MariB

no not bad except we need EMTs really badly , actually already certified would be great! or more like *cough100%volunteersquadcoughcoughcough*

Can you send about 15 our direction? Im on the recruitment committee for my squad and we could use some. And unfortunately, it takes 9 months to turn out here unless you take hybrid classes.

okay? Use them around here all the time, EMTs hard to come by, can't waste one driving I suppose.

My background check was mainly about abuse. Sexual physical and neglect was the main things they were looking for. Our program instructor said drug abuse could be a problem along with a history of thefts. A shoplifting charge as a teen or a few bad checks no. But going into peoples homes, you will be exposed to their belongings. Abuse is for obvious reasons.. drug charges are due to being exposed to them on a regular basis. Morphine... etc. Traffic violations, disturbing the peace, etc no problem. They had someone with an arson charge write an explaination and get through. Just include all information and you'll be fine

I don't think it has to do with Iowa. Well, yes it is different, im getting used to it slowly, I have spoken to several in my class who have just drivers. They have to be cpr certified and through drivers training etc. We are volunteers here, but we have 2 drivers only on our squad, but they are policemen, they work for the city who carries our insurance etc.

My son has been driving since he was 17. He had to delay a bit due to seizures. He holds a license. Iowa it is 6 months. Some services hire drivers. EMTs don't always drive.

I think a few of us are beginning to believe this poster is a troll

If I was ever to lift 125 pounds, my service would be quite irritated. That is risking injury. we call firemen for lift assist if it is going to average more than say 50 lbs per person off the ground. That's not including draw sheet transfers or anything. However, my squad is made up of almost all women. Most weighing under 150 lbs themselves. We are city run volunteers as are fire so they just constantly reassure us to call them anytime, for any reason. I had to be able to lift 50 lbs dead weight.

Scene safety. Never enter a scene you are unsure of. Drunks, drugs, assaults etc is mandatory police respond with us. Luckily 2 of our drivers are policeman, but since I no longer run as a student, I driver and am never on with them anymore. In a couple more months I will be.

I guess it depends on how the program adds up their hours. If I added in the CPR, the ABUSE classes and mandatory reporting. The days of module testing and the additional hours of review, I would figure our class to be a good 250 hours. However, our program outline just stated lecture and skills hours with additional days for module testing, review and other necessary pertinent classes. Don't forget time for clinical hours, ride along times etc. Even with a college degree, it depends on a lot of things. How about your job? Are you married? Have kids? I still have to get up at 4:00 am. Get ready, make sure kids are set for their day. Go to work. Work 9 or 10 hours. Get home, clean up the house. Oh there is a basketball game an hour away? Well throw something in the crock pot for tomorrows supper. Feed the kid who has to run out the door. Ho to game. Come home, feed the family and remember laundry you started. Crap, im on call tonight. Pager went off. Luckily no transport to city. Back home, exhausted but will study an hour before bed. Lather, rinse, repeat.

I can be a forum addict too, especially in my field of interest. I am also a student. Over halfway through a 9 month program. One month could be hard. There is a lot to absorb. I take a lot of notes. We started out as once a week, went to twice a week. A few extra days have been put in as Iowa Scope of practice is changing. Course was described as 150 hours of lecture and skills plus days of module tests and review, but if I counted right, we will easily hit 200 . Which is fine with me, I love my classes. Welcome to the board and consider your options. Fast track is fast, but I wouldn't go that route.

Expired link, I got an ad for how to buy a home.

at first I hated all the physiology part of our program, but Arctic Cat has a great point. Never give nitro to someone whose BP is low, good thing we know CPR but let's not have to use it because of a stupid mistake. I learned the "why and why nots " are just as important as to just doing it. Our classroom is 150+ lecture and skills this does not include days of module tests or review. Oh and my program is 3 hours a night, two nights a week. It is almost 9 months long. We also had two 4 hour nights that were healthcare provider CPR prior to beginning, and a 3 hour class of recognizing child and elder abuse that was on a different day, but in addition to our so called hours.

most epileptics don't have constant seizures. They don't flop over on the floor five times a day or anything. A majority have seizure meds and are in complete control over their seizures. Some go years without one unless illness or something interrupt their medications. Their are some with brain injuries or uncontrolled seizures, but they many times have more problems making even having a job difficult.

Actually, my son had idiopathic seizures for many years and was in nursing school before deciding he didn't like it and switching over to engineering. He has been seizure free for years but that wasn't going ti stop him from being a nurse practitioner

Epileptics can usually be very successfully, seizure free with the right medications.. the only problem I can see is if they have a spell, they may not Nd able to drive for a period of time, or the team may prefer they never drive at all, but I don't see why they couldn't be great EMTs, medics, doctors etc.

One of the requirements I had was an extensive background search. Not all criminal activities denied you access to the program, but sexual assault was an immediate grounds for dismissal along with child or adult abuse. The patients safety comes into play and showing up in EMS uniforms grants a sense or safety to people, they can't risk abuse of the uniform for one. Also you are dealing with people with altered mental statuses at times. Too easy of a target for someone with a history.

What context was it in? Was it for reduced tuition for minority grants? Need a little more to go on. No I haven't come across things like that, but for example, was it for highrisk inner city youth run on a grant for minorities etc? Because there are programs for womens re-entry, returning Veterans etc etc etc.

I don't know Mike, I have seen some bad hair cuts out there.

Many here are Paramedics, which is no where close to 2 months of schooling. An associates takes 2 years. I am now over halfway through my 9 month EMT classes. We have classes twice a week. 3 to 4 hours a pop, started out once a week. Yes I am sure you can get your EMT in 2 months ( i think its a 150+ hours, not including test days)but many here are AEMTS, paramedics and throw in a couple doctors and nurses, flight nurses etc.

My squad carries all the insurance on their volunteers. Since we are a volunteer squad, that covers us in our area, even when not on call since we are able to respond to scene etc. I was told there is no need to have my own while working our town and surrounding area. Now it is iffy in certain areas if you stop and see an accident away from home. Or if someone collapses in a mall 2 hours from home. The Good Samaritan Law may or may not apply to you. Carrying your own might not be a bad idea

Well I looked online and the NR can not be taken orally. So I am guessing this has something to do with jt

yes but my child then got it until he was a year old and then I could reapply. I don't know what the income limits are now days, the who insurance thing just sucks.

I really couldn't tell ya. I am not 100% sure as to why, but it is a rule, not handed down by the school itself, but by the program overseen by wherever it based out of. I have no idea.

I don't know, one of the rules was we must be able to read, write and test in plain English and oral testing is not allowed. Maybe because the big final test is the National Registry. Do they provide oral testing?