A question that’s been nagging at me, “When medic school is over, where am I going to work?” I’ve been thinking hard and long about becoming a Firefighter, even if its a volunteer position, simply for the experience.
But, here’s the problem. I really don’t want to fight fires. I just want to work as a medic, but here in Washington, medics not attached to fire are few and far between. I think the guys who are dedicated to firefighting are amazing, but its not my thing. I’m really not into strapping on an airpack and running into a burning building. I also don’t think it would be fair to the guy that really wants to be a firefighter for me to to be hired for a job that he’s been training and testing for, just because I’m a medic.
So, what should I do? Work hard, get into great shape, test and test and test and try to get a FF/Medic job? Or should I just keep looking for that private ambulance/third service job that I know is out there somewhere?
I know we’ll eventually move back to the East Coast, and I just hope I’ll have luck finding a Medic position where I don’t have to work as a firefighter.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry.
I was in the same boat at first and ended up starting out with a transport company. Just kept looking and finally found a job that really suits me.
In Waterbury, CT ALS is only provided by AMR. I think up there ALS is mostly provided by third services. The fire service in Waterbury just took over first response from police.
I thought Rural Metro in Pierce County operated an ALS only fleet for 9-1-1 where the rigs are staffed with an EMT and Medic. I thought fire departments didn't hire paramedics because they need a firefighter but hire them because they need medics.
I don't know how things work in Washington, but my advice would be find the best private job you can thus giving you time to look for a better situation, if at all. On the providence Fire Department, people assigned to rescue, or EMS are firefighter certified but seldom if ever do firefighting, unless we really want to.
Around here the firefighters union helps us considerably with pay and benefits.
Michael: Thanks for that. Where i grew up, in Eastern CT, the local ambulance company (American) provided Paramedics to many of the municipalities. There were also Hospital based medics, like Medic 21 out of L&M in New London and the Windham Hospital Medics. That's the kind of situation I'd like to end up in.
As for firefighter/medics, do you have to work in suppression before you can transfer to the rescue? For example, in Seattle, a FF has to work in suppression for a few years before applying to the medic program.
Hey, come over to the UK!!!
Good wages, free health care and completely separate from the Fire Service.
Ill put a good word in for you!
I love medic999's UK idea! M7 you should do it!
Hey, I'm in! I love the UK!
Can I stay at your house M999?
…and, can you see about a job for my wife, too?
Same dilemma here. My girlfriend is a recently graduated medic and I just finished my EMT-B. We moved to Florida for a good 9-5 job opportunity for me, but everything is fire based here. She'll be lucky to make dogspit running transport for a 3rd party company, seeing very little 911, and the same goes for me if I can find the time to even run some shifts.
There are no volunteer services and you have to have the $4000-5000 FF I/II training to get in at any municipal agency. Not to mention my EMT-P gf is 5-foot 120 lb. Amazing paramedic, and rather strong for her size, but neither of us see her hauling heavy extrication tools or busting in doors. What a waste.
Come on up to Boston. EMS in the city is third service, not fire. EMS in most of the surrounding suburbs is provided by a number of different privates.
My company services 11 cities ranging from very urban to old, historic, and small. We run dedicated 911 ALS and BLS, transfer trucks, and a few jack-of-all trades rigs. There's plenty of work. And we're only one company, but we're growing.
(And don't write off the transfer work. 911 gets all the glory, but there's a lot a new medic can learn doing transfers and interacting with the facilities.)
Not a bad idea. My wife and I want to move back east…