# Fellow EMT-B/Ps: Make my decision for me, please. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 24, 2009, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168 "2009-02-24T05:07:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Klif](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Klif](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klif)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/1 "2009-02-24T05:07:00Z")
The facts are these: I am an EMT-B in Indiana. (There is no EMT-I in Indiana.) I am smarter than many. I am lazier than most. I do not study well. I retain information only after having used it a few times in real-world situations. I get paid in the neighborhood of $8.50. I work for a private company, primarily ECF transfers. I have never worked in a 911 environment. I love my job. If I do a Paramedic course, my company will pay half (likely up-front), given that I stay with them for three years or more after receiving certification. The question is this: Should I do Paramedic schooling? (I’m also not good at categorizing posts. Please move, if fit.) ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/2 "2009-02-24T07:06:41Z")
Well, not being an EMT, my first reaction is simply this; do you plan to stay with this company for at least three years anyway? How much will it cost you (in fees and in lost wages) to take the course? And do you think you’d like to be a paramedic? ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/3 "2009-02-24T07:28:30Z")
Paramedic school involves learning a lot of information in not enough time. While there are lots of tests, nobody expects you to “know” everything right away- that’s why you do clinicals/rides. The biggest thing memorization/studying wise is going to be drug dosages. We carry about 30 different medications, with varying dosages for varying problems. You’ll also need to have ACLS algorithms down cold, but again, it’s expected that you won’t when you first start on an ambulance. I’ve been a paramedic field trainer, so if you have any questions about that, feel free to ask. The National Registry exam is challenging… Do you usually work on an ALS or BLS ambulance? If you go to paramedic school, will you be running 911 calls? St. Urho Paramedic ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/4 "2009-02-24T08:34:16Z")
I numbered all of the facts, and am assigning my question/decision the number 10. “Would you want to do this if you _weren’t_ getting paid for it?” 😉 Q ---
**Author:** ![Klif](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Klif](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klif)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/5 "2009-02-24T11:37:22Z")
> [@St.Urho](#): > > Do you usually work on an ALS or BLS ambulance? My company in general, BLS. I’ve been on an ALS truck for the past month or so, filling in. ---
**Author:** ![Klif](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Klif](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klif)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/6 "2009-02-24T11:45:30Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > do you plan to stay with this company for at least three years anyway? How much will it cost you (in fees and in lost wages) to take the course? And do you think you’d like to be a paramedic? Yeah, absolutely i’ll stay with the company. I’m very happy here. Cost averages $6000 and 13 months. I’m not certain whether I would -love- being a medic. I’m pretty sure I would like it. It’s hard to tell, y’know. > [@Quasimodem](#): > > “Would you want to do this if you _weren’t_ getting paid for it?” Y’know, this is the first job for which the answer to that question might be Yes. (of course, who am I kidding, I don’t do anything for free!) ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/7 "2009-02-24T12:55:34Z")
> [@Klif](#): > > Yeah, absolutely i’ll stay with the company. I’m very happy here. Cost averages $6000 and 13 months. I’m not certain whether I would -love- being a medic. I’m pretty sure I would like it. It’s hard to tell, y’know.Y’know, this is the first job for which the answer to that question might be Yes. (of course, who am I kidding, I don’t do anything for free!) Recovering Hoosier, and newly frocked -I checking in. I’m on a volunteer squad in East Buttcrack North Carolina. As things stand right now, I would not do -P, because I have no financial incentive to do so. The squad works at the -I level, FWIW. I’m an electrical engineer by day job, so I make a lot of dough. That said, if Obama gets my job, I’ll be going back to school for my -P AND an RN to boot. I loved my ER time, and I think I’d like to do that or ALS transport. Oh, and what **St. Urho** said about learning stuff. I learn in much the samer manner as you do, and I obsessed greatly about retention when doing the -I stuff. What I figured out is that it works the same as engineering: you do all the schooling so you know where to look crap up when you need it. Your pocket guide is your friend. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/8 "2009-02-24T14:33:42Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > That said, if Obama gets my job, I’ll be going back to school for my -P AND an RN to boot. I loved my ER time, and I think I’d like to do that or ALS transport. I recently made this exact same comment in my LJ. If I had the money, I’d go back to school for either my paramedic or my RN. I work full-time as an EMT-B for a private ambo company, mainly doing inter-facility transfers, with the occasional emergency call thrown in for good measure. If my company was willing to foot the bill, even half of it, for me to advance, I’d jump on it in a heartbeat. > [@](#): > > Oh, and what **St. Urho** said about learning stuff. I learn in much the samer manner as you do, and I obsessed greatly about retention when doing the -I stuff. What I figured out is that it works the same as engineering: you do all the schooling so you know where to look crap up when you need it. Your pocket guide is your friend. Again, me, too. I took copious notes while in school, but I have to actually DO IT for it to sink in. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/9 "2009-02-24T15:12:24Z")
I must say I’m kind of stunned to discover that EMTs only get paid $8.50 an hour. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/10 "2009-02-24T15:19:19Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I must say I’m kind of stunned to discover that EMTs only get paid $8.50 an hour. As with any job, it varies by area. I make more than that. I’m shocked as well - that’s really low. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/11 "2009-02-24T15:39:39Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I must say I’m kind of stunned to discover that EMTs only get paid $8.50 an hour. I make less than that. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/12 "2009-02-24T16:09:14Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > I make less than that. 😛 If you’re an EMT, then, well, gosh! If you’re not, I’m not that surprised. I mean, I was making minimum wage not too long ago- I just find it odd that people with that sort of responsibility can be so badly-paid. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/13 "2009-02-24T16:17:55Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > If you’re an EMT, then, well, gosh! Check where I first posted, and note that I’m in a volunteer squad. [Foghorn Leghorn] That’s a joke, son… [/Foghorn Leghorn] ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/14 "2009-02-24T16:19:50Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > Check where I first posted, and note that I’m in a volunteer squad. > > [Foghorn Leghorn] > That’s a joke, son… > [/Foghorn Leghorn] :smack: **Klif** , would you be able to continue working full time while attending school? ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/15 "2009-02-24T16:27:08Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > I make less than that. 😛 That’s just because you’re doing the sucker volunteer thing. If you’d give up that silly electrical engineering gig, and work as a paid EMT, you could make, oh, I don’t know, probably a whole third of what you’re making now. Score! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/16 "2009-02-24T16:32:14Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > That’s just because you’re doing the sucker volunteer thing. If you’d give up that silly electrical engineering gig, and work as a paid EMT, you could make, oh, I don’t know, probably a whole third of what you’re making now. Score! 😃 When I got into the whole volunteer EMT/FF gig, I was told there’d be big bucks and hot babes… 😕 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/17 "2009-02-24T16:36:25Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > When I got into the whole volunteer EMT/FF gig, I was told there’d be big bucks and hot babes… 😕 Silly, the ‘big bucks’ are the deer you swerve to avoid while on calls in East Buttcrack, and the ‘hot babes’ are the little old ladies having hot flashes who want a ride the the ER with the big strong EMTs! ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/18 "2009-02-24T16:39:29Z")
I’m a hot babe. My hot is from menopause though. ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/19 "2009-02-24T20:53:45Z")
If you are lazy and have bad study habits, paramedic school is going to be difficult for you. The fact that you are paying for half of it may motivate you to actually study, but nonetheless, it’ll still be difficult. I will say that understanding the material itself is not that difficult, it’s just the sheer volume of it, and the amount you are expected to know. Compound that with the fact you are only allowed to fail so many quizzes and tests, so you’re always on edge. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168/20 "2009-02-24T22:56:49Z")
**Klif** , where in Indianner are you? **Jali** , menopause babes are the best. They don’t yell, they don’t swell, and they’re grateful as hell. ;)😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-emt-b-ps-make-my-decision-for-me-please/487168.md?page=2)