EMT_Journalist

Seth, sometimes we get into "flaming" sessions with others on this site, myself included, but not (so far) with you. A point that I try to make with all newbies (new-jacks, n00bs, boot recruits, earthworms and ground grippers), and the established members of both the EMS community, and the EMT City Community, is, try to keep any criticism to a minimum, and if you feel that an answer is incorrect, say so, but followed with a reason why. That reason why, whatever it is, best not be along the lines of "You're wrong because you're some variant of the south end of a northbound horse", better along the lines of "Unless my previous sources were incorrect, you're wrong, due to the following items from that previous source," and list them. No, you don't have to be that formal, either.

Due to my longevity in EMS (from 1973), some feel I practically wrote the book on EMS. Due to constant changes in trainings and protocols, I will tell you flat out that I did not, and can not. When I first took EMT training, it was a 40 hour long course, with 20 hours for refresher, mandatory every 3 years. The last full class I heard about was over 150 hours, and for the mandatory 3 year program, at least 45 hours for the refresher, prior to the startup of a new "5 Year Refresher Pilot" program, consisting of "X" number of hours of Continuing Medical Education, broken down by specific subjects, call reviews, and other topics within the field, per year, during those 5 years. (That reminds me, I'm going to need a separate "Rescuer CPR" class soon)

While the line of "You don't know what you don't know" is quite accurate, I know where there are certain holes in my training, hense, I ask questions here, too. Others ask me, to help them fill their holes. If I don't know, I admit it. EMS training is one field where you cannot always dazzle them with your brilliance, and definately cannot attempt to baffle them with your BS.

Seth, I don't really know you, and many here have a well calibrated "BS Meter", way better than mine. If, and I emphasize IF, you are attempting to BS them, you will be found out, and called on it. My personal opinion is currently, admittedly, "the jury is still out".

To all on this string, let's try to keep it civil.

Thank you for this.

Seth

Yeah man, very flippant, and I'm sure you feel clever as well, but no attempt to address the points made?

And it's not one post, but many.

Smellier and smellier....

Dwayne

Dear Dwane,

Hello again. Your sense of smell seems to be growing by the minute! What astute observational skills you have there Dwane. With such a nose, maybe you should have taken up a career in the police narcotics drug "sniffing" unit. I'm sure they could use a nose like yours out there. I bet we'd get a lot more drugs off of the streets, and back into the hands of the police... so they could plant the drugs back on the streets. It's a never ending cycle, which means you would essentially be employed forever.

To address your "points".. I'm not sure what size shoe you wear, but the men of the Russin Ballet usually take their normal shoe size, and subtract 1/2 an inch off to get the exact size they should buy when purchasing their "points". (Pointed ballet shoes). Now, I'm not sure your shoe size so I am unable to address that issue as you have pointed out, but If you go to your local Men's Warehouse they will measure your shoe size for free! God knows how good "free" sounds like in this economy, right?

I hope this finds you well.

Regards,

Seth

That's Superhero dad !!!!!!

Wisely Noted!

I was going to pull the information of what an EMT is responsible for in New York State, but someone beat me to it by posting the NYS DoH site for you.

It's the thought that counts, so thanks anyways!

Seth

Really? So why are you asking us to do more research for you? Presumably, if you've done your research, you already have the resources you need.

Hi there!

Please refer to my first introduction post, where I clearly specify that I'm using this site as on of my many avenues; a tool, if you will, to succeed. What kind of journalist would I be if I relied solely on you all for all my answers? I'll tell you. A lazy, demotivated, sour, poor content writing type of journalist.

Have a better day..

Seth

Seth, no offense man, but I have to tell you that this has a really bad aroma...

A man that wants to be an EMT, but decided not to, but now has so much passion for EMS, something he's no understanding of, that he's willing to spend hundreds, or likely, thousands of hours creating an all inclusive page for EMS wannabes? For free? Without competing with this site? Yet is unwilling to take a 144hr college course to see what it's all about?

You seem like a nice guy, but brother, you're either full of shit, and that's what I smell, or an Uber whacker, which has more or less the same smell, and both of those things are less than good, and likely bad, for EMS.

Or, not being a kid any more, I might have shat my own pants and that's what's tormenting me so...(But, after peeking, I'm going with door number one or two.)

So, if you've got a family, or even a girl friend, I'm calling bullshit on the "I'm doing it for the good of EMS and all of mankind!" schtick. If you wanted to be good for EMS you'd go to school, get your college level Basic, so that you could at least know bullshit from rump roast when speaking about EMS.

You haven't recently started several EMS Facebook pages and posted their addresses here under a different user name have you??

Dwayne

Hi!

That's a lot of Stink from just one post! I'll be sure to shower when my project is done..

Good day

Seth

Thank you Super Dad!

I do appreciate it.

Seth

Seth, first off good luck on your project and website. Goodness knows the internet needs more stuff on it.

But I have to agree with Mike but I would like to take it one step further -- How is your website going to be different than the current sites out there? How is it going to benefit my friend who came to me asking how to become a medic?

Here is the results of a web search via Google for "how to become an emt" https://www.google.c...iw=1350&bih=661

I went through just 2 pages but there are countless pages just in this one search.

Here is the how to become an paramedic search as well. https://www.google.c...iw=1350&bih=661

There are at least 3 pages if not many many more that focus on just what you are asking.

If you go further and ask this question on Google "how to become a paramedic in Missouri" you get this search result -

https://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&source=hp&q=how+to+become+an+paramedic+in+missouri&pbx=1&oq=how+to+become+an+

paramedic+in+missouri&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=113759l115747l2l116048l14l7l0l0l0l0l0l0ll0l0&bav

=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&fp=c926c362c28586a4&biw=1350&bih=661

I'm not sure if that link will work here though. But there are 3 entire pages in this search devoted to becoming a medic in missouri

I suspect if you did that for each state and even each country you would get the same number of results.

I did not go in and look at the individual pages because well that's your job and I'm doing this at work but here is my question to you and your "gang of six" or your partners

How is your site going to be better than the sites listed in the searches above? How is your site going to hit the first page on Google instead of page 3 or 4? How will you HOOK the so called EMT wannabe or medic wannabe into coming to your site?

I'm not questioning your motives but I'm questioning how you intend to get to the finished product when there are literally hundreds of websites that seem to do what you are wanting to do.

Hey, thank you for your questions. I don't disagree with the concenrns expressed with you or Mike. However, the EMS field is centered around helping others in need. I want to provie good quality help to those in need of EMT training.

http://www.paramedic-ems.com/tobeone.htm

The above site is one of my biggest reasons for deciding to take up this project. This site is ranked number 2 on the "how to be paramedic in missouri.." This website is poor in quality and "user-friendly-ness". There are TONS of sites like this (i've done my research) and it upsets me to a certain degree. - My goal is to create a well-built, quality structured website that caters to the needs of each individual in the US searching for how to become an EMT. Don't get me wrong, there are sites that have good structure, but they are few and far between. Most of the sites that are top-ranked were built in the late 90's/early 2k.. We have much evolved since then, but the sites themselves have failed to evolve.

I'm creating something that is 'fresh' or 'current' if you will. Not only on the information side, but with the design and user accessibility.

I will be working with I have studied SEO (service engine optimization) for a couple of years now, so getting the site ranked no. 1 is not unattainiable. As like anything it takes time and dedication, but I'm willing to put forth the work, and I'm confident that I will be able to do such a thing without a doubt. I hope this answers some questions, while at the same time avoids conflict.

p.s.

my spell check is turned off so forgive me for any sp errors.

Best,

Seth

Check the Department of Transportation Web Site for information about what the various cirriculums are all about. The number of hours for each licensure/certification level are outlined, as well as what these programs will include. That is a good starting point, since from there states can be quite different as to what their programs are all about. Not sure how much detail you are looking for.

Policies and programs generally vary from town to town, county to county, and obviously state to state.

Thank you!

I'll check that out first thing tomorrow.

Cheers.

Seth

Check the Department of Transportation Web Site for information about what the various cirriculums are all about. The number of hours for each licensure/certification level are outlined, as well as what these programs will include. That is a good starting point, since from there states can be quite different as to what their programs are all about. Not sure how much detail you are looking for.

Policies and programs generally vary from town to town, county to county, and obviously state to state.

I'm experiencing information sensory overload right now!

Check the national registry website. They have a map with each state. You click on the state and it takes you to that state's EMS site, with the requirements, etc.

Here's the link

https://www.nremt.or...ate_offices.asp

Wow, thank you! I'd been google-ing each site state by state. This helps.

Best,

Seth

I'm just asking questions. Just like journalists do. Except you don't seem to like when you're not the one asking the questions, eh? I think it's funny that journalists love to ask questions and push people to answer yet they don't like having the questions asked of them.

It still seems shady to me to use one resource to build competition to that same resource. But you're right about one thing. The information is already out there on the web. You're free to do the research yourself.

I'm sorry if I've offended you.

Have a nice day

Wait.

So you're going to use this website, which already does a lot of what you're describing in its discussion forums, to solicit information to help you create your own website? That seems pretty shady. That's like going into successful business "A" and asking for advice on how to build a business to directly compete with successful business "A".

What does this project of yours have to do with being a journalist? How does it play into you wanting to know everything there is to know about EMS?

You've taken something so simple, and good-willed, and turned it into something negative. I am a journalist. A part of my job requires me to constantly be learning, growing, and evolving so that my work can exceed the expectations of my readers.

If i were making some sort of profit from my site the yes that would be shady, but that is not the case.

have a better day

Seth

In Texas the entry requirements are pretty simple but become more involved as the class advances.

To register:

Picture ID that proves address and citizenship (SS# nessesary to get background check when required)

High School Diploma/GED/or College transcript

Having at least 10th grade reading/comprehension skill is recommended.

AHA Healthcare provider or American Red Cross Professional Rescuer CPR CARDS

In order to begin clinicals and before having patient contact.

Drug screen 10 or 15 pannel depending on the school.

Complete shot records that include.

1. Complete Hepatitis B immunization series,

2. Tetanus Shot,

3. Chicken Pox vaccine

Prior to patient contact, students born on or after January 1957, must show acceptable evidence of:

1. Vaccination of two doses of measles-containing vaccine administered since January 1, 1968;

2. Two dose of rubella vaccine;

3. Two dose of mumps vaccine;

4. TB skin test. I positive presentation of a Neg. Chest X-ray is required.

5. National Criminal History

Different schools may have different requirements. This is my experience.

Extremely informative, thank you. It's interesting to me how a lot of the requirements seem to vary not only by state, but by school/ program.

I will notate this, and give you credit where due.

Thanks DFIB!

Seth

Hi

Thanks to all of you who've welcomed me to this site with an open heart/mind. A few people wanted to know what it is I'm doing, and it's only fair to share with you all, since I'm learning from you.

At some point I used to want to be an EMT/EMT-Paramedic. I used to scour the web for articles, and sites, that could give one an insight into how one could accomplish this. I wanted to know the inner-workings of the job field, but none of the sites I came across (except the Bureau of Labor Statistics) could give me any real detail in starting up my career in the field. Whether you support the idea or not, a group of us are creating user-friendly EMT/Paramedic information highway website that hopes to assist in informing many potentials in how to start a career as an an EMT. The internet is becoming everyone's go-to tool, and what better way to learn such a thing than online?

The tricky part thus far has been the mere fact that the requirements for being an EMT can vary by state (please correct me if I'm wrong!)

So my basic question to those of you who can to answer is:

What are the basic/universal requirements of being an EMT?

I've gotten the a few, such as must be at least 18 years of age, clean criminal record (wasn't too sure about that one) high school diploma.. etc..

To your understanding, what are the basic requirements needed to become an EMT? Are there any unique requirements that exist, that one would not easily be thought of?

Thank you all,

Seth

p.s.

the website domain has been purchased: emtcareers.org

You won't see anything on there (obviously) but we're definitely working on it daily!

I am not sure what your experience has been with the FDs and Colleges but I was thinking that to begin to understand the complexities of EMS this information might be give you some reference points to begin to form an idea of the complex network of coordinated services providing various levels of care to a community that define modern EMS systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) developed 10 EMS system elements.

1. Regulation and Policy

2. Resource Management

3. Human Resources and Training

4. Transportation

5. Facilities

6. Communication

7. Public information and Education

8. Medical Direction

9.Trauma Systems

10. Evaluation

Although there is some standardization of the EMS curricula as developed by US DOT every state and medical director has authority to infer in their state and regional and local policy, protocols and procedures. In short, everyone does it a little different. So you can understand the complexities of EMS of which the posters refer.

After 9/11 the NIMS system was formed to help all of these different agencies be able to coordinate efforts in the event of a National or Regional emergency. You can take NIMS training for free on the FEMA website. http://www.fema.gov/...ingCourses.shtm

This information should give you a lead to begin to follow and learn about EMS Systems.

Thank you for sharing this!

Seth

Welcome Seth,

If you are looking for professional opinions and unique perspectives you probably will not be dissapointed. I wish you luck in your quest to learn everything about EMS. I expect that most of us are still trying to figgure it out.

You will find a great variety of posters with different levels of training and very different life experience.

Something you might want to look at from a jounalist perspective are some of the opinions about the way EMS is covered by journalist.

Stick around and please jump in.

Thank you,

Cheers.

Hey there, my name is Seth. I'm working on a project that requires me to learn virtually EVERYTHING there is to know about the EMT world. Though I've already begun my research online and visited local fire departments as well as community colleges, I'm hoping to utilize this site as an avenue as to gain unique perspective from all of those who are involved directly in the EMS field. It's exciting for me, but at the same time hectic due to the vast, and seemingly endless amount of information that surrounds your field. I'm studying EMT and Paramedic for the most part. So i'll be browsing the forum and blogs in the background. I'll occasionally ask questions via posts in hopes to learn something new!

Thanks all!

Seth