Within fire-based EMS systems everywhere, the number of firefighter paramedics is dwindling. Fire departments are trying to fill the vacancies by recruiting new paramedics. Campaigns for recruitment that promise great rewards, sign-on bonuses, and assured shifts away ambulances are loading Facebook feeds.
Ten years ago, when jobs in the fire service weren’t plentiful, efforts such as those would have attracted an influx of qualified candidates. But not today. Everybody is looking to hire. Some organizations that previously required an ambulance license have now reduced the requirements for paramedics to fill the vacant seats in the fire engine. The vacancies themselves have become an issue with filling. So, many firefighters don’t become paramedics.
It’s about time for EMS based on fire to acknowledge that there aren’t enough paramedics available to address our issues. The solution is to make it easier for our firefighters and firefighters-EMTs to be paramedics. It is first necessary to be open and discuss why they aren’t paramedics.
Here’s a rundown of the most popular five causes why firefighters do not become paramedics.
THE NATIONAL REGISTRY
Written tests and firefighters work together, just as water and oil. We love to work with our hands and prove ourselves by doing things. The idea of going toe-to-toe against the National Registry is enough to cause any firefighter to leave the scene and especially those who have fought to get there.
TIME IS MONEY
People say “going to paramedic school would be a pay cut.” And they’re not lying.
Firefighter wages aren’t the highest, especially for those who are just beginning their careers. At the beginning of my career as a full-time firefighter paramedic, I qualified to receive government assistance for free milk, baby formula, and peanut butter. I can remember getting angry at the cashier at the grocery store in an attempt to scold my wife after she pulled out the many paper tickets that paid for the cost of these necessary items.
As with all firefighters, I know I was forced to take on an additional job. It’s a necessity that many of us rely on to make sure our families are afloat. I was fortunate enough to attend paramedic training before having children. If I had delayed, I would never have been able to.
LIMITED ONLINE OPTIONS
Online learning isn’t the educational’s future; it’s happening right moment to start. Associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees are being awarded at the kitchen tables of fire stations all over the country. While paramedic training programs are evolving to meet the needs of the modern learner, the sheer volume of material, clinical, and rapid-fire pace hindered them from embracing the traditional classroom.
Although paramedic courses are typically shorter and less costly, however, the ease at the ease with which other college degrees are available on the internet is attracting firefighters seeking to further their careers away from earning their golden badges.
THE AMBULANCE
Compared to a suppression device, the assignment to an ambulance can mean longer days separated from the base and a larger area to be able to. It also implies paperwork, responsibility, and the ongoing struggle to keep a professional image when faced with angry nurses in overcrowded hospitals. And because firefighter-paramedic numbers are so limited, many are forced to spend most of their careers on ambulances. Because of the necessity of their department and the need for ambulances.
Firefighters and firefighter-EMTs can see what’s happening. Many opt to travel backward instead of being placed in an ambulance in the coming 20 years, that’s why many firefighters don’t become paramedics.
[Read next: How to become a firefighter and requirements for the job]
ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE
“I’m not going to medic school because I want to be a firefighter.”
For the rest of the world, we’re all firefighters. For those in fire-related EMS, we’re either paramedics or firefighters. When firefighters and firefighters-EMTs talk about attending paramedic training. They’re slammed, mocked, and reminded of the difficulties they’ll be bringing on themselves.
However, some are directed by the top management to stay clear of becoming paramedics. Out of all reasons firefighters choose not to pursue a career as a paramedic, they are choosing to avoid becoming paramedics. Setting individual ambitions over the demands of our communities is bound to cause failure in our work.
WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
In all the issues I mentioned, There are solutions. Certain ones are less complex than others. However, they are not going to happen overnight. It begins at the top, with those who have to create a culture of accomplishment. Fire chiefs, are you wondering why your department doesn’t have enough paramedics? The issue isn’t with the seeds. It’s inside the earth.
Visit your city councils as well as your fire boards and your residents. Help them understand what firefighter-paramedics do and what it will mean if we run out. Actually, many firefighters don’t become paramedics. Get their support to create a culture that encourages firefighters to fight for the cause to achieve the gold quality of prehospital care cherished. Fight for your firefighter paramedics as hard as you fight for that new fire engine. Let them know that you are concerned. If you don’t, why shouldn’t anyone else?
Hi, I am John Smit a Captain in Fire Department City of Newyork with over years of experience in the field of Firefighting and HSE. My passion for fire safety started when I was a young boy and witnessed a neighbor’s house go up in flames along with precious lives. Since then, I had dedicated my life to ensuring the safety of buildings, properties, and individuals in case of a fire and medical emergencies.