EMS Job Preview
EMS providers administer emergency medical assessment, treatment, and transportation for a large variety of illnesses and injuries including (but not limited to):
- victims of accidents
- heart attacks
- drowning
- poisonings
- unscheduled childbirth
- gunshot wounds
The challenge is never knowing what to expect and having to be prepared for anything.
Fast-Paced and Demanding Responsibilities
- EMS personnel often encounter difficult situations in which they must provide creative solutions.
- EMS personnel work indoors and outdoors, in all types of weather.
- The daily routine requires physical strength and agility.
- The job includes bending, heavy lifting, and accessing small or confined spaces.
- Paramedic's must be able to function autonomously with little or no supervision and must make decisions and act quickly.
- EMS personnel must have genuine concern for human beings.
- EMS is not for those who desire a daily work routine, as the volume and type of work vary greatly from day to day.
EMS personnel can work full- or part-time, according to a variety of schedules. Because of the nature of the work, those in this profession must be willing to work nights, weekends, and holidays.