emt.dan

how are communities "celebrating" EMS Week? Are hospitals really putting food out for you?

Following up on the advice of others, I will recommend one additional program that I have heard good things about from several people. I will mention that I am in no affiliated or have any connection with either of these programs. The program is called ALSI-- the Advanced Life Support Institute-- and while it is not in MA (just over the border in Conway, NH), it provides for MA Paramedic certification. The program is cheaper, but still seems to be of very high quality. I wish you good luck on your pursuits, and congratulations on the upcoming marriage.

From my view of the paramedic program, I recommend the Northeastern University paramedic school training based out of their campus in Burlington, MA. The course has been going through some changes recently-- but I think its all for the better. Its worth giving them a call and trying one of their CEUs. Just my $.02. DEs

I am in a similar position. I am eighteen years old, a new EMT and just entering the world of prehospital medicine. I am taking a full year off before starting university-- and only of my goals this year is to gain experience as an EMT. After spending the summer working as an EMT at a tourist attraction and local fire department, I spent three months in Israel (and was trained as a first responder). The medical system there is completely different-- but I learned an enormous amount. I am just about to spend six weeks on an oceanographic research vessel in the very remote Pacific Ocean-- its an undergraduate study abroad program-- and I am conducting research. I am one of two EMTs on board-- and we carry a fairly well stocked medical kit. After coming back from the Pacific, I am going back to Israel to be trained as an instructor and continue volunteering. I look forward to coming onto my college campus with street experience. I hope to join the on-campus EMS and work per-diem for a private ambulance company nearby. I know I am new to the game, I know that I have a lot to learn, and I look forward to learning it. I really dont seem to be cocky, and I may be a whacker, but I look forward to every patient contact as something new to discover (I am sure this will wear off at some point). For the record, in Israel, they train their first responders as young as 15. There is a strong sense of community service within the High Schools, and they want to give students the skills early. High School first responders often work in pairs with a minimum of a EMT-B (but called a medic) driver (on a BLS ambulance). The medic runs the call on-scene, calls for help if nessecary, and the FRs take over while in the ambulance. If there is a problem, the driver stops, but there are rarely problems. They staff many of their ALS ambulances with a driver (often the equiv. of an EMT-I), Paramedic, and, in many places, an MD. Magen David Adom (Israeli red cross, ambulance service) allows teenagers on the ambulances, but only under good supervision.