How to become A Paramedic

 “Next to creating a life, the finest thing a man can do is save one.” Paramedics are out there every day, literally just a phone call away from anyone who needs them.

• Emergency Responders
• First Responders

What do Paramedics do?

A Paramedic would typically need to:

• Respond to medical emergencies via an ambulance or other emergency vehicles; provide necessary medical care on the scene before transporting the patients to a designated health facility
• Conduct appropriate medical assessment; receive the patient’s consent, if possible, before taking requisite action
• Use technical equipment, such as ventilators to assist breathing, and defibrillators to resuscitate and stablise patients who experience heart failure
• Dress wounds and injuries; administer and monitor appropriate oral medication or intravenous infusion
• Carry out specific surgical procedures, such as cannulation and endotracheal intubation
• Determine if hospitalisation is required; assess the best location to move the patient to and the most efficient way to move them
• Monitor the patient’s condition prior to moving them and continue to provide essential treatment in transit
• Liaise with members of other emergency services, such as the police, fire brigade or coast guard
• Consult with other ambulance services to ensure optimum level of response and support are provided to patients in their charge
• Work closely with doctors, midwives, and nurses in hospital emergency departments
• Brief them as the patients arrive at the hospital, so requisite healthcare professionals are prepared to deliver critical services
• Liaise with and assist allied health professionals, such as radiographers, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists in the patient’s care journey
• Interact with members of the public and consult with family members present at the scene
• Sanitise and check vehicles and equipment to maintain a constant state of operational readiness; drive the emergency vehicle, when necessary
• Prepare thorough case notes and make an oral report of the patient’s history, condition, and treatment given thus far to relevant healthcare staff
• Support and supervise student paramedics and new hires; provide clinical advice to patients and colleagues over a control hotline, in case of need
• Maintain patient confidentiality and a professional demeanour in accordance with standard norms

Paramedics work indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions.

Since emergency ambulance services operate 24/7/365, Paramedics work shifts that can include evenings and nights, weekends, and public holidays. Although the job description may stipulate 40 hours/week, you may be required to put in additional hours for stand-by and on-call duties, especially in remote areas. 

With the need for at least one Paramedic in an emergency ambulance, job opportunities generally abound. Check with the local police and fire departments for vacancies. Speculative applications to local first aid organisations, hospitals, and private ambulance services will also help. Part-time work and job-sharing are viable options.

Paramedics are generally employed by:

• Public and Private Hospitals
• Public and Private Ambulance Services
• First Aid Organizations
• Fire and Police Departments
• Prison Services
• Overseas Health Departments
• Oil and Gas Exploration Companies
• Amusement Parks
• Large Resorts and Hotels
• Cruise Ship Companies
• Special Law Enforcement Units
• Emergency-Medical-Standby Teams for Public Events
• Ocean and Air Rescue Groups

Typically, Paramedics join unions that represent emergency medical and ambulance staff to receive support when advocating for higher pay, career development, mental health protection, and other professional services.

Professional associations and organisations, such as The International Association of EMTs and Paramedics (IAEP), are crucial for a Paramedic interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation.

Professional associations provide their members with various continuing education and networking opportunities, and mentorship services. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Exhaustion due to irregular shifts and unexpected emergencies which require one’s presence at any hour of the day
• Considerable kneeling, bending, and lifting while caring for and moving patients translates into one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses in the healthcare sector
• Risk of injury at scenes of violence
• Emotional stress and burnout from dealing with emergencies that may involve trauma and fatalities
• Risk of exposure to contagious diseases and viruses

Gain the mandatory healthcare or first aid experience working for the local Red Cross or as an emergency care assistant or by volunteering as a community first responder with local ambulance services. 

Any opportunity to work with the sick, disabled or elderly will prove advantageous. Experienced nurses, midwives, or allied health professionals can acquire additional qualifications and register as Paramedics.

Summer internships, part-time work at an entry-level position, or short-term paid/voluntary work offer a taste of the work, give valuable insight into how a company or institution operates, help build useful contacts, and improve one’s prospects of getting a permanent job.

The experience may also help you determine whether the public, private, or voluntary sector is best suited to realise one’s ambitions. Your educational provider’s career service department can provide information about viable opportunities for work placements, internships and voluntary work in diverse sectors.

Student Paramedic apprenticeships are highly competitive; successful applicants can study while training with the sponsoring ambulance service. In other locations, ambulance services may partner with universities to provide graduate internships. The entry requirements may vary across services. 

You will benefit from tasks outside of the classroom when they align perfectly with lessons inside it. You may hear countless stories from more experienced professionals and obtain valuable hands-on experience when they turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments.

Read about the profession and interview/shadow veteran Paramedics to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

Most Paramedics complete a paramedic science programme from a university or community college and earn an associate or bachelor’s degree. A high school diploma or equivalent course in science, preferably anatomy and physiology will also do the trick when accompanied by a certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Focus on biology, health sciences, physical education, and psychology in high school. English and speech classes will help you develop your research, writing, and oral communication skills.

Remember that completing a particular academic course does not guarantee your entry into the profession. Be that as it may, your professional qualifications and transferable skills may open up more than one door.

Do your homework and look into all available options for education and employment before enrolling in a specific programme. Reliable sources that help you make an educated decision include associations and employers in your field.

Depending on the employment location, Paramedics must obtain regional and national accreditation and register with the relevant professional authority before they begin working. CPR and EMT certifications usually form part of paramedical training programmes.

A combination of education, experience, and testing is generally required to gain certification, though requirements differ across regions. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Aspiring Paramedics would also need to be licenced. The requirements may vary by location but typically, applicants must be over 18 years, have an accredited certification and pass the qualifying exam.

A clean manual driving licence is mandatory. Once hired, most Paramedics take a course requiring about eight hours of instruction that will permit them to drive an ambulance.

You must also undergo an employment background check including but not limited to a person’s work history, education, credit history, motor vehicle reports (MVRs), criminal record, medical history, use of social media, and drug screening.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. 

You can become a Senior Paramedic and work as an Emergency Care Practitioner (ECP) based in community hospitals, GP clinics, health centres, hospital accident and emergency departments, and minor injuries units.

Further training in critical care and trauma will enable Paramedics to apply for roles, such as Critical Care Paramedics. In some locations, Specialists who work with a motorcycle, fast response car, or air ambulance units have better opportunities in some locations.

Opportunities also exist for those with extensive experience and training to progress into management posts such as Operational Manager, Assistant Director of Operations, or a senior position in the control room.

The desire to accelerate career growth and personal development has an increasing number of millennials choosing to job hop and build a scattershot resume that showcases ambition, motivation, and the desire to learn a broad range of skills.

Clinical roles in healthcare or non-clinical ones in trust management and administration, training and development, or health and safety are viable options as are careers in the armed forces, police, and fire service and academic positions in paramedic science. You can also become a First Aid Instructor or a Health and Safety Trainer.

Studies prove that job hopping, earlier dismissed as “flaky” behaviour, can lead to greater job fulfilment. Employees in search of a positive culture and interesting work are willing to try out various roles and workplaces and learn valuable, transferable skills along the way.

Candidates with an associate or bachelor’s degree in paramedic science, accredited certification and licensure, and significant related work experience have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential in the healthcare sector for public well-being and career progression. It embraces several new learning objectives, educational methodologies, and novel technological developments, especially in education, management, and IT. CPD also enables the regular renewal of desirable certifications.

Reflective learning, interaction with peer groups, comprehensive inclusion, conferences,  workshops, and professional publications serve to educate, influence, support, and foster lifelong enlightenment in all career-grade Paramedics.

All new hires receive customised on-the-job training under the mentorship of a senior colleague. One may acquire postgraduate qualifications to become a Specialist Paramedic or Advanced Paramedic. Completion of a management qualification may help you progress into an administrative role.

Get it down to a Fine Art

With prior training as an emergency medical technician, a Paramedic is typically well-versed in assessing patients’ conditions, dealing with trauma and cardiac emergencies, clearing obstructed airways, using field equipment, and handling emergencies. 

Advanced Paramedic training would make you competent at using sophisticated airway devices, stitching wounds, and administering intravenous fluids and some medications.

Go the Extra Mile

Other than ambulance work, you have diverse specialised roles that can be performed with requisite qualifications and training. 

Although the two roles are usually kept separate for practical purposes, some Paramedics who join the firefighting department may take on the duties of a Firefighter Paramedic.

Shipboard Paramedics work with a physician and nurse to take care of any health issues vacationers or crew may experience while on a cruise. As an Ocean Rescue Paramedic, you may help locate people in trouble at sea and provide first responder care.

Tactical emergency medical training will equip Paramedics with the skills to handle challenging situations such as riots or violent confrontations with criminals with a high probability of injuries and fatalities.

On-Location Paramedics in amusement parks, hotels, sportig events, or music festivals provide emergency medical services to injured or unwell visitors and guests.

The Dress Code

Paramedics typically do not wear scrubs but a uniform. PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), such as gloves, knee pads, boots, hazmat suits, helmets, and goggles augment their safety.

Essentially, Paramedic must wear uniforms that exude professionalism while abiding by occupational health and safety standards, such as being highly visible, fire retardant, and weather-proof.

Paramedics may drive ambulances in the form of a car, train, truck, van, bicycle, trailer, motorbike, cart, bus, helicopter, boat, and ship. But, don’t ever call them an “ambulance driver.”

With the number of lives they may save during the course of their career running into hundreds, if not thousands, Paramedics will never have to waste a moment’s thought on whether they made a difference.

Never assume that a patient wasn’t having an emergency just because you knew how to deal with their medical problem…it may appear like a routine case for you, but to them, it may be the most significant emergency they ever face in their lives.