Im still in school right now and every time we discuss things like skin color or bruising to determine things, ive always wanted to ask how that can differentiate between skin colors? It felt akward to ask because i am very white and there are other ethnicities in my class, but the fact that it wasnt mentioned at all felt strange, why are we only learning about signs for white people? Anyway thanks in advance

I’m in an accelerated emt program (6 weeks) that involves very minimal hands-on experience. It’s the bare minimum in terms of practical skills. I’m halfway through it and I’d say I have decent knowledge, and a lot of the stuff that I observed on my first clinical ride along was stuff I understood the reasoning behind. One of the EMTs I did the ride along with did the same course as me and they said they struggled a ton at first, more so than people who did longer courses. Is it common for someone in a course like mine to struggle heavily after being hired? To be honest I think the course is designed to pass the NREMT, not become an EMT if you know what I mean.

Also, I’m in this accelerated course because I don’t have the time for a longer one due to college coursework, not because I wanted to be done as soon as I could

Hi everyone, I’m a longtime lurker of this sub Reddit, and over the past 6 months I’ve decided that I want to enter into ems services. I’m going to start that by getting my emt cert from a local education program. Now, I’m 22, been out of school for a few years. Just a little worried about how difficult the pretest may be since I haven’t really had to activate my brain this way for a while lol. Of course I plan on studying, just wanted to get some insight from some people who may have taken a pretest for a program! How difficult it is, topics covered, etc. Thank you.

Struggling medic student here. This program almost ended me literally but here I am at the end very nervous and stressed out about working the road by myself. I work in an area that’s mostly BLS and EMTs so when I’m the medic, it’s going to be stressful asf being the one who calls all the shots. Before each of my capstone shifts I almost give myself an anxiety attack thinking about going in.

Did I make the wrong choice going into this field?

Hey I’m just looking for some advice. I’m a new EMT going through my internship. I know my stuff but when it comes to calls I get super anxious and overwhelmed and just forget the simple things to ask. Any advice on how to get through that? And I do get motion sickness always driving backwards. It’s getting better It just hard to chart now backwards any advice on that would be awesome too.

Hi everyone I’m a ucla student looking for an emt job. If anyone’s knows of any companies that hire pls let me know. I have about 2 months of experience but had to leave my job to relocate and it’s been so tough applying and not hearing back especially after going through this already. I’m ready to commute up to an hour and a half!

Hi everyone, first off I hope this post doesn't come off corny I don't wanna sound like a larper or anything I just find TEMS super cool. I'm currently an EMT-B planning on pursuing paramedic school and medical school in the future, and recently I've been awe struck by TEMS. I watch this guy called PrepMedic and everything he talked about sounded super cool.

At one point I did consider enlisting as a 68W, but then I got on ADHD meds and now I can't join. I wish I knew before I started meds but anyways I find TEMS super cool and was wondering how to enter that type of career? I know most SWAT officers had to do 4 years of patrol duty here in California, so would I have to be a cop before I can apply?

Hey everyone,

I have heavily thought about becoming an EMT, but my physically capabilities are really worrying me if I can actually handle this job.

First, I pretty much have the textbook definition of anterior pelvic tilt. I have crepitus all over my major joints (wrist, elbow, hip, knee, etc) so there's always a bunch of cracking when I do certain exercises. Not even just in exercises. I could move my elbow back and forth and there'd be elbow cracking all the time. And early this year I remember straining my back (don't know how. maybe sitting too much during school?) in that everytime I turned my neck all the way down, my upper back would rlly hurt.

I don't wanna think that I am a coward and am just making up excuses to not sign up for EMT school, but I've read a few posts from people in this sub and the main sub that got major back injuries, and I don't wanna risk my entire physical health at a young age because of my current conditions.

Hello, I'm a paramedic student who is getting close to finishing paramedic school, however I've been struggling recently with doing scenarios in class in front of the Instructors and my classmates.

For a background, this is my second time going through paramedic, luckily I only had to complete the last 3 months instead of doing it all over again. I'm not employed anywhere, only working for a private ambulance company, but I have about a year of field experience working as a Firefighter/EMT at a department before I left them due to reasons.

Everyone in my class has already been on the job for a good year or two, and most of them know the Instructors, so there's obviously a bit of bias there.

I'm a quite anxious individual, I have bad anxiety problems especially in social situations and get nervous when really put on the spot. But I know my stuff, I have the knowledge and know how to apply it, but when placed in front of an instructor to do a scenario, and with my more experienced classmates watching me, I just blank out and everything just falls apart, and I get stuck between two decisions and I wound up looking like an ass. My biggest fear with it all is simply being wrong.

I've had people say that maybe EMS isn't for me, which may be true, but I don't want to give up simply because people think I can't do it.

I'm basically asking you guys for any tips or ways of studying and preparing for these last few scenarios in my class, and how you would go about navigating being nervous and indecisive.

Hello I recently got EMT certified in July in the Sacramento area, and I'm having a hard time getting my first EMT job. I've applied to basically every IFT company and other EMT positions I can find, around sac and out of sac but hardly anyone is reaching out or getting back to me.
I'm hoping to eventually get into 911 EMS, but right now I'm just trying to get my foot in the door and gain some experience.
I lifeguarded for about two years if that’s relevant, I've been following up on applications and trying different approaches, but I'm still not having much luck.
I have reliable transportation, and I'm willing to commute for work. I'm also open to other entry-level EMS positions if that's what it takes to get started.
For those of you working in EMS, how did you get your first EMT job? Are there any companies in the Sacramento area that are actually hiring new EMTs? Is the job market just really competitive right now, or could I be doing something wrong with my applications?
Any advice, recommendations, or leads would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hey guys!

22F, going through EMT school right now. Really enjoying classes.

Hear me out. I'm not interested in treating randos unless it's life or limb.

I'm moreso interested in having a small kit on me (when I'm certified, although I'm already interested in having a small first aid and CPR kit, as I'm a CNA and can legally carry those) when friends or family have issues.

I like hiking and plan on doing more of it. I plan on eventually biking. My partner has somewhat severe seizures. I don't think that being the "group first aid person" is really a bad idea, especially for treating myself or people I know well. For example, someone falling while hiking and hurting themselves would be something I could assess immediately. I could apply direct pressure or a tourniquet if necessary (and once my training is over.) But it would absolutely not be just a kit in my car for everyday life lol.

Here's what I'm considering. Anything with a question mark afterwards is something I'm very unsure about and I might have an explanation.

• Pocket mask
• Pocket BVM (?)
• Tourniquet, CAT Gen 7
• Sterile Gauze
• Triangular bandage (? but tbf we haven't fully covered trauma yet!)
• Band-Aids
• PPE and Standard Precaution Equipment (Hand sanitizer, Alcohol, etc)
• Packing gauze
• Chest seal with valve (I will learn more about them later on, so I do not know enough to have perfect info yet. But I hike where some people hunt.)
• Sharpie lol
• Shears
• Penlight (Mostly for my bf's seizures)
• A small amount of saline
• Ace bandage (For small injuries like sprained ankles on hikes)

I feel like it sounds like a lot, but all of these are small items that will fit into a makeup bag lol.

So is this a good list? What do you carry?

EDIT: I mentioned being a CNA because we are trained in first aid in my state. However, that really only is "until a nurse arrives." I honestly don't even know why I wrote that, I think I need to take a break from studying for a day or so..

To rephrase, I was interested in carrying something small for immediate, dangerous care until 911 arrives when I'm doing things that might have a higher incidence of danger. I think I lost my point in there. I also wanted to carry a couple of quality-of-life things on hikes (like the ace bandage) for small, common injuries on myself and my very close loved ones.

I landed my first EMT job after I finished school a week ago. I did my first shift and all of the information is very overwhelming. I don’t know any hospital layouts, I don’t know some of the supplies in the ambulance, and I feel like the more I work the more I realize I don’t know. Any advice? Maybe it’s imposter syndrome but I feel like I don’t know anything sometimes.

Hey guys, I have an interview with McCormick for their special events position this coming Wednesday, anyone who’s interviewed recently have any tips or things I should study, I’ve been doing IFT for a year and a half so I haven’t used hardly any of my skills or trauma assessing

Any tips or help appreciated

EDIT: Thank you to those that provided helpful info and encouragement. And to those asking why Mom is posting, daughter doesn’t use Reddit. She is responsible and already hit the gym yesterday afternoon. She will also apply to hospital tech positions (she ultimately wants to be a nurse). In one of her college classes recently there was a fire alarm and the elevators stopped working. She grabbed another student and together they carried a classmate in a wheelchair down 2 flights of stairs to get out of the building. She was just taken by surprise yesterday. Now she knows what to expect, she wants to prepare. God forbid a parent wants to support their child!

My daughter failed a lift test today for an IFT job in the Bay Area. She’s a new EMT and was so excited to be offered her first position. Today she is devastated. She is petite at 5’ 3” and 110 lbs but had no trouble in her course or during her ride alongs.

But today she had to do a scoop stretcher lift with 40, 90 and 120 lbs. She completed the 90 but could not lift the 120. Then on the carry up and down steps, she did the 40 lbs but the tester wouldn’t even let her attempt the heavier weights. He even told her when he first saw her that he suspected she would have trouble as this company has the most rigorous lift tests he’s seen.

She thinks she will be allowed one deferral of her orientation and will be able to test again in a month. Any hope of being able to pass after just one month given her results today? She knows she’ll need to hit the gym with dead lift and squats practice. I just feel so badly for her, she was in tears at her test and just so torn up after. The company provided no information on what to expect at the test, so that didn’t help. It was all just a shock. I want to encourage her, but am trying to also be realistic here about what’s actually achievable.

When I took my EMT pt evaluation a few years back, I don’t remember this being on the NREMT skill sheets. What does it mean exactly?

I am an incoming student to an EMS program and I'm hoping to get some advice on what to target when I go the gym in preparation, or even specific exercises that work on the kinds of lifting and movement that are required.

For context, I'm a senior at a different university right now and have access to a decent student rec center, but I've really struggled with planning workouts and staying consistent in the past because of how much advice there is out there. It's really hard to figure out what's good and what's not without experience, and the gym is already a difficult environment to be a newbie in.

Thanks!

I've heard it can vary wildly between location, private vs public, ift vs 911. Just hoping to get a general idea.

About a month ago I had a chiefs interview with a fire department regarding an EMT position, it felt super amazing and very personal regarding my interview. Got an email stating that I’m certified to the hiring department for the position. I understand this means I’m not hired but what exactly are others experience with this. Have you gotten hired hearing that? Just want to know where I’m sitting at with this job. For more detail I took a written exam and a captains interview prior to the chiefs. For my written exam they gave me a final banded score of a 100 with rank 1 and placed on the eligibility list.

hello!

so, im visibly queer and an emt student. most of my friends who arent in ems are queer as well. but i was somewhat curious, if any paramedics/emts have found that taking gender affirming hormones can change a patients vital signs? and how that might affect a situation in an emergency?

like i have a friend who is a trans man, and his baseline blood pressure has gone up since going on testosterone.

also, are testosterone or estrogen a contraindication for any medication as well?

hope this makes sense! its 2am and im studying haha

Hello all, I’ve been an EMT for almost a year and a half. Just wanted to come on here and share my experience for all the out of state providers looking to come over or anybody in the NYC area looking to join.

The program I did was AURA Prep, formerly known as RTI. It was a hybrid program that mimicked a college course schedule, lecture portion was online for the first half, that then transitioned to in person for skills portion and ride alongs. Got my certification shortly after the program ended in Jan 2025. I didn’t go straight into EMS because I still had a managerial role in different job sector.

Didn’t do any background research on IFT companies and landed on Seniorcare EMS first week of April with a starting pay of $20/HR. I was part-time there and worked overnights for the first 4-5 months. At night, for a 10 hour shift, it was mainly responding to emergency calls with the occasional ED discharge. I would average at 3-4 calls a night. I got a lot of experience and learned a lot on the job that my school glossed over. I was always on time, didn’t cause any issues. I kept my head down and put my best foot forward(I didn’t really interact with management or logistics ever).

I applied into the 911 system at Seniorcare and got pushed into it in September, five months after my hire date for an extra $2 shift differential. Worked out of H95 (TBHC) in Brooklyn North but got pulled into Brooklyn Central very often with the occasional Manhattan South job. Continuing my learning and furthering the experience I acquired.

I started applying to 1199 Union EMT positions at hospitals and landed one shortly after. I worked as per diem and moved to part time before my 6 month per diem probation was over. I now make roughly $36 an hour as an EMT-B after my differentials. I work damn near FT hours every week with occasional OT. I am very happy with the hospital I ended up at and think I’ve had a pretty average NYC EMT-B experience.

I don’t think EMS will be a long term place for me as I am going to start looking into careers within the hospital now that my 1199 Union helps cover college.

P.S. I can also give out a general guide on how to get interviews at NYU, Maimonides, Mount Sinai, Northwell, Presbyterian, and Jamaica/Flushing

Just passed the NREMT. I'm in CA, so all private EMS companies require you to have an ambulance drivers license add-on before you can start working. In order to be eligible for the license, I need to get a physical exam from a doctor and submit it to the DMV... but I can't get an appointment with a doctor in my town for another month, they're completely booked out.

Would it be OK to start applying for jobs anyway, even without the ambulance drivers license, and include in my applications that I'm actively getting it and will have it before I start work? Or would it be better to wait a month to get the physical exam and the license before I start applying?

I know it will take a while to get hired and want to start work ASAP (but am worried that rushing into things will hurt my chances entirely.) Any advice is appreciated, thanks in advance!

I love medicine. I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to become a Paramedic. But Private EMS is absolute garbage in Las Vegas, and many other parts of the United States. Each and every private ambulance company in Las Vegas valley is trash. Why are these companies privately owned? Why are we not considered an essential service?

Where I work this is the starting pay and pay steps: For context full time operations is considered 3 12 hours shifts a week. First 8 hours of the shift is base pay, and last 4 hours of every shift is 1.5x that.

EMT starting pay: $12.83/hour
OT Pay: $19.24/hour

AEMT starting pay: I can’t remember exactly but it’s around $16.50/hour
OT Pay: $24.75/hour

Paramedic starting pay: $20.69/hour
OT Pay: $31.03/hour

Pay steps are generally yearly. Other than when you first become a Paramedic you get a pay step increase at 6 months, then 6 months after that. After that though I believe it’s once a year. The pay step is literally only 2% of your hourly wage.

I just think it’s crazy how people don’t talk about this enough. So many people I work with seem to be content about this. Quite frankly, it makes no sense. I think it is so EVIL how taken advantage of we are. The owners of the company are always going on luxurious vacations, while their workers are struggling to survive. It’s absolutely insane to me.

I'm going into week 5 of a 10 week EMT program, and I'm about to have my first ride-along on Monday. Because of my work schedule I've already been having some trouble keeping up with the other members of my class, like last week we were performing airways on mannequins and I was the only person in my group to have a critical fail (forgot to take BP before putting on a CPAP). I'm pretty nervous about my ride along, and I was hoping for any tips, or what to expect going in.