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What are the biggest challenges someone would face while working as a paramedic?

I am a teenager currently in high school. I am starting to look into career choices for my future. I have always had an interest for #medicine and being a #paramedic. I want to learn more about this #career-path so I can start volunteering and getting internships to build experience.

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David’s Answer

The biggest challenge is being a paramedic in a place, where your partner is not! They are only a basic EMT. You have to do all the Advanced Life Support yourself. And most people don’t realize that you are both not paramedics. Including your partner. I have done both systems. And nothing burned me out quicker, than not having another paramedic. It’s exhausting.

Another challenge can be endotracheal intubation from the ground. I used to do a lot of them on my stomach. Anesthesiologists have the luxury of doing it from a roll chair and without wind from a helicopter blade, rain and snow. Now a days, I think they are using a different laryngoscope, for paramedics. And I heard it makes your job much easier. But not every city is using them yet. It should still be inspiring, for people to become paramedics. And starting IVs in a moving vehicle. That can be a big challenge for some people.
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Sydney’s Answer

I did some research (I have no experience as a paramedic) and found https://www.ems1.com/careers/articles/what-is-it-like-being-a-paramedic-dxuxnkbjeDLArDPz/ has some good information about working as a paramedic. It is a rewarding job when you save a life but it can be emotionally difficult when you are not able to save a life. A paramedic will mostly get calls responding to people with a stomach ache or the flu more often than when they’re having a true health crisis. They also do medical transportation of patients between medical facilities. Being a paramedic also means spending a lot of down-time waiting for a rescue call. During these times, they might get some well-needed sleep, especially if they’re on a 24 hour shift and were up all night. Down-time also means catching up on restocking, filing reports, cleaning the ambulance or taking care of other housekeeping duties.

Since you are in New York, I suggest reviewing the information available at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/fdny/jobs/career-paths/ems.page to learn more. I would recommend looking online to find your local fire department location and giving them a call. Let them know you are interested in becoming a paramedic and would like to learn more about the jobs responsibilities, etc. Use that as the opportunity to ask all the questions you have which will help you determine if that is the job you want. Your school guidance counselor is also a good resource to help you find more information and possibly contacts in the field you are interested in pursuing.

More general information about paramedics is available at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/emts-and-paramedics.htm

Sydney recommends the following next steps:

Review https://www.ems1.com/careers/articles/what-is-it-like-being-a-paramedic-dxuxnkbjeDLArDPz/
Review https://www1.nyc.gov/site/fdny/jobs/career-paths/ems.page for information in your area
Make a list of questions you want to ask a paramedic
Interview a paramedic from your local fire department location
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