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It's nice to say "you can do anything you want if you set your mind to it" but there's a considerable chunk of change involved here. I remember my first day of class a girl asks "when are we going to get to see blood because I don't think I can handle that" all this money spent...and turns out, she would pass out at the sight of blood. Had she taken the initiative, done dome research, shadowing, an observational day at an er, she would have realized sooner that she couldn't do it. Would have saved time and money. I would personally recommend going to your local EMS and talking to them, ask questions about what they think you should be doing to figure out if you can physically do the job. Ask them if there's a specific gym they go to, inquire about trainers who know a thing or two about the physical requirements of this job and try to train with them. I don't want to discourage anyone from doing what they want, but be informed of what you're getting involved in. Do your homework, and if you figure out you are physically capable then I wish you all the luck in the world and hope to see you around here more often.

I don't think its a bad thing to say "brother" and some of those nonbedroom names. Always find it a little weird when someone is doing their assessment, touching me up, calling me darling...feels like I should have at least gotten dinner first...

My late father lost his leg to a combination of Diabetes and an infection from a nail through the bottom of his shoe. He did live for several more years, using a prosthetic leg. He's the one told me about the guy with Gangrene, who needed his left leg amputated, but the doctor took off the wrong one. Keeping the man under anesthesia, they took off the correct leg. The man sued for malpractice, but lost, as the courts determined he didn't have a leg to stand on.

Hey sl91, I've just recently graduated and been employed at a paramedic service in Ontario so I've got some insight for you. Like others are saying if you intend to stay in Ontario, accredation isn't that big a deal and makes no noticable difference in the hiring process. You should look into the class sizes and course options at each of the colleges to see which one is for you. The main piece of advice I would give to any prospective student is to go to school near and ride out with the service you want to work for. I wouldn't be surprised if someone comes and denies this, but paramedic services in ontario are incredibly shrewd and picky about who they hire (They can be when they have hundreds of people applying for a few spots). A lot of services play favourites and won't even invite you to their testing if you don't live/ride out in their area, plus I found there was favourtism based on what college you went to.

Well the girl in your class was just stupid. Pardon my bluntness but seriously, there have been countless shows on TV that depict EMT's and medics and there is blood in those shows. There are shootings and stabbings reported on the news and the news usually says that the patient was transported by ambulance to the hospital so the girl who passes out at the sight of blood was just a moron for not realizing that they would eventually see blood. I agree with your point, she should have done at least a ride or a shift in the ER but have you ever tried to get a shift in an ambulance or a observer shift in an ER without being attached to some class or educational experience? The possiblity of her getting in an ER to observe is slim to none unless she knows someone. Or getting a shift on an ambulance service to observe might be a bit easier but again, no attachment to an education system then difficult to get a shift. But on to your other comment on the chunk of change. Of course the person needs to do research into the job, but to let the naysayers tell her that her disability or limp won't allow her to do the job and her to take that as the truth, she needs to get her head out of the sand and do the research. We assumed that she had done the research since she said that she "really really really wants to be an EMT". Maybe we were wrong. But in all honesty, it's either do it or not, it's up to the OP, not us to fulfill her dreams. See that's the issue with these forums, we don't know if this person is truly serious or if they just come here to whine and say "wha wha wha, my friends say that I can't do this or I can't do that" All we can do is give advice and tell them, if they want it bad enough there's a will and a way and it's up to them to do the legwork. It's not up to us to do the job of finding out all the info for them. That's what frustrates me the most.

Do ya all dress up on your services when you run Halloween? My service allows it and it sounds pretty fun...but we still have to be look the part. So I was just wondering, if you do...what are you? Do you guys thing its a bad thing that to do it? ohh big day in emtcity ; ) my first very own topic

Lol! Line of the year, I`d say...

I dress up like one hell of an EMTat my home while sitting standby! I look really impressive, cheap with the candy though.

Every Halloween that I've ever worked I've dressed up like a paramedic. Original, eh?

I love being called 'babe' or such by female providers, assuming they're looking at me when they do it...But I can't even tell you how bad I hate being called 'pardner' or such...It couldn't be more obvious to me that it's not meant to be endearing, but to create emotional distance instead. I use "Brother" a lot if it feels appropriate, even when I know their names sometimes, and it seems to be well recieved. But it's sincere... I think that most things are ok, as long as you're truly 'seeing' them when it's said, "Babe" or "hon" or "pardner" are all offensive when delivered with unfocused eyes while writing a report, or returning a text on your cell phone...

That's an interesting question Dwayne. No particular reason for when I posted it. I was working on the longer version for my next book, oh and I did pop myself in the right one the other day swinging a bunch of keys around in the air. I don't think about my Dad's testicles on a regular basis....yea it must of been that I was working on the longer version of it and I'm always on the lookout for something goof-ball (no pun intended) to post on emtcity. He would have turned 89 last Sept. 1st. Nice going man, I know how you feel. Your boy will never forget it. Thank you, I'm sure he is still laughing-especially looking down on my dumb ass. Of course you read the situation right or you wouldn't have joked with your patient. Whoever told you it was inappropriate to joke with patients was WRONG and probably wouldn't know a sense of humor if it poked them in the eye. Humor is an extremely useful tool in medicine, you just have to use common sense and know when it's appropriate, which you obviously did extremely well. Patients and family members don't write letters about stuffy, uncompassionate ambulance crews that have sticks up their asses. GOOD JOB! Thank you!