly laugh at the experiences of life. What is most important is that I am truly content, have no regrets in my career choice, would choose it again 10 times over, and I will miss it dearly when I retire. Can you same the same about your career?

Emergency services are not for everyone. It takes a special kind of person – someone that is willing to stand in harm’s way. It takes a person that can press themselves to the point most people quit. And it takes a person who truly cares. Do you possess these qualities?

The reality is that emergency services workers bind together like no other vocation because they live together through long sets of hours. You quickly learn about yourself and others in this kind of environment. They share life together, celebrate great moments, and are recognized by the community at large after a tragedy. One example would be the many dedicated men and women on the front lines gave their lives for others after the World Trade Center disaster. Another example would include the day Disneyland held a special event for “Hero’s” after the 2006 California Wildfires.

There are many examples just like this for these special people. The reality is that nobody sees or hears of the young boy that falls on a skateboard while his parents are at work. The neighbor dials 911 and the EMT responds to a child who is scared and hurt. No one knows about how the EMT assures the child that he will be “okay” and how the EMT picks up the phone to assure the parent that the child will be taken care of. In some cases the EMT sits and waits for the parent to arrive when there is no need for a trip to the hospital, and yet this is rarely reported or talked about. In my book, this is what the true “hero” looks like. What stands in your way of being a true hero? Is it because of the risk of changing jobs? Is it because you may not be as fiscally rewarded? You are correct in assuming you will never become wealthy as an emergency services worker. However, what you will have is contentment, fulfillment, and true happiness. So what are you waiting for?

EMT Student practice Patient Assessment at Laguna Hills

Over the past 20 years, medical
calls have been the most frequent for the emergency service responders.
Emergency Medical Technicians are the mighty weapons in the war on injury and
disease. In every community, every city and every state there is a 911 call
every day. Without fail the well trained and little appreciated Emergency
Medical Technician shows up. If you travel across the country, you would find
emergency services are delivered differently. It was only in the last ten years
the National Standards were recognized in every state.  Regardless of the delivery system,EMS is the front line for emergency services.

EMT is an abbreviation for Emergency Medical Technician. There are countless EMT’s through out the communities. Some work in the “field”. This would be on a transport ambulance, amusement park, concert staff, ski patrol, fire department or search and
rescue. Other EMT’s work in the clinical setting. To include emergency rooms,
doctors offices, clinics, surgical techs, infirmaries and so on. You may want
to conceder what vocational direction you desire. However, the class will
contain the sane content regardless of your desire.

Most EMT’s use this process as a stepping stone to another career path. One common example would include those trying to get hired by a fire department. Many fire departments require employee candidates to have an EMT certification as a condition of employment. Another example would include those going to medical school. The certification serves two purposes in this case. The medical student gets many patient care
contacts prior to entering this rotation during medical school. The other
benefit also the student to show some work experience in the medical field.
Regardless of your career path, an Emergency Medical Technician certification
will serve you well.

Some schools have adopted an “academy” or “prove yourself” type program. The instructors take a hard line or high stress tactic during the program. The theory is that if the student can’t handle stress in the class room, how will they handle it in the field during
crisis events? Although a little “life learning” during class has some value,
it does not allow for a solid learning environment.  Most programs are delivered by community colleges. Many of the instructors are current emergency service professionals.
The draw back is that you tend to see a different instructor every time you
have class. Not ideal for the learner. Some programs are multiple days a week for 8-10 weeks. Some programs are accelerated programs meeting every day. A word of caution on the accelerated class. If you don’t have good study habits or have learning difficulties, this
would not be the type of class for you. However, some students perform well in
a fully immersed class such as this. Look for programs that have support for
the student. Once you complete the course successfully, you will need to take the National Registry Exam. This is an adaptive test and is challenging. Look for a course that again will provide support for this process. What value is their in completing the class if you
can’t pass the Registry Exam?

To help you begin or advance your EMT career, please check out our guide to Selecting EMT Schools.

Recommendations for preparation are similar to any disaster
preparedness. Understand the potential for the disaster. Even in the even the
damage is less than predicted, you should always follow the recommendations of
the local authorities. Here are some basics for those who need some help.
Consider your self on your own for 72 to 96 hours.

Water:

Minimum water supply should be 100 ounces per day per
person. Keep it accessible. If you purchase individual box type water, check
for an expiration date. Consider domestic water supply as contaminated.

Food:

Food should be about 1200 calories per day per person. The
best types of foods are those that you eat regularly. Understand that
dehydrated foods and foods that you don’t normally eat can cause digestive
problems.

Disease:

One of the biggest concerns should be illness. Washing your
hands or having some type of cleaning supply will be extremely helpful.

Batteries/Power:

Power will go out. Who knows how long? Do not
try to restore the power. Battery power is extremely
helpful. Hand crank radios are the other option and work well in this
situation. Do not use candles or open flame for light. Never use charcoal or
open cooking devices inside.

First Aid:

Have some type of kit available. It does not have to be elaborate.
The key is to prevent infection. Cover all wounds and control any bleeding with
simple direct pressure. Aspirin, or Ibuprofen would be helpful. I you take prescribed
medications, keep a supply for an emergency.

Supplemental Items:

Creature comfort items are helpful if you have space for
them. Lawn chair, cot, sleeping bag, space blanket, towel, toothbrush and other
items. Your cell phone will probably not work. Don’t count on it. Some times
the hard wired phones will work. Have both just in case.

Preparation is the key. Many people wait until the last minute to make arrangements or acquire supplies. By preparing ahead, you prevent a lot of undue stress and waited time. Prioritize your activities. This will allow you to accomplish more under a time constraint.
Have a duplicate set of important documents. This would include insurance
information, family estate plans, medical information and family or friends to
contact. The best thing to do is evacuate as directed by the authorities. Going to a safe place will not only be more comfortable, it may keep you from injury or save your
life. Treat all disasters seriously. The experts know best even if the event is
less than predicted.

Today, Thursday, a swarm of bees went attacked and stung
a 95-year-old man more than 400 times in a Redondo Beach neighborhood. What would you do if this happened to you? Any sting that leaves a stinger behind, needs to be removed by scraping the stinger out. The stinger usually contains some poison or venom. If tweezers or a pinching fashion is used, this will result in the product being
injected further into the skin. (Blood stream) Conversely, bites inject poison
or venom during the bite. Many bugs have an antithetic quality that numbs the
site so we rarely notice the bite until a day later when the swelling and
itching are in full swing. With bee stings you have pain right away. There has
been a lot of media attention to Africanized honeybee. These bees are aggressive
and should only be addressed by a professional bee expert or exterminator.

The simplest solution of course is to stay clear. As you are well aware, we continue to
develop residential properties in wildland interface areas. This is impinging
on all species. As a result, we have seen the number of stings and bites
increase. So this leaves us with the information grandmother taught us. Baking
Soda, Vinegar, salt, and any other trick you may have learned growing up. Most
bites or sting s result in redness, swelling and some itching. Not to mention
pain. The thing can be helped with common over the counter medications.
“Cortaid”, “Benadryl” “Calamine Lotion”, “Campho Phenic” etc. If swelling persists, ice can help generally and can reduce pain. If itching persists, and cortisone based cream can help. The only time you could be in trouble is when the victim has a severe allergic
reaction. This is known as “anaphylaxis”. This occurs when the victim
has a full body response to the bite or sting. Usually starts with difficulty
breathing and wheezing and can progress rapidly. In children, this is especially
dangerous because their airway passages are much smaller and they can not
tolerate swelling as well as adults. The sign to look for in children include,
difficulty speaking, wheezing, sitting forward, nasal flaring, flushing of the
skin, full body hive etc. Dial 911 without delay. In some cases, anaphylaxis
can be fatal within minute. Local paramedic and EMT units carry medications to
reverse such problems. In some cases, doctors have prescribed “Epi
Pens” for children who are “Deathly” allergic to something. If a
parent indicates that their child has an “Epi Pen”, please take the
time to have them show you how it works. Another option is to complete a First Aid course. You may save a life.