Becoming a paramedic

I'm after a new career.
Being a paramedic appeals but I have no clue as to what is involved in getting started! Is there an age limit ( I'm 33 ). What qualifications would I need? hows it work?


Any advice greatly received.

You want to speak to Debtman who did it, and I'm sure Adam who wants to do it will tell you everything about it.

Jobs are much in demand and there are many applicants for every post, so don't pin your hopes on it.

Not being funny, but how the hell can it appeal if you have no idea of what is involved?

Go to your local ambulance station and ask if it is possible to go out as an observer for the night. Most allow it after signing your life away. Go on a friday night if you want a good idea of the full spectrum of jobs.

Get an idea, and ask them the score re your local trust, as it does differ from trust to trust. Basically its now entrance via uni foundation degree for the most part, so "normal" uni entrance requirements. Some still have the EMT for a few years experience then do an in-house Para course, but not many.

Work is shit pay especially when newly qualified (can be boosted by OT tho), conditions and hours but strangely satisfying, if you are that way inclined. I'm lucky in that I am, and it's the only thing I can see myself doing in three years time.

And yes, Debtman will give you some good info, and no I won't tell you all about it as I only know what I know. There's plenty of good info out there if you google "how to become a paramedic".

Originally Posted by Adam

Not being funny, but how the hell can it appeal if you have no idea of what is involved?

Sorry I wasn't clear.

I have no idea what's involved in the process of becoming a paramedic, ie what qualifications I would need, weather there is an age limit, do I need to work as a nurse first, can I get a on the job training etc etc.

You can probably get some advice here but as Adam says do a bit of googling and get along to talk to some of the crews.

If you're in France that could be easier said than done of course

Originally Posted by Jody

Sorry I wasn't clear.

I have no idea what's involved in the process of becoming a paramedic, ie what qualifications I would need, weather there is an age limit, do I need to work as a nurse first, can I get a on the job training etc etc.

Get ya.

Nope it's direct entrance, via university, or, if you can find a trust still doing it, via 2-3 month course to train as an Emergency Medical Technician, then a couple of years experience before applying to get on a Paramedic course with the Trust (further 3-4 months + experience building up a portfilio).

See your inbox.

A lot of trusts are looking at losing the EMT role and having driver with fairly basic first aid skills and a paramedic as the crew, and rapid response vehicles crewed by a solo para.

Some good reading (and insight) here:
The Paramedic's Diary
and on the sites he links to...

Have a read of http://randomreality.blogware.com/blog/ or http://theparamedicsdiary.blogspot.com/ which are written by serving paramedics.

According to both bloggers, you'll spend most of your time attending to drunks and pregnant women (who should have made their own way to hospital). Occasionally you'll deal with people whose tragic circumstances will make you want to quit the job. Each to his own I suppose.

Where's the thanks button!


ohh well

Thanks very much

Originally Posted by Tufty

According to both bloggers, you'll spend most of your time attending to drunks and pregnant women...

I can vouch for that being quite true.
Obviously I am not a para, just an emergency responder (emergency driving + FPOS Inter + AED trained) for 2 years, but we got sent out to the jobs in advance of an ambulance in much the same way as a solo para in a rapid response vehicle, tho as we weren't trained for pregnant wimin we never went to those calls. Honest.

Drunks and drink related incidents are by far the biggest drain on resources and accounted for probably 90% of jobs on a weekend, and definitely over 50% during the week.

See, it was worth asking here after all

This is the course offered at work:

Bristol UWE - Paramedic Science FdSc

A mate of mine has just started on it this year - he's self funding and hoping to find a job with one of the local Health Authorities once he's qualified. Most of the students on the course are funded by their employers and the course has been oversubscribed this year and last year. Application is via UCAS but it would be worth speaking to an admissions tutor first if you are a mature student as they welcome applications for people who have life experience. If you're not employed by a Health Authority then the Uni will find your placements for you as these are neccesary for qualification. HTH.

Neither Adam nor Jody are qualified to be a Paramedic or work in any Ambulance service.

How can I tell this? They can clearly both use a computer. Technophobia to a remarkable degree is de rigueur for working in Ambulance services, in spite of the fact that every part of everybody's job, bar actually applying the bandages, is computerised.

I've never had so many people say, quite proudly, "I know nuffink about compooters and stuff liek that, me".

It is apparently not the done thing to hit them with a brick shouting "it's part (or even all) of your fucking job to use a fucking computer".

On a slightly more useful note, you can start at the bottom as an "ECA" - Emergency Care Assistant.

Seriously shit pay, and anybody in the know will crawl away from you in terror lest you try to treat them but you'll be out there and paired up with an experienced person, and you can work on your portfolio and degree and things.

Originally Posted by redorzed

Neither Adam nor Jody are qualified to be a Paramedic or work in any Ambulance service.

How can I tell this? They can clearly both use a computer. Technophobia to a remarkable degree is de rigueur for working in Ambulance services, in spite of the fact that every part of everybody's job, bar actually applying the bandages, is computerised.

I've never had so many people say, quite proudly, "I know nuffink about compooters and stuff liek that, me".

It is apparently not the done thing to hit them with a brick shouting "it's part (or even all) of your fucking job to use a fucking computer".

LOL.
You got ePRF there?
The look of fear on people's faces in EEAT was a picture the day that rolled out.
4 months later some were still filling out paper ones claiming they couldn't get it to work.