Getting into EMS - what's your reason? Part 1

“Medic 312, Truck 3, Man down. Unconscious. Not breathing”.

There are shifts when you hear that call over the radio multiple times a day. Your adrenaline starts pumping, but you keep your cool demeanor about you. “It’s just another day at work.”, you think in our head. You’ve been trained to deal with these situations. It just kicks in. You’re an EMT or a Paramedic.

Many people get into the EMS profession for different reasons. Some get into it because they are looking for something different. Some because they are wanting to eventually become Nurses, PA’s, Doctors. Some even do it because they want to eventually get a job as a firefighter. But then there are people who do it because it’s a calling. They do it because they truly want to help people in their darkest hours. You really want to help people!

Now if you are thinking about getting into EMS to make a lot of money or because you want the excitement, you’re in for a big surprise. EMS workers generally don’t make much. A lot of places pay minimum wage or a little more. It all depends on where you end up working. If you work in a bigger city, you’ll probably make more than the person who works in a small town. You're also bound to make more if you work for a fire department for obvious reasons.

If you're still reading and are still interested in learning what it takes to get into this field, stay tuned for the next post on the different levels of EMS certifications/licensure. You're going to see what becoming an EMT or Paramedic really takes.