HEAD inj

Hi everyone. I'm new on here, and just wanted to get some different opinions on a few things.

I'm a volunteer for our large and very rural (meaning sparsely populated) county. We've got a few full time EMTs, but the majority of our service is comprised of volunteers.

I'm originally from a very big city where the emergency services are run on pride and teamwork....and I'm learning the services in small town America aren't run the same way.

It's not the easiest to be an "outsider" here trying to find a full time job that you'd love to do. I've seen with EMS here that I would love to be able to do it full time. Problem is there isn't the funding here for any more full time staff....and there are a few full timers here that complain constantly about the job, and are so negative they've made it clear they hate their job, and hate our director (who is a wonderful, fair person by the way.)

The negative ones pick and choose when/if they want to be on the schedule, and when they're on call, in between runs they make it known they're above the rest of us, and therefore will NOT do a damn thing. No truck checks, no washing/cleaning of anything, no restocking....nothing. When on a run, they will not do anything more than drive for the most part. That way, they don't have to do anything, and definitely don't have to write a report. And these negative people make a 12 hour shift seem like 36 hours of straight running.

I am not embellishing any of this. My frustrations are felt by others on our service, but the powers-that-be (the people who could actually do something about all this) turn a blind eye to the facts because they don't want to make waves. Waves of change.

I am in the midst of another class to raise my certification level, and I'm really starting to regret that decision. Any education is a good thing, this I know. But I'm getting burned out of doing something I love, and its not due to the actual job itself. Its the negativity that's around. I've got the ability to put any personal bs aside in the workplace. I can and will work with anyone. There are 3-4 other volunteers that I absolutely LOVE to work with, because those people have a true sense of what it's like to work as a team. But, when faced with being on the schedule with one of the negative few, my stomach starts to churn and ache. Everything they say is negative, and I am not a person who likes to be around people who want to suck the very life out of you.

Now I'm presented with this dilemma. I will be testing out in June. I've got a wonderfully awesome director/boss behind me with EMS here. But I've absolutely had it with the negative people taking full advantage of a full time paycheck and benefits here. I've had it with them, especially when they say to me (and its not just me, they do this to as many people as they can) "You will be the one doing everything, because that's just how it is." NO!! That's not how it is!! That's not how it should be!! EMS, or any emergency service (fire, rescue, police, etc.) CANNOT work if their people don't work as a team towards a common goal. And the powers-that-be, the people who have all the authority and reasons in front of them to make a change, just won't do it. Its going to end up costing the people of our county....and thats just not acceptable to me. Nor is being cast in a bad light due to the negative words and actions of the negative full timers and volunteers. I'm learning in small town America, words travel faster than light. And when word is getting out, broadcast all over the county about what so and so said about their job....sounds like time for a massive change.

My questions are these.

Are my feelings/emotions about all this valid? Granted, I know I didn't go into much detail here (it would end up being a super long post.) If you'd like any details, just let me know. I will not disclose names, what service I work for, what state I live in or any of that, but I will explain certain things a little more in depth. Yes, I've gone to everyone I could go to with my thoughts. I've stood up at monthly meetings and voiced my opinions. And I've done all that with others at my side, showing that I'm not the only one who feels this way. Its all fallen on deaf ears.

What should my next step be? I love EMS. I don't do it for the money, but getting full time pay would be a huge bonus. I'm burned out on the negative people I run with. Do I cut ties and walk away? I don't want to walk away from something that I love.

Has anyone else gone through things like this, or have the same frustrations? Any words of advice? Thanks in advance.

well this is what I think will happen....First off , Most agencies are down in collections, Citys are hurting, If the fuel costs go up again most tax based services will be doing large cut backs....so the pvt. will have to pick up the slack so there will be a shift in 911 responce back to the pvt ambulances to do those calls so upper management needs to watch for this to happen here very shortly

Oh, I have fun with the young bucks out there using thier TEXT all day.... Just start texting them when they are in the bathroom asking if they need an enama, a plumber, Hazmat responce... just do *67 then the number to make your text unknown who sent it....

No they did not say out right that I was to old .....BUT the hint was there.... and as one post asked.. I am VERY much able to do the job.

As what some would say I am an old timer in EMS. The other day I went for an interview with a very large nation wide provider. I have been out of EMS as a fulltime job for just about 8 years now. A recent change in my life has brought me full circle back towards EMS. I have kept up on my C.E.’s and kept all certs current. I went in for the interviews with 5 of what I would say are younger EMT’s than my own child. They were all very qualified EMS providers. Most with less than a few years in EMS. During the interview I was a little taken back at the fact that they thought I was out of touch with EMS. I politely explained to them that when I begin in EMS I was still in High school and that I have made public safety my life. I told them that several changes have been made in the 33 plus years that I have been in EMS. I went on in telling them that in a lot of ways with what I have done in EMS that I paved the way for them to get to where they are today.

Now my question for all of you is. Is one to old to ever get back into EMS?

Has EMS change in a way that it’s a young person’s game?

I am still very capable of doing the job. I do not want an admin job within the company as what was suggested by one of my interviews.

Tell me what do you think?

We are here for ya,

There will be calls that come back when you least expect them, the smells the screms and what ever else comes along.

Please rest assured there are others that have been thru the same.

I responded on my partner after a shift, who was going home and killed in a car wreck down the road from the station.

I had dinner with a police officer who was killed a few hours later in the line of duty.

We see mans inhumanity to man every day...

We pick up the pieces and go on.... it's what we do...... it's who we are

I have big shoulders and will cry with you....

Don't sweat the small stuff....you did what you were trained to do.... That is react to what was going on at the time

as the old USMC saying goes kill them all and let God sort them out....JUST KIDDING...

You did a VERY good job with what you had....

Watch, listen, ask and learn.....

When I started in EMS some 30 yrs ago we worked 48 on and 48 off....then it changed to 48 on 24 off one week then 24 on and 48's off the next week....that was a messed up shift...but it then went to the 10 - 24hr shifts a mo.

but as one post said the more calls the system has the shorter the shifts become to fight fatigue with the crews

Yup...been there done that...I have been called a dinosaur, old school. But, you know what i paved the way for those young sh@t's. worked my BUTT off. (30 yrs.) Now I see the tattooed pierced Gothic types, cell phone text junkies in EMS.

Seen ones who do not restock the bus after a call, Do not even wash the bus when one can hardly see out the windshield, or clean up their mess in the kitchen at the station, wine and cry about the transfer call to the nursing home when I ask them to attend the BLS call. I might be an old fart in EMS but I do the damn job....

I have been in EMS for 30 YRS. MARRIED for almost 25 YRS. my wife knew what my life's calling was / is when she met me. Yes there were times when she had a problem with the hrs. and shifts I worked. Sometimes, I just did not tell her what happened on shift ( somethings were just better left unsaid and unknown on her part) Yes she saw the news reports on TV of thing that were going on.... The calls I was on. I would get that panicked phone call later. You know.... I wouldn't have changed a thing... I loved EMS...I love my family very much... ..I retired from EMS at the first of the year and guess what.... I am a Police officer now...IT'S NOT A JOB...It's a life style.....It's in our blood.... we live for it every day....it's who we are...... it's what we do...

It's hard to find that special someone who understands what we do everyday.....Best of luck

I have 30 years in EMS....I retired form it and became a Police officer and moved to another part of the state. I went to join the Vol. Ambulance where I live now.

Well, they did a physical I passed that without problems....BUT.. ...They had me take Xrays of my back...

The Depts. DOC. would not let me on the service... ...I have no pain or any problems...Yes after 30 years in EMS at a busy service you are going to have hidden problems.... :!: :!: :!:

The police Dept. I work for did not have a problem with my possible back problems to come. Heck..I am even on the SWAT team....