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Your view on young EMTs
Most states require that in order to become a certified EMT, you must be 18. In some states, such as New Jersey, allow 16 year olds to become certified EMTs. And no, according to NJ's state laws, a 16 year old EMT is just as qualified to provide the same level of care as an adult. I am 16 and am a member of an EMS organization that is responsible for EMS coverage for a large area, and there is NO Junior/Explorer program, meaning I am entitled to do everything an adult EMT can do medically.
My question is, how do you feel about this system? I want your honest opinion, and will not get offended as long as it is your opinion and you aren't personally attacking/insulting people.
(Example: "I dont like young emts" or "I think its stupid for a minor to be an emt" would be opinions,
whereas "You are an idiot" or "I dont like you" arent really opinions but are rather offensive."
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by capcityff on
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There's no way I'd ever work with a 16-year-old. Not a chance. There's a reason why you have to be 18 to join a fire department. In DC our department only lets you apply if you're between the ages of 19-31.
It doesn't matter if you took the same class as a 35-year-old. You just aren't as mature. I don't know how you're department works with responding since I'm sure you guys have an extremely low call volume if you're volunteer and have 16-year-olds working, but it'd probably be best just to observe. So maybe it works for you guys but it wouldn't work anywhere in this area with such a high call volume. Other than my full time department, I also volunteer. Even that one I could never see some kid riding an ambulance. Like I said though I don't know how you guys do things since my volly dept is different than yours with ours being the busiest volunteer department and 12th busiest overall dept in the nation.
My advice, just observe. Finish school since that's more important and be a kid. Go play sports, meet girls, and hang out with your friends. You got plenty of time for this stuff when you're an adult.
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Permalink Reply by RON aka "LUCKY" on
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i just wish i knew what i wanted to do when i grew up at the age of 16 ,,, i didn't start doing this full time till 46 after many call years ,,, good for you, go get it, work hard, train harder there's no subistute for it and when you old enough, play harder ,,,,
do what you can when you can when you can, watch and learn what to do and not to do, your day will come ,,, and when you see that issues no one else see's or treat that person no one else wanted to or not loose it after everyone else does it'll be a feather in your cap ,,,
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Permalink Reply by Jonny Gordon on
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There's is nothing wrong with young EMTs.
I have taken most of my EMT tests at 15 and will not be certified till I'm sixteen.
We may not have as much experience as older EMTs but that's why they teach us!!
Plus.. you won't get better if you don't practice. PRACTICE MAKE PERFERCT!LOL
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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Knowing that being older gives someone more life experience and maturity than a teenager is stereotyping? Really??? Sorry, but I'm calling balderdash on that one.
I also didn't say that an older EMT is "better", so you're arguing about something that wasn't part of the discussion. I gave some specifics where being older, having more life experience, and having additional maturity is beneficial, that's all.
You are also arguing a false dilemma. There are lots of other things to do between being an EMT and being a crackhead when you're a teenager. I wasn't advocating for self-destructive or anti-social behavior of any kind for teenagers, and you know it. Bringing that into the discussion is B.S.
I have no problem with teenagers wanting to learn about and be involved in public safety. My department has an Explorer post, and I'm one of the advisors. Let the Explorers treat patients or be in close proximity to IDLH environments or bloodborne pathogens - not on their life.
I fully realize that learning about pedi care in EMT class and learning about what is normal for a certain chronological age or stage of development from watching your kids grow from infancy to adulthood are two very different things. You can learn way more from watching your kids grow up, taking care of their illnesses and injuries, and learning what is normal and what is not from living with them than you can from a couple of 3-hour classes in EMT-B school.
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Amen, especially on the "Finish school...sports...meet girls...hang out with your friends..." comment.
In other words, they should have a normal set of teenage experiences.
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Balderdash. The state isn't always right. It's entirely possible that those states allow 16-year-old EMTS out of desperation - if there were enough adult EMTs there would be no need to allow minors to do it.
"Nobody has a legit argument against that because the state says what it is." That is a logical fallacy - the Appeal to Authority. There have been several legit arguments against it.
State EMS agencies don't always make good decisions. Being a state agency does not convey infallability.
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Permalink Reply by ff/emt 2155 on
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i dont have a problem with youngins on the truck but when shit hits the fan you better be able to handle it and if by chance your behind the wheel go slow we are workin in the back and dont need to be thrown around that is my only pet peev with young fire personel they drive for crap
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Permalink Reply by Alexander Korsunsky on
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amen i hate the new EMT's driving our ambulances i can't even punch an IV bag when they are driving
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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Sorry to reply to this, but i have a question you said "As long as someone is knowledgeable and compentent is the one I would want helping."" nobody in emergency services should be on the job until they are considered a legal adult, which federally is 18."
I was responding to the kid's analogy about who you would want treating you, some 35 y/o wanting to just be certified to do transports or some 16 y/o who want to help.
The point is that such an analogy is a non-issue. I could care less about the reasons why someone decided to obtain the cert, what matters is if they are knowledgeable and compentent. It doesn't matter if they took the cert to to get a fire job, because they felt a need to help the community, because it was a requirement, or they have aspirations for something else.
As for the second issue, I undestand that some kids can act mature and some legal adults are juvenile, again another non-issue. The difference is that one can make legal decisions for themselves while the other can not.
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Right. You're only a teenager once and you'll never get those years back. Adulthood will last a LONG time.
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Permalink Reply by Jeremy Maynard on
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yeah i can almost see your point your from an older generation of medics but just because of one driver don't put down the rest of young drivers and if they are that bad report the person to the EMS supervisor or tell them to send them on a BLS truck i don't know the requirements for your state but for our state you can put a driver and an EMT on a BLS truck as long as the driver had first aid/CPR
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Permalink Reply by Tracey Lynn Morris on
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As I said I started at 16 in Pittsburgh Pa. Now I am a Kansan back then junior explores were all over. Truthfully I was younger than that . We lived southwest of Pitt and these tiny towns it did not matter how old you were if you could handle the job back then but I had great teachers who stepped up to the plate when needed. I took the time to learn the whole department not just EMS. We are here to serve the people and has nothing to do with it. The biggest thing is you never stop learning.
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