[1969GPSJ]

My son is an EMT-A, on his way to being a paramedic. He had huge altruistic ideals about helping people. Working EMS almost destroyed him - his encounters with the average EMS call works something like this: Grandma (or grandpa, mom or dad - fill in the blank) hasn't been feeling well for a couple of weeks, there are 4 (working) cars in the driveway, 5 properly licensed drivers, and today the family calls for an ambulance because their family member is now feeling more woozy, or fell down, or, their toe hurts more, or, or, or.... Instead of doing the smart thing and making an appointment with their "family" doctor or driving them to the urgent care or ER themselves 10 days ago when the problems were first noticed. Or then there is the 585 lb chain smoking person fell out of bed and they want EMS to get them back into bed and hand them the TV remote (that's it!) . And while they are dealing with this type of call, there is a real emergency that has to wait, and the squad arrives too late to help them - and they die because all of the available EMS teams are busy with B.S. non-emergency calls. There are "frequent flyers" who in some cases call 300 times a year, tying up EMS teams on garbage, non-emergency calls - which make up 75% of their call and trip volume. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Thank the lord that you are doing anything else, and don't work in anything related to EMS. That does not even include their encounters with other drivers on the road that think that lights and sirens means speed up and pass the ambulance or stop and block an intersection. Oh boy.... I'm just scratching the surface.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 1969GPSJ

My son is an EMT-A, on his way to being a paramedic. He had huge altruistic ideals about helping people. Working EMS almost destroyed him - his encounters with the average EMS call works something like this: Grandma (or grandpa, mom or dad - fill in the blank) hasn't been feeling well for a couple of weeks, there are 4 (working) cars in the driveway, 5 properly licensed drivers, and today the family calls for an ambulance because their family member is now feeling more woozy, or fell down, or, their toe hurts more, or, or, or.... Instead of doing the smart thing and making an appointment with their "family" doctor or driving them to the urgent care or ER themselves 10 days ago when the problems were first noticed. Or then there is the 585 lb chain smoking person fell out of bed and they want EMS to get them back into bed and hand them the TV remote (that's it!) . And while they are dealing with this type of call, there is a real emergency that has to wait, and the squad arrives too late to help them - and they die because all of the available EMS teams are busy with B.S. non-emergency calls. There are "frequent flyers" who in some cases call 300 times a year, tying up EMS teams on garbage, non-emergency calls - which make up 75% of their call and trip volume. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Thank the lord that you are doing anything else, and don't work in anything related to EMS. That does not even include their encounters with other drivers on the road that think that lights and sirens means speed up and pass the ambulance or stop and block an intersection. Oh boy.... I'm just scratching the surface.

And for minimum wage. Or close to it.

My daughter was an EMT for several years.

She writes computer code now.

K

[sdbob]

Just talking to local fire chief. They have to help on occasion with heavy people. He said that a special lifting device is available(I didnt get particulars) for 500+ lb people. He said all the people cringe when a certain address comes up.

[jerry455]

Both of my kids are medics with a local company, Med Star, and they tell me stories like this all the time. She had to Narcan one particular woman 3 times in one week. Frequent fliers are very common. Then all of the family tries to jump in the ambulance with them for a ride to the hospital. My daughter, 15 years' experience, is getting burned out. She has been substitute teaching at the elementary school where her kids go. She is much happier doing that instead of being a medic.