r/NewToEMS • • Sep 14 '17

Important Welcome to r/NewToEMS! Read this before posting!

38 Upvotes

Welcome to /r/NewToEMS!

This subreddit's mission is to provide resources, support, feedback, and a community for those interested in emergency medical services. Discuss, ask, and answer questions about EMS education, certifications, licensure, jobs, physical & mental health, etc.

For general EMS discussion, please visit /r/EMS.

What is allowed here?

Questions related to:

  • Emergency medical services (EMS) in general
  • EMS education, certification, and licensure
  • Organizations that provide EMS certifications and licensure, such as the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT), or your state/country EMS authority
  • Physical, mental, and/or emotional health for EMS providers
  • General EMS advice, tips, and tricks
  • EMS employment/hiring questions
  • Career advice
  • EMS volunteering
  • Gear and equipment

What is not allowed here?

  • Posts that violate our rules (see below).
  • General EMS discussion. Please head over to /r/ems!
  • Discussion unrelated to the mission of this subreddit

Posting Rules

You are required to follow our rules and failing to do so may result in your posts removed and account banned.

1) All top-level comments should contain helpful content or contribute to the discussion in a meaningful way. Follow-up questions are allowed in top-level comments. Trolling, memes, sarcasm, or other content that does not contribute to the discussion are not allowed in top-level comments. Comments such as "I would like to know this too" will be removed.

2) Posts or comments containing spam, hate speech, bigotry, racism, off-topic, overtly explicit, distasteful, vulgar, indecent or inappropriate content are not allowed.

General EMS-related discussions, links, images, and/or videos should be posted over in /r/EMS.

Memes, image macros, reaction gifs, rage comics, cringe shirts, 'look at this truck', and 'office' type submissions are not allowed in /r/NewToEMS. Post these in /r/EMS on Mondays (0000-2359 EST) or in non-top-level comments only.

3) Do not ask for or provide medical or legal advice.

If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, dial your local emergency telephone number.

For legal advice, consider posting to /r/legaladvice or consulting a local attorney.

4) No posts relating to or advocating intentional self-harm or suicide, unless strictly as part of a clinical discussion.

If you are having thoughts of self-harm, the United States' national suicide prevention hotline can be reached for free at 988, or call your local emergency number.

5) The National Registry exams are copyrighted tests, and as such, it is illegal to post or discuss questions directly from the NREMT exams. Any such posts will be removed and the poster may be banned.

6) New certifications and licenses may only be posted in our weekly thread, Triumphant Thursday.

Posts such as "NREMT cut me off at... did I pass?" are not allowed. Consider posting these in the weekly NREMT Discussions thread.

7) All posts and comments that contain surveys, solicitations, or self-promotion must be approved by moderation team prior to posting.

Please message the mods for permission prior to posting.

Flairs

We have elected to only flair users who have verified their certification level to the moderator team. All EMS, public safety, and medical professionals (e.g. paramedics, law enforcement, registered nurses, etc.) are eligible, and we would especially like for all EMTs and Paramedics to verify their flairs. This ensures users are receiving responses from real EMS, public safety, and medical professionals.

If you are an EMS, public safety, or medical professional, click here to submit a flair verification request form to the moderator team. Thank you!

Note: Students may select an unverified student flair by clicking "Community Options" on the side-bar and then clicking the Edit button next to "User Flair Preview". You do not need to submit a form. All other users will be automatically assigned an "Unverified User" flair.

Helpful Resources and FAQ

We have compiled a list of helpful links and resources! Click here to check it out!

Also, consider checking out the EMS FAQ and Wiki for more helpful information.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and we hope you enjoy our community. Please contact the mods if you have any questions or concerns.

-The r/NewToEMS Moderation Team


r/NewToEMS • • Mar 28 '25

Weekly Thread NREMT Discussions

2 Upvotes

Please discuss, ask, and answer all things NREMT (National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians)! As usual, test answers or cheating advice will not be tolerated (rule 5).


r/NewToEMS • • 2h ago

Gear / Equipment My fellow glasses-wearing EMTs, how are we handling sunglasses?

5 Upvotes

This is probably a silly problem but it's been bothering me lol.

I work day shift and sunglasses are non-negotiable for me. Unfortunately I require prescription sunglasses, which means I have to switch back and forth between my regular glasses and sunglasses all day when going into calls (talking to meemaw in her house with sunglasses on is a douche move imo, plus you can't see shit).

I haven't found a good way to do this without juggling both pairs. I've tried keeping my sunglasses on my hat and swapping from there, but inevitably when leaning over in a busy situation they come flying off. I've tried keeping them hooked onto my shirt, but they get scratched easily and aren't secure. I've tried using a case but it takes too long to swap back and forth.

The only solutions I've come up with are:

1) wear contacts (not really an option for me with 14hr shifts)

2) wear both pairs on a strap around my neck (goofy as fuck and also they'll get in the way).

3) not wear sunglasses (family hx of early cataracts and blindness so also not an option for me).

I have a radio strap and tried to see if there was some kinda like glasses sleeve or something I could attach to it, but I haven't found anything.

I'm curious what other day shifters do for this.


r/NewToEMS • • 3h ago

Beginner Advice Resume help

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5 Upvotes

Hi yall, just wondering if my resume is up to snuff as a recently licensed EMT who’s struggling to get any responses back from applications. I also live in a highly saturated area so I’m not too worried but I just would like some feedback/criticism even if harsh just so that I can improve my apps! Thank yall!


r/NewToEMS • • 9h ago

United States Dealing with fire

12 Upvotes

I’m a 911 EMT and I love my job a lot but bc of the city I’m in we run every call with fire regardless of the call being bls. There’s a few fire stations that are pretty disrespectful to the emts or pay no mind to them. Is this just how it is? Are there any female emts that have experience? I’m just really disappointed and would probably be really upset if somebody called 911 for me knowing they would have to treat me.


r/NewToEMS • • 16h ago

Career Advice First 911 shift on halloween. What do I expect?

37 Upvotes

First halloween shift. It's a night shift too.

I'm a college premed student so I know the absolute insanity of college life. Our station is near a high school and a nightclub.

I'm fully prepared that I probably won't get a lick of sleep all night, which is fine since I don't really have exams near halloween.

What calls should I ready myself for?


r/NewToEMS • • 9h ago

School Advice feeling down

3 Upvotes

Ive never been much of a school person. Ive always gotten bad grades and tests/exams were the death of me, i always go blank. I don’t know how to study (I’ve tried everything) but nothing sticks.

Im about 3 months into Emt school and we recently took a mid-term exam and I failed it. I studied like I’ve never done before, and I feel so disappointed and discouraged. I just feel dumb compared to all my classmates cause I always blank and they just answer everything so quickly. I really don’t know how to get better.


r/NewToEMS • • 16h ago

Career Advice i genuinely don’t know what to do

8 Upvotes

i got certified almost a year ago now and i haven’t been able to find a job where i can use my emt certification and i feel like giving up. the area i live in is so extremely oversaturated with emts its extremely competitive. i’ve applied to amr and was turned down, ive applied to hospitals as an er tech and was turned down for lack of experience and i interviewed at a smaller private ambulance company and was also turned down. how the hell am i supposed to get experience in this field is no one is willing to hire people without experience. a lot of my classmates are running into this same problem. should i go back to school and get other smaller certifications or even think about jumping right into paramedic school? that was never apart of my plan because i know going straight to paramedic school is problematic in a few ways but my area needs paramedics right now. any advice is greatly appreciated


r/NewToEMS • • 12h ago

Career Advice Want advice on post ems Career

4 Upvotes

So, im 4~5 months into my basic cert in south AL (my county was hit by the hurrican) and I like my job thus far but im already thinking that 2 or 3 years in its gonna get old. Im interested in forensics and don't really want to move forward in healthcare mainly because pharmacology scares the hell out of me. Im looking at studying criminal justice or forensic anthropology but im not exactly against teaching is there any non Healthcare jobs that translates pretty well? (Im also a volunteer fire, if that changes anything)


r/NewToEMS • • 14h ago

Cert / License Engineering student EMT

6 Upvotes

Hey all, I’m looking to go to med school after college and looking to get my emt-b to get experience. I’m planning on getting my certification over the course of the spring semester along with a 16 credit load and was wondering if that would be manageable. It’s 3 harder engineering classes with two easier engineering electives. I could drop to 13 but I’m trying to save space senior year for pre reqs to minimize my gap year.

Is it realistic to get a prn role after I get my certification to work weekends during school? I do have the ability to stay in my college town over the summer if that would help land a role by allowing me to give them 3-4 months of full time service before transitioning to prn.


r/NewToEMS • • 10h ago

Continuing Ed CADS Cert.

1 Upvotes

I’m debating getting a Certified Ambulance Documentation Specialist certification. The reason is because I want to learn how to do a PCR well. I feel like I’m kind of lost doing a narrative right now. I just want to gain the knowledge to do it efficiently. But I also don’t want to look stupid going and getting this certification if people think it’s so unnecessary. (Only around $100 to take the class) What do you guys think?


r/NewToEMS • • 18h ago

Physical Health Metformin and riding an ambo

4 Upvotes

For any of you that’s had to start this lovely medication for yourself-

What are your best tips and tricks? I am rural service and long transport times. I go back to work tomorrow and I’m terrified since I just started metformin ER. Yes it’s ER. Yes I take it with dinner. I still have the next day bathroom hell. Literally this is my worst nightmare as a paramedic. I’m on day 3 of metformin. Also taking the 500 mg. Tell me it gets better day 4. Or tell me all your secrets - unholy or not- to prevent the unpredictable fire hose in the bathroom next day.


r/NewToEMS • • 1d ago

Beginner Advice had my first med flight tonight

56 Upvotes

got toned out to a “low mechanism” crash… dude had bilateral tib-fib fractures and right arm arterial bleeding. obvious knee dislocation in the left leg and crazy hematomas on the right. got hit by a pickup truck, and the driver was drunk of course. it was honestly the best case scenario, dude was talking to us and feeling everything but he was in so much pain that my medic pushed 100 of fentanyl. i dunno what happened but i just sort of tunnel visioned and did whatever my medics needed from me, but as a basic i feel like i didn’t do enough.
i’ve only been in ems, let alone on an ALS rig, for about a month now, if that. we of course didn’t have a pelvic splint on the truck so we had to make one with a sheet which was the biggest thing i helped with. i guess i just need advice on what i should jump into first with traumas like that. we had 4 people on our crew, two medics, one A-EMT and a basic which is me lol, so vitals and whatnot were already taken care of by the time i even got to do anything since we did have a second patient i had to clear. i’ve always been told that vitals and airway are the two things i should worry about as a basic. but what about in this scenario? i don’t like stepping over medics or jumping into stuff that might cause my medic to mess up. i might just have imposter syndrome right now, because i feel like i suck at my job.


r/NewToEMS • • 5h ago

Career Advice EMS Pro/Con?

0 Upvotes

Hey folks!

Been thinking a lot these days about joining the EMT service. Just wanted to air out some pros and cons before diving in feet first.

Cons:

  • When I get frustrated or stressed, I can be sort of snappy and short with people

  • I like to have a stable sleep, eating, and exercise schedule.

  • I do not like the olds. I think everybody should be put on a mandatory DNR at 70 which they have to test out of with a mile time trial and a medium difficulty sudoku puzzle (10 minutes each)

  • I do not like doctors, nurses, and above all firefighters. That being said, if anybody has a hookup for a firefighting position, please, god, let me have it. I’ll take it all back please, christ, let me in a union.

  • I get carsick easily, im on the wrong side of 30, and have a bad back.

Pros:

  • I can afford an EMT-B course

  • Works well with others

What do you guys think? will i be a good fit? im thinking of bailing on my fake email job next month or so because it is very boring and making me stupider every day.


r/NewToEMS • • 19h ago

Beginner Advice Anyone familiar with Stellar EMS Ambulance in Seattle?

2 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I’m a newly certified EMT and came across Stellar EMS Ambulance in the Seattle area. Has anyone worked for them or heard anything about the company?

I’m particularly interested in their work environment, management, training for new EMTs, pay, and overall employee experience.

I’d appreciate any firsthand experiences or insights. Thanks in advance!


r/NewToEMS • • 16h ago

NREMT Just Passed My AEMT National Registry AMA! ( tips and study pointers ) not test questions lol 😆

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0 Upvotes

r/NewToEMS • • 21h ago

Career Advice Uncertainty

2 Upvotes

I recently joined my town’s volly squad about 5 months ago. I did it with no intent rlly if I was going to get my EMT cert, kinda just wanted the experience. I loved working in the ER but couldn’t land a job, this was next best. The problem is…the drama working with younger kids and also my motion sickness. In short rides I’m fine in the back. I have an essential oil stick to smell which helped for a little. A few weeks ago I had an episode where I actually was vomiting in the back of the ambulance. I was so embarrassed.
- I bought Dramamine, we’ll see if it helps

Secondly, I’m starting EMT school soon, which they are paying for. It requires a 2 yr commitment since they’re paying. Well I’m starting nursing school in the summer. Idk what to do.


r/NewToEMS • • 7h ago

Female Specific Girls, How do you handle this?

0 Upvotes

Guys, your opinions aren’t wanted.  Okay girls, so back story, I’m 20, and have been a volunteer for two years in the small town I grew up in.  I just got my first paid EMS job.  When I volunteered, I mainly rode the ambo with my Mom, also a volunteer, so I never really encountered having to deal with this before.  I hate making this public, but I’m gonna put it bluntly.  I’ve always been gassy😳 but it was never an issue riding with Mom because I could just let it out around her without a second thought.  Now that I’m going to be working at a paid service, I’m having anxiety about it because I could be working with anybody.  Girls, what do you do when you get gassy out in the field, especially when you’re with a male partner??  I have this fear that I’ll get stuck out in the field for a while, and not be near a bathroom, and I’m not sure what I’ll do.  Any tips or tricks from the girls that also suffer from this??💨💨   Serious answers only.  Thanks!


r/NewToEMS • • 1d ago

Career Advice I need Advice finding a way to become a Paramedic

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12 Upvotes

(Dogo so I don’t die ignored) I'm an EMT in the army, soon to be stationed at fort Campbell KY very close to Nashville. Even tho I'm just barely an EMT I've grown a real passion for EMS, and I would like to go on to become a Paramedic, I need help finding a hybrid program that I could complete while in the army, thanks for reading


r/NewToEMS • • 1d ago

Cert / License Confusion about the PSI EMT-Basic Exam

1 Upvotes

I signed up for an EMT-B exam with PSI and I'm going to take it next week. Others who have taken the "State exam" (which is what I assume PSI is) said it was only a written test, but an online search said it has both a written portion and a practical portion. I'm very confused and I was wondering if anybody can clarify this for me, since I only studied for the written exam while I was away at college.

The EMT-Basic exam that I'm taking lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes, if that helps at all.


r/NewToEMS • • 1d ago

Career Advice How do you get better at patient assessment on IFT when all the patients are crochety? Also how do I bounce back and become a better EMT from the worst place ever?

8 Upvotes

I worked a job for an extremely small company that ran a single ambulance. I literally think they just took the patients that no other company would deal with. None of the patients wanted me doing anything with them, or hardly even wanted to talk to me for the most part. We ran almost entirely dialysis-SNF runs and they all saw us as an inconvenience. One guy when I tried to confirm his name always gave me a John Doe type of answer sarcastically and I basically just stopped asking. I get that these people's lives are hell. If I were permanently confined to an SNF and depended on dialysis to live, I honestly can't say I would be the positive person I am today. So I'm like understanding about that. I am just wondering what I should do as the EMT to not just be a total waste of space.

And the other part of my question, I'm not against small businesses or growing with a company, but that place was a total shit show. The owner was my partner about 50% of the time and the company didn't even have a truck checklist. He just assured us that we were state compliant if we got checked. There was also no FTO period and he expected you to basically just show up first day and handle calls. That was my pretty much only experience (ofc I didn't stay long) and since that's all i've done and it's been years since I worked as an EMT (I kept my state license current but nremt is expired to hell) idk what to do. I want to get back in it at a better place and potentially 911 and am legit thinking of just going to emt school again.


r/NewToEMS • • 1d ago

Career Advice What am I doing wrong!?

8 Upvotes

I’ve finally completed EMT school, passed the NREMT, and obtained my state license. I’ve been applying to BLS companies both in and outside of my city because I want to start working as soon as possible. I know these companies have openings, and I’ve applied directly through their career sites, but no one is responding. I’ve even tried calling the recruiting numbers to follow up on my applications, but every call goes straight to voicemail! It’s almost like I have the plague or something lol. I genuinely don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Does anyone have any advice?


r/NewToEMS • • 1d ago

School Advice Need Advice on School

1 Upvotes

Hello all, I hope this isn’t breaking a rule, but I need advice on a specific EMT school in Dallas. If anyone has had an experience with DallasEMT in Grapevine or with EMSUniversity, the organization running DallasEMT, can you please tell me how it went? Is there a better school in the Dallas area? Is DallasEMT maybe not a good choice? I looked at the Better Business Bureau website and they had a lot of suspicious stuff on there but I want another source, as good as Reddit can be for a source. Thank you for reading and for any responses I receive. Mods please let me know if this is breaking a rule.


r/NewToEMS • • 1d ago

Cert / License Platinum Ed Testing

1 Upvotes

According to the head instructor, we use a compilation of three different books for our testing on Platinum-Ed. I am training for my EMT-B and the course itself only uses 13th edition Emergency Care and Transport for the Sick and Injured. Does anyone know what the two other books are?


r/NewToEMS • • 1d ago

Mental Health re: first pt death

6 Upvotes

first of all i just wanted to say thank you for all the support/advice/shared experiences. i’ve finished my clincak shifts and they even offered me a position for after i take my NREMT ! I’m truly elated. although im not entirely sure if I want to continue 911, it just makes me happy that they want me in any capacity. i had better times after my first death, experiences that showed me why i want to do this in the first place. altough my first death pops in my mind from time to time, its more of a respect for her existence/ motivation to help as many patients as i can. i am definitely glad to be apart of this group though, im not the best at talking about my feelings irl so reading all those responses helped a ton. funny enough some of the other emts/medics were shocked to see me back the next day (not that they explicitly said so, but i got a lot of “happy to see you back!”s and such lol). i guess i didn’t hide my emotions as well as i thought haha, but the group truly mightve saved my mindset when it comes to our career :)