Considering a Career in Emergency Medical Services? Become a Paramedic!

The job of a Paramedic is one of the most important jobs out there and the demand for qualified paramedics is only expected to grow in the coming years.

A Paramedic is usually the first person on the scene after an accident, a catastrophe, or a natural disaster. Paramedics are needed to keep people as safe as possible until they can be brought to a hospital, where they can then be given more extensive medical attention if necessary.

Paramedic Jobs

Because emergencies can happen anywhere, it is important for paramedics to be available all across the country. They’re most often needed in more densely populated areas, but those areas are continuing to grow and expand, while at the same time, our general population continues to age. All of this growth and expansion is resulting in an increased need for qualified paramedics across the country.

Paramedics are responsible for responding to emergency calls, performing medical services in the field, or in an ambulance, as well as transporting patients to medical facilities. Many times they are required to provide professional medical attention quickly, efficiently and often in very high-stress settings.

It is very likely that when thinking of a Paramedic, an ambulance is the first thing to come to mind. However, they’re needed in many different capacities and in a wide range of settings. Firefighter teams, S.W.A.T. teams and ocean rescue teams need paramedic staff in the event that one or more of the individuals they’re saving need immediate medical attention.

Ships that spend extended periods of time on the water and airplanes also need to have at least one paramedic available in case there’s an emergency and they’re unable to reach a hospital.

The nature of a paramedic’s job varies slightly depending on where he or she is working. In the case of paramedics working in emergency ambulatory vehicles, their primary responsibility is to be dispatched to the scene of an emergency (whether an accident, an act of violence or a natural disaster), assess the situation to determine if the person needs to be transported to a hospital for further medical attention, as well as administer any immediate and necessary medical attention.

If it is determined that the patient needs to be transported to a hospital, then the paramedic will assist with transportation, provide medical assistance on route to the medical facility, notify the hospital emergency department of the patient’s condition, including what medical care has already been provided.

If the paramedic talks to a doctor upon their arrival at the emergency department of the hospital, they may need to continue providing medical care and assist the doctor in treating the patient. The main responsibility of a paramedic is to provide any necessary care and assistance needed to keep the patient as safe as possible until they reach a stable environment.

 

Paramedic : responsibilities and tasks 

A paramedic must be able to perform tasks such as, but not limited to:

  • Performing CPR
  • Controlling bleeding
  • Bandaging wounds
  • Stabilizing broken bones
  • Helping someone recover from shock
  • Administering oxygen
  • Helping a mother deliver a baby (in the event that a hospital cannot be reached in time)

 

In addition to providing care, paramedics are also responsible for properly maintaining their equipment, which includes cleaning, performing maintenance checks, and replacing the equipment when necessary.

So whether you’re more comfortable in the air, on the water, or in a hot situation (literally and figuratively), there’s likely an opportunity for you to find work as an paramedic in any situation you feel will be best suited for you.

Paramedic Salary

The salary of a paramedic can vary depending on the geographic region they work in and their years of related experience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as of May 2015, the median salary for paramedics was $31,980 or $15.38 per hour. Whether they’re paid an annual salary or an hourly rate will most likely depend on their employer and/or the type of paramedic work they choose to do.

The BLS also estimates that the number of available jobs for certified paramedics will grow about 24% from 2014 to 2024, a rate that’s much faster than most industries.

 

Paramedic Training

Due to the nature of the job, paramedics need to have a wide range of skills. They need to have a basic knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, knowledge of how to treat injuries, control bleeding, and administer an IV, just to name a few.

Paramedics are usually among the first people to arrive in the event of an emergency; therefore, it is necessary for an paramedic to remain calm under pressure. A paramedic needs to be able to provide reassurance to the patient and/or any bystanders who might need help calming down after having witnessed or been involved in an accident or disaster.

A paramedic’s job is a very high stress job that will require them to spend a lot of time under pressure, but it’s also a job where a small mistake can hurt or put a patient’s life in danger. Patience and precision are vital in an environment where time is of the essence, and life-or-death situations are encountered on a regular basis.

 

Paramedic Education

Because so much of an paramedics job is hands-on, a good paramedic school includes much more than just classroom lectures and demonstrations. At City College, students take several paramedic courses, including a paramedic laboratory requirement, as well as an externship. These aspects of our paramedic training program allow students to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world situations.

Due to the fact that paramedics work so closely with public servants, such as firefighters and police officers, the United States Government requires that paramedic schools have a curriculum that will meet certain requirements. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program at City College meets all these requirements and also prepares students to pass their certification exam, which enables students to gain employment.

City College EMS students are taken out of the classroom and into some of the busiest trauma centers in South Florida, as well as ambulance services and fire departments in the area. This provides them with a “real” feel for what their jobs will be like once they leave the classroom, pass their licensure exam, and enter the real world of emergency response and medical care. Students leave our emergency medical services program knowing exactly what it takes to work in such a high-stress and rewarding field. Graduates leave our classrooms fully prepared to work anywhere an EMT is needed, including ambulances, airplanes, and ships that spend extended periods of time working out at sea.

The EMS program at City College teaches students everything they need to know in order to pass their certification exam and start working as an paramedic in the state of Florida. Upon graduation students have, not just the knowledge, but the skillset and real world experience to handle any emergency situation!

 

Are you ready to start saving lives and to Become a Paramedic ? 

 

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