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Hopefully someone that has been here in the system locally will chime in since I have no clue about the DFW Metroplex EMS system as far as fire based, private, hospital based, etc etc. I will give you my opinions, take them for what they are worth, and I will also give you a little of what I have seen and dealt with over the years working on an ambulance.
First thing is you might want to check out Dr. Dave's thread about the shitty day he had recently. Not trying to discourage you, but thought you may want to know some of the shit you could and most likely will be exposed to during a career in EMS.
That being said, I have been a medic for the last 18 yrs. I have worked in large high volume systems, where you sit in your truck on street corners, parking lots, 7-11s and go from post to post in between running 911 calls, lift assists and transfers, all the way to the systems where you might have 2-3 calls in a week, and the rest of the time you sit on your ass. Now, for the last 4 years I have been working on an offshore oil rig, and I can say that I honestly do NOT miss working on an ambulance. In fact I haven't even touched foot on a truck in 4 years.
Most of the folks that I saw coming in to EMS in the last 10 or so years have used EMT/Medic training as a stepping stone into Med school, Nursing school, or just something to fill some free time. Some were outstanding EMTs/Medics, and some I would not let them touch my dog.
One thing you will find is there is usually a pretty decent salary gap between Private vs Fire or Hospital based ambulance services. Some run 911 calls, some just run interfacility transfers. Fire based usually has the better money and benefits, especially if you get your firefighter cert as well.
First thing I would do if I were you, is go by the fire department of whatever city you decide to live in and talk to them and see what they have to say. I would also see about doing some type of ride-along with the ambulance whether it is fire based, hospital, or private, just to get a feel for what life may be like for you.
Like I said, I can't speak too much on the system around here, so hopefully someone else will chime in with the info.
As for career choice, I would get your EMT, get some experience, see if it is something you like, and then get your Medic. You want to make yourself marketable. That goes for whatever type of system you work in. (Fire, Private, Hospital).
Now, you also need to know that working as an EMT/Medic is nothing like they show on Mother, Juggs, and Speed, or Emergency. (Those of you that have been around as long as I have will know what I am talking about...)
Some of the things that can wear on you are drunk drivers wiping out a family minding their own business on the road, and the drunk walks away without a scratch. Mothers screaming at you to help their child that stopped breathing, is cold and stiff because it died in the middle of the night. Family members hysterically running around the house on thanksgiving because grandma just "passed out" in the living room and won't wake up, when in fact she had a massive stroke/heart attack and there is not a damn thing you can do about it but go thru the motions for the family. Working on a child lying motionless on the floor with no heart beat, or breathing, only to find out that the mother stabbed the child 8 times in the chest and stomach because she is psychotic and off her meds.
I could go on and on, but here are somethings that make it worth it......
Having someone that went into cardiac arrest that you shocked, pushed drugs, intubated and delivered to the hospital, wake up and have no mental or physical deficits, other than maybe cardiac bypass. (Those are few and far between, but they do happen.) Being able to help that little old lady that fell and broke her hip, and actually NEEDS the ambulance but she is too embarassed and keeps apologizing for "being a bother". Delivering a healthy baby to new parents that weren't able to get to the hospital before delivery so you get to do it.
You will need a thick skin to deal with the assholes on the street, and that goes for all people including police, fire, doctors, nurses. and internet docs that think just because they read thru a WebMd webpage they thing they know what the hell to do. You will be yelled at, cussed out, spit on, shit on, puked on, bled on, up to your ass in mud trying to help someone in a car accident, in the pouring ass rain, cold, heat, dead of night, crack ass of dawn, all for someone that has a toothache that they have had for the last week, but suddenly NOW it is an emergency and they need an ambulance.
Sorry for the long ass post, but hopefully it helps.
First thing is you might want to check out Dr. Dave's thread about the shitty day he had recently. Not trying to discourage you, but thought you may want to know some of the shit you could and most likely will be exposed to during a career in EMS.
That being said, I have been a medic for the last 18 yrs. I have worked in large high volume systems, where you sit in your truck on street corners, parking lots, 7-11s and go from post to post in between running 911 calls, lift assists and transfers, all the way to the systems where you might have 2-3 calls in a week, and the rest of the time you sit on your ass. Now, for the last 4 years I have been working on an offshore oil rig, and I can say that I honestly do NOT miss working on an ambulance. In fact I haven't even touched foot on a truck in 4 years.
Most of the folks that I saw coming in to EMS in the last 10 or so years have used EMT/Medic training as a stepping stone into Med school, Nursing school, or just something to fill some free time. Some were outstanding EMTs/Medics, and some I would not let them touch my dog.
One thing you will find is there is usually a pretty decent salary gap between Private vs Fire or Hospital based ambulance services. Some run 911 calls, some just run interfacility transfers. Fire based usually has the better money and benefits, especially if you get your firefighter cert as well.
First thing I would do if I were you, is go by the fire department of whatever city you decide to live in and talk to them and see what they have to say. I would also see about doing some type of ride-along with the ambulance whether it is fire based, hospital, or private, just to get a feel for what life may be like for you.
Like I said, I can't speak too much on the system around here, so hopefully someone else will chime in with the info.
As for career choice, I would get your EMT, get some experience, see if it is something you like, and then get your Medic. You want to make yourself marketable. That goes for whatever type of system you work in. (Fire, Private, Hospital).
Now, you also need to know that working as an EMT/Medic is nothing like they show on Mother, Juggs, and Speed, or Emergency. (Those of you that have been around as long as I have will know what I am talking about...)
Some of the things that can wear on you are drunk drivers wiping out a family minding their own business on the road, and the drunk walks away without a scratch. Mothers screaming at you to help their child that stopped breathing, is cold and stiff because it died in the middle of the night. Family members hysterically running around the house on thanksgiving because grandma just "passed out" in the living room and won't wake up, when in fact she had a massive stroke/heart attack and there is not a damn thing you can do about it but go thru the motions for the family. Working on a child lying motionless on the floor with no heart beat, or breathing, only to find out that the mother stabbed the child 8 times in the chest and stomach because she is psychotic and off her meds.
I could go on and on, but here are somethings that make it worth it......
Having someone that went into cardiac arrest that you shocked, pushed drugs, intubated and delivered to the hospital, wake up and have no mental or physical deficits, other than maybe cardiac bypass. (Those are few and far between, but they do happen.) Being able to help that little old lady that fell and broke her hip, and actually NEEDS the ambulance but she is too embarassed and keeps apologizing for "being a bother". Delivering a healthy baby to new parents that weren't able to get to the hospital before delivery so you get to do it.
You will need a thick skin to deal with the assholes on the street, and that goes for all people including police, fire, doctors, nurses. and internet docs that think just because they read thru a WebMd webpage they thing they know what the hell to do. You will be yelled at, cussed out, spit on, shit on, puked on, bled on, up to your ass in mud trying to help someone in a car accident, in the pouring ass rain, cold, heat, dead of night, crack ass of dawn, all for someone that has a toothache that they have had for the last week, but suddenly NOW it is an emergency and they need an ambulance.
Sorry for the long ass post, but hopefully it helps.
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