# EMT and Ambulances in the US

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emt-and-ambulances-in-the-us/985660>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [June 17, 2023, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emt-and-ambulances-in-the-us/985660 "2023-06-17T04:46:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 13

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**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emt-and-ambulances-in-the-us/985660/13 "2023-06-17T18:17:03Z")

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I’ve done EMS.

- An ambulance can cost $150,000 between the rig & all of the equipment in it.
- An EMT needs 120 hours of training (here), a paramedic needs about 6 months.
- For places with paid staff, the rule of thumb is 4 bodies for every position in a 24x7 world - day shift on, night shift on + day shift off & night shift off. Don’t forget to factor in PTO & con-ed (continuing education, not the electric company) so big city depts it’s probably 4.x bodies per shift, while it’s overtime pay at your smaller departments. Don’t forget benefits are 25-33%, or more, of salary so that _one_ $36,000 employee who shows up at your door is really costing in the neighborhood of $200,000; & you have two people on an ambulance
- Don’t forget administration making sure everyone is up to date on their various & overall trainings, supplies are ordered, & that meds are being rotated & removed if expired, even by one day.
- Again, depending upon where you are you may be able to get something for treat-no-transport but income comes from one of three sources - govt, donations, & fee-for-service  
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I can get into more of the operational side, if asked.

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