how physically demanding is EMT work?

[tigress]

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In looking for a job before med school, I've come across an EMT course being offered this summer. I'm interested in possibly going into EM someday, so EMT work sounds pretty interesting. My one big misgiving is over how physically demanding the job is. Could anybody give me any input? For people who are or have been EMTs, do you enjoy the job? Is it difficult to find a position, and approximately how much would it pay?

thanks 🙂

 

[OSUdoc08]

In looking for a job before med school, I've come across an EMT course being offered this summer. I'm interested in possibly going into EM someday, so EMT work sounds pretty interesting. My one big misgiving is over how physically demanding the job is. Could anybody give me any input? For people who are or have been EMTs, do you enjoy the job? Is it difficult to find a position, and approximately how much would it pay?

thanks 🙂

You should consider posting this in the Pre-Hospital (EMS) Forum.

EMS is a very physically demanding job, and you will be expected to carry a patient in a backboard down stairs and lift them in a stretcher. The patient could be any weight of course. Depending on your area, you may or may not have the help of a fire department.

You may also find yourself crawling in the wreckage of an automobile accident and rescuing people (once again this depends on how good the fire department is in the area.)

You can work in the ER as a tech, however.

Jobs are easy in the private sector, but you do less 911 and more transports. Pay is pretty low, unless you are working for some of the higher paying corporate agencies.

It was all worth it though.........

 

[uptoolate]

I was an active EMT many,many moons ago but I did A LOT of lifting and carrying-very heavy folks at that. I found that my usefulness as a tech was much more related to my ability to navigate stairs with 200+ lb people in tow than to any other skill set I may have developed in training.

 

[45408]

Jobs are easy in the private sector, but you do less 911 and more transports.

That's not a given though. The majority of my private employer's calls are 911 calls. There are two other companies in town though that do a lot of private transports. Those are way boring.

It is physically demanding, but I can think of plenty of petite women who are EMTs and do just fine.

Running the streets is fun, that's for sure. I'm looking to supplement my current experience/income with a position as an ER tech though.

 

[tigress]

Does getting the EMT training qualify you to work as an ER tech? And what does an ER tech do? I would love some sort of hospital tech position, but all of them seem to require training that I don't have and can't get in a timely fashion.

thanks everybody for the info 🙂...especially so late at night when probably all of us ought to be in bed (at least I know I should! 😛)

 

[priyanka]

Hopefully, I'm getting certified this summer for EMT.
Then I would like a job as a ER tech or something on those lines. I really need to do something like that. Volunteering hasnt given me enough experience.

WEll my question is, is being an ER tech too challenging for girls?

THanks

 

[OSUdoc08]

Hopefully, I'm getting certified this summer for EMT.
Then I would like a job as a ER tech or something on those lines. I really need to do something like that. Volunteering hasnt given me enough experience.

WEll my question is, is being an ER tech too challenging for girls?

THanks

no, you just help out the nurses and docs in the ER

 

[Agent Splat]

I think the "ER Tech" job depends on the hospital. I know a couple ER techs that are CNAs with extra training in using the EKG machine and doing a couple other things that my tired state can't recall right now. Other ERs might want their techs to be able to start IVs or do other more advanced skills. My local ER used to hire intermediate EMTs to do this sort of work.

As for the physical demands of the job, other people have covered that pretty well. This isn't to say that you have to be a body building, 250 pound bench pressing person with bulging muscles to do the job. You have to be physically fit and able to help lift a person. Everybody has their limits, so you also need to know when to call for "reinforcements" and hope they're available. Something else to keep in mind: Endurance. Be able to go from sitting on your butt for 7 hours to going full speed, doing CPR for 15 minutes or longer (which is harder work than you'd think), or do a 3 hour transport at 3 in the morning after having 30 minutes of sleep. And be able to handle awkward positions like squatting in a glass covered back seat of a car for 20 minutes holding c-spine immobilization while the fire department tries to cut the doors off (that's a personal favorite of mine).

Is it an awesome job? Totally. Go for it!

 

[45408]

I And be able to handle awkward positions like squatting in a glass covered back seat of a car for 20 minutes holding c-spine immobilization while the fire department tries to cut the doors off (that's a personal favorite of mine).

That's why you show up after FD gets there, so that they've already got somebody holding c-spine.

I have been in the back of the rig holding c-spine on a woman in a KED because we couldn't lay her down on a board (she was gushing blood and on blood thinners, so it would all have gone down her throat) while running hot to a hospital, taking fast turns and big bumps while barely holding on. 👍

 

[Agent Splat]

That's why you show up after FD gets there, so that they've already got somebody holding c-spine.

I have been in the back of the rig holding c-spine on a woman in a KED because we couldn't lay her down on a board (she was gushing blood and on blood thinners, so it would all have gone down her throat) while running hot to a hospital, taking fast turns and big bumps while barely holding on. 👍

Do you store your backboards in a vertical side compartment? If so, you could have taken the easy way out and saved yourself the trouble...backboard her as usual, then stand her upright in that compartment with the rest of the unused backboards. Viola! No aspiration!

 

[OSUdoc08]

Do you store your backboards in a vertical side compartment? If so, you could have taken the easy way out and saved yourself the trouble...backboard her as usual, then stand her upright in that compartment with the rest of the unused backboards. Viola! No aspiration!

um---or you could intubate her???/

 

[45408]

um---or you could intubate her???/

not if she's awake and breathing just fine, man. She just had an arterial bleeder on her lip that would've gushed into her throat if we laid her down. Seriously though, she didn't need the c-collar, but FD had it on her when we got there, so we can't take it off since you can't clear c-spine in the field.

 

[Ambs]

EMT work is definitely demanding, but it gives you enormous experience. It's exciting and fast-paced... and if you're looking into EM, then it's certainly good to get into.

 

[Agent Splat]

um---or you could intubate her???/

Rural service...no paramedics available, so we gotta improvise. In mass casualty incidents we strap 'em to the roof and hood like it's deer season.

 

[Napoleon1801]

It really kinda depends on what you consider physically demanding. There are some short and small EMT's out there that can still pull their own in the field. 👍

 

[uptoolate]

I was an active EMT many,many moons ago but I did A LOT of lifting and carrying-very heavy folks at that. I found that my usefulness as a tech was much more related to my ability to navigate stairs with 200+ lb people in tow than to any other skill set I may have developed in training.

I want to add, after seeing other comments, that I was pretty petite woman (size 4-6) when I worked on the ambulance. A few, mostly male, patients were pretty skeptical when I went for the lift and carry but my partner always reassured them [in his words] that I could lift more than most men. So much of it is about technique. Granted, I worked out religiously (also worked in a gym as an aerobics instructor) at the time but was never overly muscular.

 

[Dr. Donkey]

It depends on how physically fat your patient is. Smaller (less powerful) woman (and puny guys) will have trouble lifting some of their patients without extra help. That being said, there is usually enough man power around to get the fatty bobatties up into the bus. You might just get a little flack at first from the grizzled firemen and old school EMTs.

 

[tigress]

Thanks for all of the replies. I'm in good shape, it's not that I don't think I could do it. I just have other personal reasons for asking.

sounds like some of y'all have really enjoyed the work! 🙂

 

[OSUdoc08]

Rural service...no paramedics available, so we gotta improvise. In mass casualty incidents we strap 'em to the roof and hood like it's deer season.

I guess since I always worked for rural services, and we at least had an EMT-Intermediate, I forget that some areas don't.......

 

[PostalWookie]

It's all about technique - proper postire, etc - but being strong and in good shape would help. Given that, there are a lot of fatass professional EMTs, and they seem to do fine.

 

[skypilot]

It's all about technique - proper postire, etc - but being strong and in good shape would help. Given that, there are a lot of fatass professional EMTs, and they seem to do fine.

EMTs often injure their backs after a few years on the job. 🙁

 

[izibo]

I guess since I always worked for rural services, and we at least had an EMT-Intermediate, I forget that some areas don't.......

intermediates... ha! in arizona we can count the number of intermediates state-wide on two hands.

 

[izibo]

EMTs often injure their backs after a few years on the job. 🙁

Yep, because proper lifting technique isn't always what you do. There have been times where I have been pulling patients aronds twists and turns, up mountain sides, and everything you could think of.

Sure, when you can you try to be as good on your back as you can, but that is sometimes only ideal in some situations.

 

[beanbean]

It is true that many EMTs end up side-lined with back injuries. Preventing them isn't always easy. Even if you know the proper way to lift; you partner may not. Most EMTs I know that have had back injuries got them due to a partner's poor technique and porr communication between all people lifting. Of course, the patients don't help either. They like to try to grab at stair railings and such just to throw you off balance! (always secure the patient's hands before lifting and moving).

Honestly, you can hurt you back working in an ED or on a hospital floor. People are heavy and if you have to move them, you need training in how to do it.

Go for your EMT. The benefits OUTWEIGH the risks. EMS is truly glorious!

 

[OSUdoc08]

intermediates... ha! in arizona we can count the number of intermediates state-wide on two hands.

I was an intermediate for a year

they come particularly in handy for volunteer EMS services that are BLS with MICU/ALS capability......

they also come in handy when you are their paramedic partner---they can do some things for you in a bind

 

[45408]

It depends on how physically fat your patient is.

Add 100 pounds for every floor of the apartment building without an elevator.

 

[Dr. Donkey]

Really? In my experience the higher the floor the easier it is to build up momentum. They roll nicely.

Add 100 pounds for every floor of the apartment building without an elevator.

 

[NontradICUdoc]

Jobs are easy in the private sector, but you do less 911 and more transports. Pay is pretty low, unless you are working for some of the higher paying corporate agencies.

It was all worth it though.........

Not necessarily true. In Transport EMS all you are doing is lifting patients to and from the bed to the stretcher to the house, etc. With EMS sometimes the patient can walk on their own, or they refuse treatment, or they are pronounced. Transport is more physically demanding.

when I was doing transport work, I found that many times I was able to get studying done because I was not always on a run.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Not necessarily true. In Transport EMS all you are doing is lifting patients to and from the bed to the stretcher to the house, etc. With EMS sometimes the patient can walk on their own, or they refuse treatment, or they are pronounced. Transport is more physically demanding.

when I was doing transport work, I found that many times I was able to get studying done because I was not always on a run.

When I said jobs are "easy", I was discussing the opportunity to get a job. Transport EMS services are ALWAYS hiring, and will take anyone that is certified.

Also, transport EMS is often busier than 911. We didn't have a station and went from call to call.

In 911, I was able to sit around the station and do homework or watch movies or sleep.

 

[lderita46]

OSUdoc is right. It will be much easier getting a job with transport EMS rather than a 911-based agency. I've personally never enjoyed transport EMS but the pay may be higher (still pretty low since EMTs dont' make all that much). I actually don't get paid at all for my work (my station's all volunteer) but I still love it. As far as being physically demanding, it really depends on your patient--many of my patients can walk themselves to the stretcher or ambulance, but there are times when you will be expected to carry a lot. I get a lot of crap from some of the older guys and it's hard for me to lift sometimes (I'm petite at 5'2" and 100 pounds) but I still manage to get it done. I'm thinking about going into EM myself one day and part of the reason is because of my EMS experience.

 

[OSUdoc08]

OSUdoc is right. It will be much easier getting a job with transport EMS rather than a 911-based agency. I've personally never enjoyed transport EMS but the pay may be higher (still pretty low since EMTs dont' make all that much). I actually don't get paid at all for my work (my station's all volunteer) but I still love it. As far as being physically demanding, it really depends on your patient--many of my patients can walk themselves to the stretcher or ambulance, but there are times when you will be expected to carry a lot. I get a lot of crap from some of the older guys and it's hard for me to lift sometimes (I'm petite at 5'2" and 100 pounds) but I still manage to get it done. I'm thinking about going into EM myself one day and part of the reason is because of my EMS experience.

All this talk about patients walking to stretchers didn't mention that once you are at your destination, you will be transporting them on the stretcher.

Patients aren't allowed to "walk" into hospitals in most cases. Even when released, you will see patients are pushed by wheelchair to the front door, even if they have no problems. This is to avoid lawsuits if the patient falls.

It would be in poor judgement to walk your patient into the ER, UNLESS you are told they will be put in triage, and still only for very select cases.

 

[NontradICUdoc]

All this talk about patients walking to stretchers didn't mention that once you are at your destination, you will be transporting them on the stretcher.

Patients aren't allowed to "walk" into hospitals in most cases. Even when released, you will see patients are pushed by wheelchair to the front door, even if they have no problems. This is to avoid lawsuits if the patient falls.

It would be in poor judgement to walk your patient into the ER, UNLESS you are told they will be put in triage, and still only for very select cases.

There is a lot to be said about being a glorified taxi cab with lights. One thing I hated about transport EMS was that I could not get the poop smell out of my nose for weeks after I stopped working there. All the nursing home transports with code browns almost made me wretch.

 

[OSUdoc08]

There is a lot to be said about being a glorified taxi cab with lights. One thing I hated about transport EMS was that I could not get the poop smell out of my nose for weeks after I stopped working there. All the nursing home transports with code browns almost made me wretch.

Benefits of being a medic-----I drove on those calls....

 

[Freakingzooming]

I think the worst thing about being an ED tech is being on the feet so much. It's rough on the back cuz you gotta transport 90% the time. So there's rarely downtime unless you're working night shifts which in itself is physically tolling.

 

[PostalWookie]

Worst EMT lifting experience ever - carrying a fat, pregnat woman in labor down 6 flights of stairs in our big-ass stair-chair. My parter, who had the feet, was just praying for her water not to break

 

[OSUdoc08]

Worst EMT lifting experience ever - carrying a fat, pregnat woman in labor down 6 flights of stairs in our big-ass stair-chair. My parter, who had the feet, was just praying for her water not to break

at least you HAD a stair chair

 

[45408]

It would be in poor judgement to walk your patient into the ER, UNLESS you are told they will be put in triage, and still only for very select cases.

oh, there's a hospital around here that will put anyone into triage, including a guy that had an as-yet undiagnosed brain aneurysm 🙄 My partner told the nurse explicitly that this guy wasn't triage-able, but we still got sent out there. The next time the nurse saw her, he told her that he'd never doubt her judgment again since the guy had neurosurgery later that day.

 

[PluckyDuk8]

I don't have time to find it (maybe somebody can for me), but a while ago I wrote a long post about tips and tricks to lifting - it may be in the EMS forum or in pre-allo (or search my posts). I'm a 5'5" 105 lb. female who had almost no trouble lifting, and all my dispatchers knew it (the best was the look on people's faces in the company who didn't know me when my partner and I were the ones to show up for a lift assist)- what was very important in short was proper posture and knowing your limit like was already said.

One thing that hasn't been said is to find out what kind of jobs are available in your area (private, public, ER tech, etc.) and how fluid those jobs are before dedicating yourself to the EMT class. Also, some private companies will pay for your training. If you let us know your location either in this post or in the EMS forum we may be able to help you with that.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I don't have time to find it (maybe somebody can for me), but a while ago I wrote a long post about tips and tricks to lifting - it may be in the EMS forum or in pre-allo (or search my posts). I'm a 5'5" 105 lb. female who had almost no trouble lifting, and all my dispatchers knew it (the best was the look on people's faces in the company who didn't know me when my partner and I were the ones to show up for a lift assist)- what was very important in short was proper posture and knowing your limit like was already said.

One thing that hasn't been said is to find out what kind of jobs are available in your area (private, public, ER tech, etc.) and how fluid those jobs are before dedicating yourself to the EMT class. Also, some private companies will pay for your training. If you let us know your location either in this post or in the EMS forum we may be able to help you with that.

Also, it is common to find volunteer agencies that will pay for your training. Great for earning practical volunteer hours for your resume!

 

[Sweet Tea]

I absolutely loved working as an EMT, and miss it tremendously now that I'm in school. I still hang out with my EMS friends when I go home from school. My experiences as an EMT has carried over into med school, and I think I'll be going into EM.

Lifting: there's a right way, and several creative wrong ways. Sometimes you just can't get around lifting the wrong way b/c for some reason, really big people like to fall in really small areas and they can't wedge themselves out. I hurt my back twice in EMS; once was while lifting a 400+ lb lady into a chair (long story), which actually would have been fine had she not attempted to twist and reach for something. The second time was when my partner was too adventerous in going over a railroad track code 3, and i went flying across the back of the truck. There's really a lot you can do to avoid an injury, but sometimes it can't be helped.

Some days we were really busy and it was a very physcially demanding job. Other days we sat around the station and prayed for the alarm to ring b/c we'd already washed the truck twice, scrubbed the station, and were bored out of our minds. I made a point of going to the gym a lot as an EMT and doing a lot of back strengthening exercises, and I think it really helped.

For a really strenuous job, join the swiftwater rescue team. SOOOO much fun!

 

[tigress]

I appreciate all of the responses to this thread. I decided to just go ahead and ask what I need to. I need to have a job that will allow me to work most of the way through being pregnant. Do any of the jobs that you can get with EMT certification qualify, or should I definitely look somewhere else? It seems from the posts that I should do something else, which is really unfortunate because I know I'd love to be an EMT.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I appreciate all of the responses to this thread. I decided to just go ahead and ask what I need to. I need to have a job that will allow me to work most of the way through being pregnant. Do any of the jobs that you can get with EMT certification qualify, or should I definitely look somewhere else? It seems from the posts that I should do something else, which is really unfortunate because I know I'd love to be an EMT.

ER tech would be the only thing. You would not be able to work on the ambulance.

 

[booradley5]

Are there any EMT's in Boston who would recommend a place for EMT-B training? What's the job situation there right now?

I'm moving up there in the fall to attend HES and am looking for something I can do to gain more experience (not in an office!).

 

[NEATOMD]

That's why you show up after FD gets there, so that they've already got somebody holding c-spine.

I have been in the back of the rig holding c-spine on a woman in a KED because we couldn't lay her down on a board (she was gushing blood and on blood thinners, so it would all have gone down her throat) while running hot to a hospital, taking fast turns and big bumps while barely holding on. 👍

Not to be critical or anything, but if she was bleeding and to the point you needed to go full code, then technically you should have never even pulled out the KED. That case would have qualified as emergency extrication. Board her and go, and (as someone else mentioned) tilt the board if you have to.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Not to be critical or anything, but if she was bleeding and to the point you had to go full code, you should have never even used the KED. That would have qualified as emergency extrication. Board her and go.

Give them some credit:

They were a BLS unit, and may have not had the training to understand.

 

[tigress]

ER tech would be the only thing. You would not be able to work on the ambulance.

Yes, I assumed as much. Is ER tech doable, though? And on a different note, I assume phlebotomy would be totally possible.

 

[45408]

ER tech would be the only thing. You would not be able to work on the ambulance.

one of my coworkers is already ~4 months pregnant

 

[beanbean]

I kept riding up until I was about 5 mos pregnant. I know women who have stayed on longer, but they always rode with a strong crew so they didn't have to lift. I personally don't agree with that...you shouldn't be on the rig if you can't perform all of your duties. Keep in mind this is a volunteer service so we often ride with 3 crew members on the crew, but everyone should be able to lift.

Another thought, if you have morning sickness riding backwards in a box down the highway is not the way to spend your day.

Are you pregnant now or planning on becoming pregnant?

Deirdre

 

[OSUdoc08]

one of my coworkers is already ~4 months pregnant

I sure hope she has a 3rd rider. That would be a very bad idea if she was lifting patients by herself.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Yes, I assumed as much. Is ER tech doable, though? And on a different note, I assume phlebotomy would be totally possible.

Yes, just make sure the jobs are there. The ER's were always too competitive to get a job around where I lived. Yes, phlebotomy is a very good idea, and they often do in-house training, so look for the job before you go and take a class.