What Does it Mean to Be a Paramedic?

My Grandma one had an allergic reaction to nuts. She was throwing up and had a puffy face, my dad called the ambulance. When they came, there was an ER and a paramedic. I thought my grandma was going to die, but she told me the paramedics gave her some type of medicine while she was in the ambulance which made her puffiness go away and stop throwing up. The incident my grandma had made me want to save other people’s lives like the paramedics did.

Some questions I have about a paramedic is, what do ambulances have inside them? What are the benefits of becoming one? And what do you need to become a paramedic?

How to become a Paramedic, all states require EMTs and paramedics to be licensed. You need to have a high school diploma, associate degree, certification and meeting licenses, and some training. To get your associate’s degree, you need 1,200 hours of instruction. The training requires CPR, an EMP-basic training, focusing on life support techniques, treatments of wounds, stitching, or administering medications, field and course work, and tourniquet application.

You have to learn how to give oxygen, administer glucose to diabetic patients, help people who have asthma attacks or allergic reactions, start intravenous lines, resuscitate, and help people who suffer from trauma. There is a course you are required to take, it’s about 8 hours, and it shows you how to work an ambulance. The course work takes 1 to 3 years of schooling. Degrees will prepare you in a wide range of areas ranging from pharmacology and medicine to emergency medical service operations.

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If you have a criminal history it’ll be harder for you to get a job. You’ll have to know what firefighters, law enforcement, and police do because sometimes Paramedics volunteer to help them. You also have to be able to document stuff quickly and report an observation and treatment to physicians, nurses, and other health care staff. (U.S. Dept of Labor)

What Paramedics use are jump bags which include drips, bandages, medicine, syringes, etc. A bag valve mask that helps the patient’s breath. The suction unit suctions fluids from the airway. A trauma/ spinal board is used if suffering from spinal injuries. A cervical collar helps with neck or head injuries. Infusion pumps control the rate of medication. ECG monitors help with the beating of the heart. Haemoglucometer used with a diabetic patient. A wheeled cot is used if unable to walk, this is used to move you out of the scene. A stethoscope helps diagnose heart tones and lung sounds. Incubator keeps neonates warm. Ventilators move breathable air into the lungs. They also may be required to perform cardiac support for heart attacks which they’d need a tablet under the tongue or spray an aspirin to chew to thin the blood and stabilize broken bones so they have to have crutches, bandages, and stitches with them at all times, resuscitate drowning victims which are when you should know and use CPR, childbirth procedures which you’d need medians for, and health situations they also use CPR and use breathing devices such as a Ventilator. (Nested)

The Benefits of being a Paramedic are getting opportunities to save lives using knowledge and skill. Gives you wealth in treating patients with different problems. Also, you’ll be very busy, once you start you start the job, you won’t have a problem finding a job. You have to attend a variety of events to stand by in case of a medical emergency so you’ll get to know the town and people. Can gain a high level of satisfaction from knowing that they play an important role in society. It’s better than working at a desk because you’ll be walking a lot and has lots of travel involved so you won’t be bored. It helps with your listening because you’re going to ask the patients what happened and what hurts. Also, you have to clearly explain procedures, give orders, and relay information. It’s a high-stress job, so stressful situations in and out of work can help you stay calm, you just need to focus. Also, this job makes you strong, sometimes you’ll be the only Paramedic on the scene, and you might have to lift, push, and pull patients of all sizes, which requires a certain amount of physical fitness and strength. Working with patients who are upset and stressed can help you in situations, you have to have good communication to help calm everyone down, this would help you in and out of work as well. (Joseph)

The different types of Paramedics are Qualified Paramedics which are when providing medicine to patients. Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance has a higher clinical skill set and can perform more advanced medical procedures. Another is an Air Ambulance Paramedic which is when works on airplanes and boats so they’re skilled in rescue performances. Ambulance Community Officers provide advanced first aid. Bicycle Response Ambulances are often first on scene and carry modified versions of all equipment stored on a standard ambulance. Clinical Instructors are responsible for the day-to-day training of graduate Paramedics and qualified ambulance Paramedics returning after time away. Community Emergency Response Team Volunteers are dispatched at the same time as an ambulance to potentially time-critical emergencies within local communities. Graduate Paramedics, recruit graduate Paramedics who have completed recognized university degrees. Duty Managers are who work in our communication centers. Paramedic Community Support Coordinates are professional paramedics whose work goes beyond the traditional role of responding to emergency cases. Referral Service Paramedics are trained in telephone triage to connect triple zero callers whose condition does not require an emergency ambulance to alternative services which may be more suitable, such as a nursing service or locum. Clinical support Officers who provide expert in-field clinical leadership, support, and education to paramedic volunteers. Wilderness Response Paramedics are specifically trained to assist in emergencies in remote and wilderness areas. (Victoria)

What do Paramedics usually carry around with them? Drug dose reference card in case someone overdosed. Blank notepad to write down what happened to the patient. Ambulance Identification card so when someone asks who they are they have proof that they’re a Paramedic. A pen torch which is just a fancy pen. A pair of protective eye care in case of having to go into the smoke to get someone. Also, access to the app for medical dictionaries and language translators. (Station)

There are different types of ambulances, Type one is a squared patient compartment that is mounted onto the chassis and is mostly used at airports. Type two is built using a van-type chassis and is more used in hospitals, used to transport patients that only require basic life support features. Type three is also a squared patient compartment that is mounted onto the chassis and is used for advanced life support. Type four is a golf cart giving complete response capabilities at the most economical value available anywhere. (Victoria)

The work environment for a paramedic is most work for ambulances services or fire departments. Work environments can change day-to-day, it just depends on the scene and where. Paramedics can also work in hospitals and medical faculties. When on duty, the job is usually really stressful and can sometimes be dangerous. Often in charge of life-to-death situations. Other times Paramedics are asked to risk their own lives for a violent, diseased, or unstable patient. Many Paramedics found this job challenging, exciting, and worthwhile. (U.S. Dept of Labor)

The pay for a Paramedic nationwide is $42,847. In North Carolina, the pay is $33,137. Averagely they get paid $21 an hour. Weekly they averagely $824. Also, monthly the average is $3,571. (U.S. Dept of Labor)

Being a Paramedic has a lot of good and bad things about it. Even though the jobs can highly stressful and dangerous, it has some good benefits to it like saving lives, making you learn how to talk to people easier, and helping you out in the real world. I believe being a Paramedic or something similar to it is a really good job. Especially if you want to become a nurse or doctor, Paramedics can get you ready for all those jobs. Another is built using a van-type chassis. Paramedics have the opportunity to help improve the lives of others on daily basis.