Volunteer as an EMT

I know I made jokes about it, but one of the things that really impressed me was how many kids took the EMT-B certification class. Most of them I can see as competent and caring people who are now capable of helping people in an emergency. Bodes well for the next generation, I think.

That said, taking the class with a little life experience under your belt doesn’t hurt either. The kids may have been more used to classrooms and tests, but there was really very little in the class that was brand new to me. Granted, I probably had more trauma experience than most normal people, but you pick up information as you go through life and learn new skills, so the 5 of us who were over 20 (way over) all felt that way.

There isn’t anything in this class that can’t be learned by reading the text, listening to the lectures, and doing a bit of studying before the tests. We had at least 2 people in our class with learning disabilities, and they did fine. One of our instructors said that this was a great career for anyone with ADD/ADHD because every call is different (He’s ADD). So if you live in an area that needs volunteers, you can do it. Believe me, if the dimwits who sat behind me can pass this class, you can.

Took the state EMT-B exam a couple of days ago. Felt a little too easy, but I’m sure I passed. We get the official results in 4 weeks. That gets me my official EMT-B card.

I begin riding the ambulance tomorrow night. Our squad has a probationary period where you serve under someone more experienced until you get used to everything—not a bad idea.

I’m also going to take the National Registry exam because I never know where I’ll be going and just my luck, the next state I live in will require the National exam, not a state exam. I figured the best time to take the test was right out of class when everything was fresh in my mind. :)

So I’m marking this as “done”. I hope that my posts help others who are thinking about volunteering – now you know what it takes here in the U.S., about how long it takes, and some of the common highs and lows.

On Monday I completed most of the practicals for the state certification. there are about 20 skills you have to demonstrate for an instructor at various stations. I was SO nervous that I completely blanked a couple of times at the first station, but after that, I did okay. Did the trauma practical with one of the goofier guys in class and had the instructor laughing so hard she had to take a break after we finished. :D

Wednesday night, I took the class final. One of the people who took the final on Monday took all 3 hours to finish. As I was taking my test, I kept thinking “How the heck did he take 3 hours for this?” Class started at 7pm. I took the final, got an 82% (not as good as I would have liked, but well over passing) and was out of there by 8:30pm.

The state exam is on July 3rd. I have to be out of the country for the month of August, so I’m putting off my National Registry exam until after I return. Just have too much to do.

The state exam will get me my Provider card for this state only. Then I’ll be able to ride the ambulance as an EMT.

We did 3 scenarios today during our mass casualty practical. First up was a school bus accident with a football team inside. Second was a semi-building collapse with patients on 3 different floors in a 5 story building. Last was a movie theater with someone spraying an “unknown substance” and 18 people sick and trapped inside.

Reasonable scenarios all, but because they are scenarios and not real-life, you can only make decisions based upon what someone tells you, not what you see, and sometimes you get conflicting information. The whole thing seemed completely messed up to me – too many people going too many places, commanders who don’t know squat, and having to stop and justify your every action to an instructor – but the instructors seemed to be happy with our responses. Plus our class is larger than normal, so that just added to the craziness I think.

We also had another test on the module we just finished.

Monday is our final exam and we begin the skill testing for the registry exam. Almost done!

Had a test this week (passed), have a test next week. Then we have the terrorism/mass casualty practical, which ought to be fun. It’s always more fun when no one is actually hurt.

The week after that is all the practical exams for the state & national registry test. I’m more worried about that than anything else.

Took the test on the trauma module this past week. I did well, but apparently quite a few people failed. The past 2 tests have been longer tests over many, many chapters and I think that throws people. If you fail, you just re-take the exam, so it’s no big deal to fail. . .until the final.

We’ve had several instructors make a point of telling the class that “all you need is a 70. Not a 69. Not a 71. All you need is a 70 to pass the exam.” I had one instructor chew my ass for pointing out that getting a better grade might make for a better EMT. Apparently not.

So now I’m annoyed—is this what my kids are hearing? That it’s okay to just barely make it? No wonder why my youngest slacks off. He’s smart enough to realize that if all they want is the minimum, and you get get anything extra for doing better, then just do the minimum.

The next 3 weeks are nothing but class, test, class, test, test, test, test. However, 3 more weeks and the class part is done. Yay!

Did my required 10 hours on the ambulance—all in one shift, which was fine with me. Got to play with some newfangled splints that are carried in our squad but aren’t taught in class because they’re not standard equipment. Got to help on a couple of calls. Got to meet several people in my squad, including my chief. :)

I feel better about my ability to help people now.

And it’s gonna be a doozy. We have 5 practicals, 3 exams and then the state exam. I’ll probably have to take the National Registry exam as well, since I never know where I’m going to be sent. Lots of studying to do and I’m at the point where I’m tired of sitting in class.

Don’t even feel like I want to do this anymore, but truthfully, I think it’s just fleeting—last night we had my much-less-than-favorite instructor, and she sorta sucks the joy out of it for me. Next week, one of my favorites is back, so that will be cool.

I’m also working standby for a community fair this weekend, which ought to be fun. Hopefully not a lot of action, but probably some first aid and little things, and I get to know some of my squad.

Took the exam and was one of the few who passed—the rest will have to retake the test later. It wasn’t that the test was so hard, it was just written weirdly and covered 10 chapters. I’m pretty good at academic tests and I found myself reading a question and thinking “What did they just say?”

Onto Trauma Emergencies next. . .

Have a big practical plus exam this Sat. Big because it covers 10 chapters – aaack! Basically, it’s all the medical calls, allergies, drugs, diabetes, births, etc. The “gynecological emergency” chapter was hysterical – out of 30 people, only 5 of us are over 20 (and we’re WAY over), the rest of the class is 16-19 years old. We start covering birth and the looks on their faces kept making the teacher laugh. They were appalled at the whole process, ROFL!