One of the most thankless fields in the US is EMS. One of the reasons for this is EMS has yet to be deemed as a profession, but those who are EMT’s and Paramedics are likely to disagree. Being in the Emergency Medical Services field for 21 years I’ve seen a great deal of change, but the one constant remains is the dedication, compassion, and tolerance you must have. By the way, if you need help to pass your NREMT Exam on your first attempt, click here.

Being an EMT or paramedic comes with a great deal of skill and not the type of skill that is learned from the back of an ambulance or classroom. EMT’s and paramedics have distinct qualities which are not taught, but instead, are innate characters of themselves that help defines EMS in general, and more importantly, what it takes to be an EMT or paramedic.

Since the field of EMS is truly unknown for most of the population, the following details the Top 10 Facts About EMT’s and paramedics You Probably Don’t Know.

10. All Calls Require Emergency Care

Contrary to what you see on TV, not all calls require emergency care. In fact, only a small percent of EMS calls require emergent pre-hospital care, but all calls require compassion and a high level of customer service. It’s believed that only 10% of all EMS calls require emergency care.

Grandma won’t remember the missed IV attempt or know if the wrong medication was administered, but everyone will remember if the EMT or paramedic was an “ass”.

9. Initial Training Takes Years

To become an EMT or paramedic in the US the initial training takes months, not years. For EMT’s, it’ll only take one semester which is about 4 months and another 11 – 12 months to become a paramedic. To become a paramedic, you must hold an EMT certification first, but in about two years less than what it takes to become an RN you’ll be out saving lives.

8. EMT’s and Paramedics Have Less Autonomy than RN’s

Another misconception about EMT’s and paramedics is that RN’s have more autonomy, and this is far from the truth. In fact, EMT’s and paramedics have far more autonomy as most of their time spent on an ambulance is by themselves but overseen by medical oversight by freestanding protocols. EMT’s and paramedics must make real-time decisions based on training, clinical practice and critical thinking.

In many locations around the US, getting an immediate consult by a physician may be challenging. RN’s work in a controlled environment, typically alongside other RN’s, physician assistants, and/or doctors who make most of the decisions for them.

7. Most Have Second Jobs

Due to the work schedules of most EMT’s and paramedics and the lower wage scale, most have second jobs. 24 hour shifts in EMS are very common and most who aren’t on 24’s work 12’s. On either of these schedules, you can expect to work only 10 – 15 days per month leaving plenty of time open for a second career. Whether it’s owning their own business, working in a hospital, or something totally unrelated, most EMT’s and paramedics occupy their spare time with another job.

6. EMT’s and Paramedics are Always Training

As is the case with everything related to healthcare, the field is constantly changing. This is seen with new medications, treatment best practices and new paradigms that require EMT’s and paramedics to constantly evolve too. Mandatory recertification in the US is every two years which requires everyone to undergo a certain amount of training and most services have regular, ongoing training.

5. Lights and Sirens Save a Great Deal of Time

While driving lights and sirens does save time, but the time saved is purely marginal in most locations. Over the years there have been numerous studies in rural and urban communities and the results are always the same – lights and sirens offer only a minimal time savings. One study showed only a savings of 43 seconds which some have argued isn’t worth the risk.

4. Traffic is the #1 Safety Concern

Believe it or not, more EMT’s and paramedics die in the line of duty each year from ambulance related crashes than any other concern. Traffic has and will continue to be their #1 safety concern, and most would say it’s not the most significant part of being an EMT or paramedic. There’s a significant, inherent danger of driving lights and sirens through red lights and around cars to save minutes, but most don’t stop and think until something bad happens.

There’s a high risk alone with both occupants upfront, but that risk is greatly increased when one is in the patient compartment. The patient compartment of an ambulance is nothing but a fancy aluminum box that offers minimal protection for the attendees while working, tending to the patient on the stretcher fully-secured.

3. EMS Comes with a High Level of Burnout

Years of rigorous, stressful and thankless nature of EMS, there is a high level of burnout for EMT’s and paramedics. EMS is a field that is noted with one of the highest levels of burnout when compared to professions here in the US. Most providers don’t last long enough to see retirement with many turning to other professions such as nursing which is much more controlled.

2. They’re Just Ambulance Drivers

You may be shocked to know how many people believe EMT’s and paramedics are just “ambulance drivers”. This is a thing of the past as a lot of life-saving or life-altering practices can happen in the back of an ambulance including starting IV’s, administering medications, placing breathing tubes, and doing EKG’s.

Many of these practices are for recognition which allows them to alert hospitals, but a great deal of treatment is done which helps save lives.

1. EMT’s and Paramedics Make Great Money

Ask any EMT or paramedic if they got into EMS because of the pay. It’s safe to bet the answer would unanimously be “NO”. In fact, the pay for EMT’s and paramedics is significantly lower than most other healthcare professions. In 2017, EMT’s and paramedics had an average salary under $34,000 with the lower 10% making under $22,000 and the highest 10% less than $57,000.