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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 Forrest Post on
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Another case of little boy syndrome...Always want to do everything the possibly can and more before they're even 18.
Even though I'm only 18, I wouldn't want a 16 year old helping me do anything more than write down vitals and fetch the bags. You're known for taking facebook pictures in your uniforms and telling all the girls at school you save lives and leave girls wet....NOT handling and caring for a patient.
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Permalink Reply by Gregory Borg on
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You have alot of paramiters for our opinions, but none-the-less here it is. In Washington you must be 18 to be an EMT, I think that is fair and a good age to start. You must be 19 to take our entrance test in Spokane so that works for us. We require people to be EMT's when we hire them, we did this to cut the testing pool from 1500 applicants before the EMT requirement to about 500 now. In my opinion 16 to too young (on average) to see what we see, or to have the responcibility.
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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We can debate the use of fog versus solid bore, 1.5" versus 2.5", flathead versus pickhead, but when a state law states the age at which a person can be an EMT, it pretty much takes out all of the debate.
If you're younger than your state allows for, either grow up (figuratively and literally)or work to change the law. In my experience whining really only works well for dogs.
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Permalink Reply by Gary "lil boombatz" D'Achille on
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I have no problem with someone between 16 and 18 as a certified EMT. I recieved my EMT when I was 17 the only thing that restricted me as an EMT is I was not allowed to be crew chief until the age of 18. I agree with that practice. As a young or new EMT everyone wants to get there hands in on it which by all means is great. We had to go through a precepting program with my EMS company where a more experienced EMT crew chiefs but helps the new EMT with everything and once the EMT was of age AND ready to handle anything only then were they allowed to be completely in charge of the patient. If a younger person wants to be an EMT at that age good for them. They just need to realize they'll grow up quick seeing all that EMT's see
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Permalink Reply by James Sage on
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I don't think there is a problem with a properly trained 16 year old EMT, I was a Combat medic at 17.
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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Just curious, how many neonates did you deliver, how many geriatric patients did you treat for interactions from their 17 different medications, how many Type I diabetics in insulin shock did you see, and how many emboli secondary to a total hip replacement did you see as a 17-year-old combat medic?
How many children with tonsillitis - or epiglottitis did you see or treat during that time? How many chronic asthmatics did you treat with or without their personal rescue inhaler?
I appreciate your service and I appreciate what you did, but the point here is that being a combat medic leads you to see a lot different patient population than does a civilian EMT.
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Jack, I like that, when I was union pres. I would tell the whiners, if you don't like something, work to change it or shut up. Complaining does nothing but drag everone down.
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Only had the chance to assist in one baby delivery( there are women in the army),Depending on what age you consider a person to be a geriatric patient a few maybe, a couple Diabetics, god knows how many people with tonsillitis, asthma, and any number of other general ailments. As well as more traumatic injury than I can count. I should have clarified, When I was in the Canadian forces medics had to do tours in base hospitals which could put you in contact with members families, we did all the medical work while being overseen by a doctor that would sign off on charts or come do the work if it was beyond our scope. In todays Canadian forces the lowest level of trained medics are considered Primary care paramedics and can advance as far as Physicians assistants.
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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I would also venture to say that there is quite a difference between the military and some kid who wants to be an EMT at a younger age. One does not walk into military medic training without going to bootcamp first. Discipline and structure is established right away in boot camp, quite a difference as compared to many volunteer services that would use a 16 y/o.
Also, don't know much on the Canadian military (except for Moosemilk.....awesome stuff BTW) but in the states one can not enlist under 18 without parent's permission. For most this means they can enlist at 17, but will wait before shipping to boot until after they turn 18. Education is also a big factor in today's U.S. military, in that one has to have their HS diploma or GED and college credits just to enlist. Bit of a change from some 16 y/o looking to be an EMT. Along with that is the legality issues, when one is in the military, they are covered by the military. Whereas it is a difference with a minor working as an EMT in a volunteer service, especially when the minor themselves can not legally sign a HIPAA form.
The comparisons just really aren't the same between the military and a civilian minor wanting to be an EMT. It isn't like the military member is going to be leaving school or home and rushing to the station to go on a call. The military member is not finishing up high school, nor involved in the activities that go along with it, the military member made the committment and signed into the contract.
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Permalink Reply by Alexander Korsunsky on
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i am missing how the social stand point of the job has to be focused on the 16 year olds hope you have fun at college
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I agree, John, and further, the average U.S. military medic isn't a 17-year-old working at a base hospital that sees a wide variety of typical civilian complaints.
Your point about the military medics completing basic training (and AIT as well) prior to functioning in the field is also well taken.
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