SwampMusic

Since it would appear that your reading skills & comprehension are also lacking along with your social skills,

I did not call YOU AN ASS.

I told you to take your skinny little arse

[ as in a part of your anatomy]

back to that other website where you will find someone more than willing to blow smoke up your arse about how much a hero you can be.

That site is known around the world wide web as the home of the whacker. If you were really interested in knowledge you would not find much there other than how to pimp your ride.

It's really sad that children today think they can shock us with foul language . If you pulled that in front of your mother she'd bitch slap you and wash your mouth out with soap.

Next time you decide to get your panties in a bunch as least know what you are whining about.

At least I don't get my panties in a bunch over a silly website, calm yourself. Finding out you are retired and how much time you have on your hands explains everything to me. Hang in there "chief". I also do not know when your last English course was, but arse is another word for ass or an anus.

Thank you for clarifying that. As I said, we are adults here and yes, you will find the occasional threads with disagreements, but 90% of the time, the disagreements themselves are pretty much hashed out with a degree of respect for each other.

Not that I need to defend him, but Island is now retired and has the respect of many of us who are members here. You may have just pissed him off a tad by slamming the inhabitants of EMT City, which in turn led to his reply back to you. But don't let one post from someone you have never met, and from someone whom had only been respectable to you prior to that, allow you to make an uninformed decision as to his character or reputation.

I on the other hand can be a real bitch.

Although I am not able to visit the site as much now as I could in the past, I have always thought of EMT City to be a gathering place of varied individuals who in their own right, have done, or are doing things in their careers that not only further themselves professionally, but they are also very conscientious about the "image of EMS." Many of us are continually striving for higher educational standards and more cohesiveness of learning objectives and training standards across the board for all EMS providers in the United States with training institutes and colleges or technical colleges that are striving to actually 'educate' their students rather than just "turn out more providers". With your fourth or fifth post, I really don't care to re read any of them to find it, you pretty much just tossed everyone into one bowl and threw insults in on top but I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt and just consider it to be a rant out of frustration and move on from it.

I apologize if I took your questions and comments in the wrong context, I saw some concerning statements (by the way they were worded) and I called you out on them. Since you said I interpreted them wrong, I will accept that I was the one in error and go on from there. But I will admit that you didn't gain any respect from me by tossing out some pretty vulgar statements and words.....

If you do get into EMS you will find that it can be one of the most rewarding, but most stressful careers you will ever have, regardless of the pay you make......

Wasn't here to gain respect from anyone lol. I do understand the concept of gaining respect for others, but as I said earlier, I will work for the respect of those who I find respectable. Someone that has such a short temper is not worth it. I was here to ask some questions, which some people took wrongly, I took their responses wrongly, and then we're here.

That's the end of this horror story of a book.

Since I can't figure out who you are talking about in your parenthesis, you will have to actually refer to who you are speaking to by their name. We don't do a lot of hinting around here. We all happen to be adults in this particular forum and if we have a problem with something another member has said, we are pretty direct and just use their names.

Island EMT.

Couldn't remember the username at the time.

I hate to get into this pissing contest, but dude, seriously? There is a large difference between being called an arse and being called a cunt.

To quote: "Please take your skinny little arse back to high school and that other website full of wankers wackers and spankers". He basically called me an ass, which is a pretty vulgar word, which so is the word cunt. He also called members of another site wanker wackers and spankers, which are also EMT's. Calling him a cunt was pretty justified in my mind. Could have taken the mature route and left then, but I don't bail out that easily. Not trying to start anything else.

As I mentioned, the information you provided changed as your posts progressed. That's fine if you expect to be taken at face value. Just don't change your answers.

Respect, as you know from the fire service, is earned and not given. You don't walk into a new house and expect the same level of respect you would elsewhere because the guys in the new house don't know you.

You want to be respected? Earn it.

So you sink to their level? Seriously?

Think about that for a while.

This has already been addressed.

As has this.

As has this.

So you think being the better person is a bad thing?

Again, you want respect you need to earn it. The same goes for those interacting with you. If they don't earn it then that's on them. It does NOT, however, mean you stoop to their level of immaturity or idiocy. Do what you did here in real life on the job and you'll lose your job.

Sorry, friend. Despite the news stories of teenage internet bazillionares most jobs, for most high school grads, start low and you need to work hard to earn those raises. It has always been this way. It'll always be this way.

Nowhere did I say this was the best site. I said you won't find one better. There's a difference. I've been around. I've been a regular on multiple sites. As have a lot of the regular posters here. There's a reason we choose here.

The rest of your comments have already been addressed.

Pay is even greater for someone who goes to college and gets a degree. Why not proceed with those plans?

I added more details to my posts to try and become my clear. I didn't mean to sound like I was changing it up.

You work for respect from respectable people. I have yet to see much to respect on here, getting there, but still going to defend myself in the meantime. Sure as hell ain't going to let someone call me an arse, then turn around and respect them lol. I think that also covers the sinking to their level part.

What happened here and how it can make me lose my job in real life is a valid point. Luckily (unlike the person throwing around the other comments) I am not yet employed as an EMT. I am not even employed as a firefighter, I am just a volunteer. The scary part is the one that is employed as an EMT and stooping to that low of a level with me. I wonder how well he actually handles stress in real life situations.

I am not saying it's an amazing salary, or that I am trying to become rich off of becoming a Firefighter/EMT. If I wanted to become rich I'd pursue my other dreams of becoming a CRNA. But I rather stick with Firefighter/EMT for awhile. It's a better pay to help me get my feet off the ground. It's definitely more better than the $8.00 an hour my other friends are making working the midnight drive-thru.

I might attend college later in the future and go for nursing. I want to take everything one step at a time and gain real life experience. Those plans aren't even official yet.

Well youngun: I was a dual hatter for many years and the fire service is MUCH harder than what you received here tonight.

If you think we busted your chops then you have NO idea of what to expect in the fire service.

Walk into a firehouse with the disrespect and attitude you have shown here and your application won't even be read. They will eat you alive and spit the carcass to the curb.

I have sat on hiring boards many time in the fire service, We can smell attitude a mile away and those apps generally get the three minute interview before tossing in the round file.

Respect needs to be earned and before that you need to conform to the needs of the service and the mission.

I have fire house experience. The main difference between a vollie and a career firefighter is the pay lol. Both of those routes are professional (depending on their training of course, I've seen some scary vollie departments, same with paid). I know the fire department respect and I grew up in the firefighter world. I believe I said something about that earlier as well. I have seen new members come and go (or kicked out) in our department simply because they didn't like it or didn't follow the rules. I have even had beefs with some guys, but that's all over too.

Alright. Let's all take a step back and take a deep breath.

Swampmusic, yes. Some of what you wrote was misunderstood. Whether that was intentional or not is up for debate. Assume that it was an honest mistake and chalk it up to experience. Much of what you wrote was questionable based simply on your writing style. That's why you were asked so many questions... some of them repeatedly. So this can go both ways. Improve your writing and people will improve their level of understanding.

You have to admit you're being a little antagonistic here, too. Ok... I just reread some of your replies and I think you're being very antagonistic. (Along with immature... really? Name calling? Come on, dude.) As I mentioned previously, nothing here is personal until it is. Don't make it personal and it won't be personal in response. If you're feeling like some of the comments you've received were getting personal then take a step back, take a deep breath and continue reading.

We get people here with alarming regularity who present with an attitude/background similar to yours with questions similar to yours. These people, almost as a rule, are not interested in EMS for EMS. They're interested in EMS simply because it'll get them a job with a fire department. You say you're interested in EMS but then you argue that yes you're interested but it's also because it'll get you a better paying job. So you'll understand our confusion when in two different posts you've completely contradicted yourself.

You need to understand, too, that you came in to a professional forum with an attitude that might've worked with your fire buddies. EMS is different. It's a different mindset. It's a different attitude. It's an entirely different ballgame. You asked a lot of questions and provided, what could easily be perceived as, shady or indirect information. Your questions have been answered. Whether your like or dislike the answers provided is immaterial. Those are the answers that have been provided.

You can frequent any place you like. Badmouthing one place over another won't make you friends. There's a reason there's so little censorship here. We call it like we see it. Sometimes we get it right. Sometimes we get it wrong. However, you won't get unicorns pooping rainbows like you will elsewhere. If you're wrong we'll call you on it. If we're wrong others here will call us on it. But we'll do it professionally, without the attitude and name calling.

As I mentioned previously you will not find a better place to learn than here. You will get honest, often raw, yet mostly professional, certainly more professional than some of your responses here, replies to your inquiries.

So now the choice is yours. Unicorns pooping rainbows? That won't get you very far. Solid learning from people who've been doing this longer than those on any other site I've frequented? (I've been around a while... I've been on quite a few EMS sites.) That'll get you a lot farther than anything else.

The choice is yours. Keep in mind, though. I'm sure you were taught that if you don't have anything nice to say don't say it at all. Things have a way of coming back to bite you. You are not as anonymous as you might think.

All the best with your decision.

Alright. Let's all take a step back and take a deep breath.

Swampmusic, yes. Some of what you wrote was misunderstood. Whether that was intentional or not is up for debate. Assume that it was an honest mistake and chalk it up to experience. Much of what you wrote was questionable based simply on your writing style. That's why you were asked so many questions... some of them repeatedly. So this can go both ways. Improve your writing and people will improve their level of understanding.

You have to admit you're being a little antagonistic here, too. Ok... I just reread some of your replies and I think you're being very antagonistic. (Along with immature... really? Name calling? Come on, dude.) As I mentioned previously, nothing here is personal until it is. Don't make it personal and it won't be personal in response. If you're feeling like some of the comments you've received were getting personal then take a step back, take a deep breath and continue reading.

We get people here with alarming regularity who present with an attitude/background similar to yours with questions similar to yours. These people, almost as a rule, are not interested in EMS for EMS. They're interested in EMS simply because it'll get them a job with a fire department. You say you're interested in EMS but then you argue that yes you're interested but it's also because it'll get you a better paying job. So you'll understand our confusion when in two different posts you've completely contradicted yourself.

You need to understand, too, that you came in to a professional forum with an attitude that might've worked with your fire buddies. EMS is different. It's a different mindset. It's a different attitude. It's an entirely different ballgame. You asked a lot of questions and provided, what could easily be perceived as, shady or indirect information. Your questions have been answered. Whether your like or dislike the answers provided is immaterial. Those are the answers that have been provided.

You can frequent any place you like. Badmouthing one place over another won't make you friends. There's a reason there's so little censorship here. We call it like we see it. Sometimes we get it right. Sometimes we get it wrong. However, you won't get unicorns pooping rainbows like you will elsewhere. If you're wrong we'll call you on it. If we're wrong others here will call us on it. But we'll do it professionally, without the attitude and name calling.

As I mentioned previously you will not find a better place to learn than here. You will get honest, often raw, yet mostly professional, certainly more professional than some of your responses here, replies to your inquiries.

So now the choice is yours. Unicorns pooping rainbows? That won't get you very far. Solid learning from people who've been doing this longer than those on any other site I've frequented? (I've been around a while... I've been on quite a few EMS sites.) That'll get you a lot farther than anything else.

The choice is yours. Keep in mind, though. I'm sure you were taught that if you don't have anything nice to say don't say it at all. Things have a way of coming back to bite you. You are not as anonymous as you might think.

All the best with your decision.

I suppose you are right about the Fire and EMS differences. Because on the fire side when you give someone your word, you keep it. You shouldn't have to be questioned about it multiple times. If you fail at keeping your word up, then no one will trust you for quite awhile. I grew up keeping my word and rarely ever questioned again.

Name calling goes two ways. I am pretty sure I wasn't the only one on here throwing out names (that's going towards the person that called me an arse). So you (clearly know who you are) can take note on that with the professional statement. You don't call your patients an arse that piss you off or don't agree with you, do you? Surely hope not.

Also in the fire service respect is completely a two way street. I started out nice and understanding, but when you start slamming me is when the attitude is going to change. And if you especially start to get vulgar with me, I will get vulgar right back with you. Would I do it with patients? More than likely not. Our cops are very helpful with out of control patients. If they aren't dying, they are either going to jail, or the hospital. They can also just sign a patient refusal depending on if they have an altered mental status or not.

I'll admit I am being antagonistic. I won't admit I am the only one acting that way. Badmouthing a place after already being badmouthed by a user isn't going to make me any friends to start with. So why not badmouth something else off? Will it make things any better? Nah. Saying something positive probably won't help either. So I don't really see how that matters.

I'm young, i'd like a good paying job to help me get started in life. If I can get a good paying job doing both things I have strong interests in, why not? Salary is half of it. The other half is dedication and willingness to do the best you can in the professions.

Claiming this is the best site, and you have better users is a bit bias, no? I have seen a ton of helpful information from other forms. Just because you have a lot of old timers with a large background doesn't give right to be raw or come off as arrogant. That lacks respect and shows new users this site isn't even willing to be helpful. Just shows the users will come off rude, then if you come off rude at them/don't agree, they'll all team up against you. Which is understandable and you guys have all the rights in the world to do so cause it's your forum, but extremely unethical in practice trying to find new members. This forum actually reminds me of the SDN v. CC feud. The arrogant stuck up med/pre-med students slamming new people (being the SDN) instead of thoroughly helping someone (CC). Although some of the SDN threads are pretty funny.

I want to be an EMT, and I wish to also be a firefighter. I'd love to find employment as both professionals, and yes the pay is greater (good for someone starting out in life) and I will proceed with those plans.

Wow, this one went downhill really quick. I can see where the miscommunications happened. Swamp, part of the issue is that it is hard for us to give you great advice without knowing more details. You are still young and inexperienced so I don't think you realize that the way EMS is done where you are is much different than it is done where I am. We were all there, including me. It took me a long time to realize that what happened in Suffolk County, NY didn't happen in the other 99.9% of the world. Some people can handle an accelerated course, some people can't. At the EMT level, it shouldn't be too difficult, especially if you have some back ground. Where I came from all courses were run by the vollies, whether it be a FD or a VAC. There were no EMT level college courses and only one ALS level college program (no degree, but got you the NYS EMT-CC certification). The only medic class in the county was run by the state university, but no degree again. Where I came from, all EMS classes were run by the gov't so I don't see it as a big deal, whereas others have issue. Again, it is the fractured nature of EMS in the US. Based on that, where I was, no employer cared where you took your class as long as you had a card.

You will also find a lot of people here who have made EMS a career and have decades of experience. It tends to be a sore spot when people use the profession as a stepping stone to something else. Not everyone sees becoming a FF as a promotion and many see it as an insult. Just remember though, whatever course you decide to take it is not about you. EMS is a field of medicine, which is about the patient. Your patients are inviting you into their lives, seeing them on one of the worst days of their lives. You owe it to them to be at your best and bring your A-game very time. Unfortunately, most people who do EMS as a FD stepping stone could care less about the patients and just see them as part of that stone, nothing more than one more obstacle they need to get over to get what they really want. Don't be that provider.

Best response I have yet to receive on here.

Thank you.

Ok sweet cheeks Here is what you want to hear

Go take the two week wonder course because it's free.

Doesn't matter if you pass because your not paying for it.

Then you can become a hero FF/emt and pat yourself all over for saving lives.

There : does that make you happy??

This is a place where mere professionals hang out so you will want to go somewhere that they ALL think they are hero's and not afraid to tell each other so.

Thanks and I will. (sarcasm)

See, did you really have to be a jerk about it to start with? Nope. I am not a business major, not even a business minor, nor have I ever stepped foot in a business school; but I am pretty sure slamming someone right off the bat isn't good for business. Clearly the moderators even have problems. You have any admins that even run around this site?

The problem I had with you people is you kept claiming something that I wasn't planning on doing. You people think I am doing the program to find a job as a firefighter and I really don't care about the EMS side. I stated several times I did want to become an EMT and help people and I was going to work hard at it. But nope, that wasn't clear enough for you people. I grew up in a family of firefighters (couple were paid medic/firefighers) and I want to be able to help people on both sides. I find firefighting (because it's traditional in my family) and EMS (because I want to learn new things, yet help people at the same time) equally interesting. I know everyone in EMS aren't all jerks. The EMT's in my department are nice as can be, and so are the ones with other agencies I did ride-a-longs with. So clearly just must be your forum.

Also your people just pick something to slam you with, and don't ever drop it. It's like your mission to piss off new users. Is that why barely less than half your new signed up users don't stick around? More than likely. Such as the not paying for the program. Yes, I realize someone pays for it. It's more than likely paid by tax payers, the same exact tax payers I will be serving and aiding. If I fail first time around, I don't lose anything out of it (which is where your piss fits are coming from) and I will attempt the full length course at best of my ability. Now do you wanna pick at that and reword it again? Maybe best of my ability isn't good enough for the tax payers? Lol.

Also clearly it doesn't seem like you get a lot of new discussions daily. So why not slam the new person? Have to entertain your daily lives somehow.

Please take your skinny little arse back to high school and that other website full of wankers wankers and spankers where they will tell you the BS you think you want to hear.

They will even tell you it's ok to have more flashing lights on your car than an ambulance.

YOU came here asking for advice and were given said advice from folks with many decades in this profession. Some of us were working in EMS before your parents were out of grade school .

The fact that you chose not to listen to the advice you asked for is not our problem.

I came here for advice, didn't get any. Just got a bunch of bullshit from cunts such as yourself. Fucking EMTs full of themselves. Hope you never need my help one day, i'll let your sorry excuse for a human being rot.

I started out nice, and could stay nice. BUT if you wanna act like an arrogant cunt, I am going to also act like one. It's a two way street.

I think you're just jealous that I am going to get a better salary, and also jealous of other forums that are more popular and more well-enjoyed, unlike this pathetic excuse for one.

God I can't believe any of you are EMT's. I feel bad for all your patients. Rather die than have to deal with you morons. No wonder why they talk shit about you guys on EMT Life.

I'm sorry but I don't think you can reach this person. Yeah I'm gonna be the asshole here but seriously,

If grandma brown down the street has a cardiac emergency we activate the paramedics. I am sure somewhere in the EMS training we will cover it. If not, then I'll go ahead and see if they offer a CEU for cardiac emergencies or not. If that makes you feel any better lol. I'm not just going to let a patient suffer. I will do everything in my abilities to assist them.

So if you don't cover cardiac emergencies are you going to wait until you get Grandma down the street in a cardiac emergency and then take a class or are you going to take the CEU prior to it?

Your answers are all over the board.

And Yes someone is paying for this class, be it with tax dollars(yes you are paying for the class if you pay taxes) or with grant money(and that comes from Taxes a lot of times) or whatever and damnit, if you aren't fully vested in passing in the 90% then save the taxpayer/grant giver the money and don't take this class.

The only person who you should be worried about passing this course is YOU and you alone. Don't worry about your fellow classmates, you need to worry about passing this class. Who cares if it's free or if it's a million dollars, the time and effort that you put in this class should be the same.

And I do completely believe that all you are taking this class for is to make yourself look good to a fire department to become a fire fighter.

But you will of course find fault in all that I wrote and that's ok as well.

You're going to be the asshole? Sure everyone else here isn't? Lmao! Narrow minded people. EMT Life outranks this forum.

All you people do is take things out of context so you can slam someone for it. Your answers also don't change. I said many times I am not just doing the EMT program to become a paid firefighter, yet you still think that (narrow minded). I think half of you are also upset you had to pay for your training. That's too sad. Also the fact the firefighter/EMT salary is more starting out than just a regular EMT. In my state a starting out EMT makes about $13.50 an hour, Firefigher/EMT makes $17.00 an hour. Most regular EMTs have to work 2-3 years (maybe more) with the same agency to get that salary.

No wonder why you have such a small user interface.

Good day.

Swampmusic,

Please forgive us if we seem to be eating you up right off the bat. Some of us who have worked our entire lives trying to improve and elevate the status of EMS in the public's eye have a very tough time with what appears to be a lackadaisical attitude in regards to entering the field, and we will ‘strongly’ encourage those who are thinking about entering EMS just for the trauma and adrenaline to rethink their position.

In your very first post you stated, “I don't think it matters if I pass the state/national exams,” which possibly threw up some red flags to some of us that read that initial post. It is as if you are going into this with a less than determined attitude, and whether it’s paid or volunteer, no future patient deserves that attitude.

And then you came up with the statement “It won't be that bad if I fail anyways, the course is free of cost to my fire department. Worse comes to worse, i'll just get a big "I told you so" from the others EMTs in my department.” Which in my mind, raised another red flag. I’m sure the Fire Department is paying for the course, or in the least, paying an employee to teach the course. If I was the finance officer for this Fire Department I would have a hard time writing a $1000 check for someone with that attitude. I’m sure there are some equipment needs or pay increase needs that may trump a less than 100% attitude for passing the course.

Red flag #3 “For the meantime I just have to work hard and make it into that 50%.” Really? Why not set the bar a little higher and reach for a goal of making it into the top 90%? I’m not sure I want to work with someone who is satisfied with knowing 50% of what they were taught when it comes to EMS……

“So I am not quite sure where you are getting that attitude from lol.” See above ^^ to understand where we are seeing “that kind of attitude.”

Final red flag, “As I said earlier I will take continuing EMS CEU's. I am just going to firstly attempt and get through the basic program. At least the ones worthwhile taking like multi trauma, burns, shock management, respiratory emergencies, etc... I have an interest in these.” So if Grandma Brown down the street has a cardiac emergency, since medical emergencies fell into the 50% part that you didn’t have any interest in, she doesn’t get the proper treatment and dies enroute to the hospital?

That is why you are getting the feeling that you are being jumped on. At least that is why I am jumping on the bus. I feel like (from interpreting your comments) you are more interested in Fire Fighting, which is fine, I have no problem with that and am glad there are people that are willing to fight fire because I am scared of it!! But don't enter EMS in order to elevate your FIRE position. Go get a degree in Arson Investigation or Wildland firefighting and get a better position or higher pay based on your FIRE qualifications and leave EMS to those of us who care 100% of the time for 100% of the patients.

So if you are thinking about getting an EMT certification, think a little harder as to WHY you are going to get this certification. Think about what this certification requires you to know and do. If you don't want to deal with stubbed toes and 10 out of 10 headache pain at 3 am, then don't get into EMS. Trauma and 'adrenaline' filled calls make up a very, very small portion of the entire picture......

Thanks for listening to a Dinosaur's opinion.......

Tami

Looks like that penguin guy (paramedicmike) and I were almost on the same track at the same time........LOL

In my first post it states I don't think it matters if I pass state/national exams. All you did there was slaughter what I actually said. If you read before that my other EMT's and firefighters in my department said I won't find employment with the accelerated program. When I said it doesn't matter if I pass the national exams means if I pass all my exams and become certified as an EMT that means I have the (basic) skills of practicing as an EMT. So it wouldn't matter if I took the accelerated program or not.

No person in the fire department is paying for the course. The state fire school (not the fire department) is charging $0.00 to all in-state firefighters for the EMT program. The school charges $700 to state residents that are not firefighters or firefighters outside of the state. It really has nothing what so ever to do with my department lol.

Answering your red flag #3, you slaughtered my answer again. I was talking about the pass ratio. You guys said it sounds like about 50% of the class graduates. So I am going to work and make it into that 50% that graduates. 90% of the class doesn't apparently graduate.

If grandma brown down the street has a cardiac emergency we activate the paramedics. I am sure somewhere in the EMS training we will cover it. If not, then I'll go ahead and see if they offer a CEU for cardiac emergencies or not. If that makes you feel any better lol. I'm not just going to let a patient suffer. I will do everything in my abilities to assist them.

There's a lot of truth to the saying "you get what you pay for". Although, I do understand the attraction of a state sponsored/funded class through your vollie squad. I've taken a couple of these type classes in the past, too. The question of the pass rate of the class(es) in question becomes a bigger issue if 50% of the people who attempt this course really do fail.

Nothing is ever free. You might not be paying money. But you'll be paying something.

Just where do you think the money that's paying for this class is coming from?

No. You didn't say you were going to blow off the class. It was the "it won't be so bad if I fail... it's free..." comment that makes it sound like you're saying you don't care one way or another.

If that's not really what you meant then why did you say it?

Hard to say without knowing more about you.

To take this in a slightly different direction, are you doing this simply because you think having an EMT cert will make it easier for you to be hired as a FF? Or are you doing this because you honestly, truly and genuinely want to be an EMS professional?

If the former, please reconsider your career choice. The last thing EMS needs is another person getting involved simply because s/he thinks it'll offer an easier "in" with a fire department. If the latter, please stick around and keep an open mind. This site is full of dedicated EMS professionals from around the world who take their job and their career choice *very* seriously. As a general observation we don't tolerate fools lightly. That being said, you will *not* find a better site for knowledge base, support and education out there.

If you are genuinely serious about being an EMS professional, please stick around with an open mind. Don't take things personally unless they're directed at you personally. If you put in an honest effort I think you'll find honest efforts to help you.

Where will the money be coming from? Since it's a state fire school, more than likely tax dollars? Or maybe federal grants. There's actually a need for EMT's in my state.

What's also attractive of the course (not just being free) we get to do nationals (we have to pay for that) and the state exams (free) on one day. I don't have to worry about a wait or whatever to take my state and national exam. Also the only thing we have to pay for is also the state and federal background check. I believe that's only $40 and then also uniforms are provided by our sponsoring agency.

I said the "It won't be so bad if I fail" statement because as I explained earlier I will have no financial loss. Either way I will gain great skills out of it if I fail. I will just go attend the full course.

I would like to work as a Firefighter/EMT. Sure I have an interest in becoming an EMT, or I wouldn't be putting the time into it. Actually the only time Firefighter/EMT's in my state ride engine is during structural fires or haz-mat events. So it's mainly just EMS. I also have the motivation to push myself and do the best I possibly can in the accelerated course. If I have to retake, I'll do it.

I appreciate your advice and see where you are coming from.

You probably want to verify this. A 50% pass rate is abysmal. If their pass rate is that poor you want to avoid them altogether no matter how long the class is they're offering.

Please drop this attitude now. If this is really how you feel then please forget about taking an EMT class and stick with being a FF.

What would your patient say to you if you told them "...don't worry if we don't get it right the first time... it's free..."? Would you want that person taking care of you or your family member? If you're not in this to do it right the first time then don't do it. This isn't high school. You say you want to make a career of this? Then dedicate yourself to doing it right and prove to your future employers that you take this seriously.

Accelerated EMT courses are tough. On one hand it's not rocket surgery. On the other hand it's really a lot of information to be able to process in just two weeks never mind be reasonably expected to draw on that under stress. For someone who has some medical background behind them an accelerated course wouldn't be too bad. For the otherwise uninitiated, and based on your comments here that's you, a longer course would be more beneficial.

I rather take up the free course and automatically be registered with the state once successfully completing the program than paying around $1,000 at the local college and trying to register with the state afterwards. For the meantime I just have to work hard and make it into that 50%.

I said it was free, no cost to me. I never said I was just going to blow the whole class off. So I am not quite sure where you are getting that attitude from lol. In my department you have to prove yourself (even though it's a free program) to have chief sign your application for the program. Plus either way I am not just going to work solidly as an EMT, hence going to try and look for a FF/EMT job. As I said earlier, I rather take up the free one, and if worse comes to worse I have no financial loss. I'll just go for the longer program.

I took a medical assistant course in high school (had to for tech class) never certified by the state (didn't feel like paying for the exams, though passed the class) and I also hold an EMR certification with a CPR/AED card. Do you think this will make the EMT course slightly easier? Since I already know some medical terminology, anatomy/physio, some bls protocols, and also know CPR?

I'm starting to realize it's a bad pass ratio lol. Just gives more power to me so I can study harder. I think if I take good notes, do the homework, and review everything; I'll be fine (hopefully).

As I said earlier I will take continuing EMS CEU's. I am just going to firstly attempt and get through the basic program. At least the ones worthwhile taking like multi trauma, burns, shock management, respiratory emergencies, etc... I have an interest in these.

Lots of things will factor in on how well you do in the course ranging from the Instructor's ability to teach, and your ability to learn....my classes are a ton of hands on and critical thinking, other courses are a ton of power point and Redbull to keep the students awake...

Some things to check into are what the pass/fail ratio of the course is, talk with prior students if you can, talk to your prospective employer's.....

Your employer will know which course you took when you fill out your job application.....

Edited to add: Never forget that whatever course you take, when you get that certification, you have learned the "minimum requirements" to enter the field. Don't stop with what you learn in the classroom! Use trusted sources for furthering your knowledge~~

Well I suppose I must go for it now!

It's hard to tell what the pass/fail ratio is. It's a state fire school, from what I have seen a little more than half make it out. It seems the same way with the regular three or four month one they offer. Do you think it'll effect my chances of becoming an EMT when the employer sees I took the accelerated program? *yikes*.

I am going to take continuing educational classes for sure, just going to try and get through the basic first! It won't be that bad if I fail anyways, the course is free of cost to my fire department. Worse comes to worse, i'll just get a big "I told you so" from the others EMTs in my department.

Hi everyone!

After several EMS ride-a-longs, being a vollie firefighter, and just finishing high school I decided to take advantage of an upcoming EMT course. I then hope to be employed as a Firefighter/EMT.

I had some questions about the program. I have had guys (and gals) in my department telling me to not take an accelerated program, which of course is what I signed up for. They were telling me there's too much information that's going to be thrown at me, and I more than likely will not be able to find employment as a firefighter/emt with an accelerated program. Are these rumors true? And how would an employer even know if I took an accelerated program? I don't think it matters if I pass the state/national exams.

Thoughts? Thanks!

Also the course is Mon-Fri for 3 weeks from 8AM till 5PM. I'm not employed or anything, so I don't mind the schedule. It'll just be like going back to a more interesting high school for three weeks.