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Career Mirror -- by Karen Rocznik
Do you thrive under pressure? Do you enjoy helping others? Does the
word 'adrenaline rush' make you salivate in anticipation? Well, if you
answered 'yes' to all of these questions, a career as an EMT (emergency
medical technician) or Paramedic may be in store for you.
EMTs are responsible for providing Basic Life Support or BLS to any
injured person. The term BLS covers all methods and procedures that will
stabilize an injured person, such as CPR and securing airways.
Paramedics provide Advance Life Support or ALS, which includes
administering drug therapies, inserting chest tubes and any other
procedure to enhance patient care. Anyone considering a career as a
Paramedic must first complete the requirements for an EMR or Emergency
Medical Responder and EMT.
EMTs and Paramedics often finds employment in the emergency medical
services, with urban and rural ambulance services, industrial settings,
overseas, and in the U.S., providing the proper
qualifications are in order. Salaries for City of Calgary EMTs start from
about $3,000 a month with Paramedics bringing in approximately $3,600
to 3,800. Expect to be making a lot less money working in rural areas, but
realistically, most urban areas require at least two years experience
working in a smaller locale.
Anyone considering a career as an EMT or Paramedic take note: It's a long
haul. Programs, such as the ones at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) or Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) are backed up for
months. If you are lucky enough to get in, each program ranges from 12 to
26 weeks, not including the 38-week ambulance and hospital practicum for the Paramedic course.
All Paramedic and EMT graduates have to be registered with the Alberta
Prehospital Professions Association (APPA) and pass the provincial
registration exam prior to getting a job.
Keith Braun, a part-time EMT with the City of Calgary, has definitely put
in his share of time. Over the past 14 years, he has run the Gleishen
Blackfoot ambulance service and has taught a variety of first aid classes. While the thrill of literally being in 'life
or death' situations has its rewards, it can be extremely stressful. "I was
19 when I started, and I found it pretty overwhelming. You have to be very
prepared for it. There is a certain level of responsibility and maturity
required."
Braun says that today, young EMTs and Paramedics are finding it hard
getting into the industry. His word of advice? "Don't expect to have a
job with the City of Calgary, expect to relocate to a rural area." He
says that working for a rural ambulance service is a rewarding experience
that allows you to learn and develop your skills alongside more experience
EMTs and Paramedics.
John Mawer, 25, knows what it's like to put in your time . A recent graduate from the EMT program at
SAIT, Mawer says just getting into school involved a lot of hard work and
dedication. "It's taken me four years to get when I am. I volunteered with
The Children's Hospital and in an old age home and got as many
certificates as I could."
After completing his EMT training, Mawer ended up at the right place at
the right time. "I was walking down this street and saw a woman get hit
by a car. And the first guy on the scene was the director of Calgary EMS
and we treated her together. He said to me afterwards, 'here's my card,
give me a call.'" Mawer made the call and soon after was hired by an
ambulance service in Crowsnest Pass, about two hours south of Calgary.
In his six months of work, Mawer has seen everything from drug
overdoses and stabbings to sever car accidents. "It's one of those things
where you can either do it or you can't. You have be aggressive, have
pretty good people skills, and you can't be intimidated by a lot of stress."
In his 10 years as a Paramedic, Alistair Gilliland is one person who has
seen it all. He was on the scene after the fatal roller coaster accident at
West Edmonton Mall and during the tornado in Edmonton in the mid '80s.
Gilliland, who now works closely with the Calgary Fire Department, warns
any young person considering a job in the emergency medical services to
seriously consider crossing over into another profession. "There's a lot of
burn out, there were times when I would be shaking at the end of the day."
But Gilliland says it's the good times, like the babies he's delivered, that he holds on to."It's always exciting. Depending on where you
work, you could have seven hours of boredom and one hour of sheer terror
where you have to get up and preform. It's always changing."
If you are considering a career as an EMR, EMT or Paramedic contact some
of these sites - very resourceful!
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