Am I ready?

I will be graduating this May with my Associates in Fire Science. I'm only 19 and will be turning 20 in July. I've taken the FF II courses and have my certification as an EMT-B. I've taken classes such as RICO/RIT teams, Vehicle Extrication, Hazardous Materials, Building Construction, etc. I am not on a dept. so I'm not certified at a state level but I've taken the courses. Do you believe I'm ready to begin on a dept? I've been thinking about taking an Paramedic program but don't know if I should start looking right away for a job on a dept. What's your guys' opinions?

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Permalink Reply by justin on April 20, 2008 at 8:58pm

I want to use it. Hard thing is most depts. you must be at least 21 to be hired. I feel that if I get on a dept. I may forget many of the lessons I learned in college.

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Permalink Reply by Rachael on April 20, 2008 at 9:07pm

Do you have any field experience besides class skill practices? Because you really should have at least 2 years of field experience to really grasp and be competent as a medic. Have you looked for departments to volunteer for? That will give you experience and most that take a large amount of volunteers just say you need to be 18.

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Permalink Reply by Allen Wahlstrom on April 20, 2008 at 9:36pm

Go get your Paramedic.
Certifiable FFII and Paramedic gives you one heck of a leg up on a lot of candidates.
Not to mention unless you get on a department that will put you thru it (EMT-P), going on your own will be a challenge after getting on a FD.

Go get your Paramedic...simple as that.

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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on April 20, 2008 at 9:51pm

Paramedics get hired around the country easier than any other position. Do the math and take the medic class while your still young. I wish I had taken EMT when I was your age.

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Permalink Reply by justin on April 21, 2008 at 12:10am

Thanks everybody. After I graduate I'm going to join a volunteer dept and go for my EMT-P. I'm not looking forward to the course (Year long 8 hrs/week, no breaks/vacation not to mention 40 hrs clinicals a month.) I'd love to join a career fire dept. as soon as I can but it seems i'll be working lifeguard part time and school full time, should pay off in the end, right?

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Permalink Reply by Doug on April 21, 2008 at 1:32am

Dude, if you really enjoy this you can always volunteer to get the experience until you can get a job as a paid firefighter.

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Permalink Reply by justin on April 21, 2008 at 1:46am

I would've joined a volunteer but I always assumed you have to live within so many miles of the dept. (like a career dept.) and in my town there's no volunteer only paid, the closest volunteer is about a 25 min. drive.

Am I ready?

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