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NJP220 t1_ixo2h0x wrote

As an A-EMT I can confirm that this is a great fear of many in the profession. In the low population area that I am in, it is basically a guarantee that we will respond to acquaintances, friends, family, and loved ones. My uncle responded to do CPR on his own sister. I have performed CPR on long-time school friends and had to inform their family that they are gone. A partner of mine transported and treated a guy that got ejected through a windshield and didn't realize it was their nephew until their wallet was dug out so they could give info to the hospital.

There is some level of comfort in knowing that we may be able to directly help our loved ones as EMS providers. But it certainly adds another layer of mental trauma for us.

I feel such sorrow for this family. I hope she knows that whether she knew it at the time or not, she was there for her daughter when she was needed the most.

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beautbird t1_ixoobx8 wrote

That is heartbreaking and I’m so sorry this isn’t an uncommon thing that happens. I can’t imagine how horrible these injuries were that she didn’t recognize her daughter. Horrifying.

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jizzajay t1_ixp6rkz wrote

Very true. I work as an EMT-P, and I prefer to work in a different county than I live because of reasons like this. For a period of time, I worked in the county I grew up in, and it was difficult running calls on people you are familiar with.

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Kaos2025 t1_ixpbfun wrote

Thank you for your service. I was wanting to be an EMT around 6 months ago to help people until I learned how badly EMTs are treated by hospital staff and compensated.

It seems like EMTs are treated like a disposable security guard that the hospital puts the blame on and fires.

You guys deserve atleast 100k a year for the work y’all do.

I hope you have many smooth and boring workdays, u guys deserve it

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NJP220 t1_ixpd77f wrote

How EMTs are treated largely depends on where you are. If they are treated poorly by hospital staff then that seems like a major issue that the hospital needs to address. Compared to a Paramedic, EMTs are pretty low in training. Which isn't to say they are poorly trained. Simply not as highly trained or legally approved to perform more advanced medical procedures. So they are often relegated to a sort of "assistant" or driver for the paramedics. But in the more rural areas where medics are less available, EMTs are often the main providers you will find. The majority of ambulance calls don't require a Paramedic level of care and an EMT is more than capable of handling them.

As far as the pay, we all wish it paid more. Many of us do the job knowing that we could make more money working in a different field, with a normal schedule and substantially less risk of PTSD. But not many other jobs provide you with a sense of purpose and like you are making a tangible difference in people's lives.

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ACorania t1_ixpd3cm wrote

My first extrication call as a FF/EMT was my best friends little sister. It is tough.

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jackiebee66 t1_ixp0hcx wrote

What is an A-EMT? Does it stand for ambulance?

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NJP220 t1_ixp4wr0 wrote

Advanced. There are multiple training levels in EMS. You often hear EMT and Paramedic used interchangeably by the media but they are 2 different license levels. Though some states have differing titles or variants, there are primarily 4 core license levels.

EMR = Emergency Medical Responder.

EMT = Emergency Medical Technician.

AEMT = Advanced EMT (also known as EMT-A).

EMT-P = Paramedic (usually just called a Paramedic or medic for short).

Each level has increasing training and abilities in the field. EMR on the low end and Paramedic on the high end.

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corgi-king t1_ixp93e5 wrote

So which is the most powerful one?

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NJP220 t1_ixp9bbm wrote

If by powerful you mean highest skill-set and training, then Paramedic.

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corgi-king t1_ixpaabg wrote

So the lower skill one can’t do something that EMT-P do? Or they do pretty much similar things?

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ACorania t1_ixpdfif wrote

Correct. Intermediate or advanced, depending on the state, can do IVs and give broader range of drugs than a basic. Paramedic can give even more drugs and do more procedures.

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jackiebee66 t1_ixrwurx wrote

Oh wow! I knew EMT vs Paramedic but I had no idea there were so many. Thx for explaining!

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NJP220 t1_ixryhtb wrote

No problem. There are more than that but they are largely recognized at the state level rather than nationally. Most states, though not all, follow the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT), which recognizes EMR, EMT, AEMT, and Paramedic. They create a standard that we have to test to and pass. Then we have to get licensed in our state after learning and testing for any and all state level protocol differences. An AEMT in one state may not be able to do the same things in the field as one in another state, but they generally have the same base level of training. Then some states have what they call EMT-I or Intermediate which is either between EMT and AEMT or between AEMT and Paramedic. There are even more than that out there and it gets pretty convoluted. Lol. But the 4 levels that the NREMT recognizes are basically the standard.

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mamamechanic t1_ixq5hg5 wrote

The podcast “What Was That Like” has an episode where a 911 dispatcher recounts taking the call from her own mother the day her father passed away. She did a terrific job describing the dichotomy of feelings through the event.

Thank you to you and all first responders/emergency workers. I can’t imagine doing what you do on a daily basis even without the fear of one day encountering someone you may know and love.

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