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Who should consider an EMT career?

May 23, 2013 By

If you are considering a career in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS), you have come to the right place. This post will explore the pros and cons of EMS. The Emergency Medical Services field is growing rapidly right now. It is an exciting time to be a part of it. But even on a personal, day-to-day level, EMS is an exciting career field. EMS professionals provide care to patients in their most urgent time of need. Providing this type of urgent and immediate care is very rewarding. People in the EMS field do have routine work as well, but it is often minimal. The exciting part is being dispatched on a call, because no one ever really knows what to expect. If you are looking for a dynamic workplace, an avenue in which to serve the community at large, and are both physically and mentally fit, a career in EMS may be perfect for you.

Dynamic workplace – The EMS field is one of the most dynamic workplaces there is. Every call is different. Every scene is new. Every patient is unique. As an EMT, you will never be bored at work because work is never the same from day to day. A career in the EMS field is truly dynamic.

EMS careers are dynamic

EMTs can have dynamic and rewarding careers.

Service to the community – Being in the EMS is being in service to the community. Everyone calls 911 during an emergency; Everyone calls you. As an EMT you have the duty to serve them to the best of your ability. Many EMTs say this is the most rewarding aspect of their career. EMTs live and breathe to serve others, and get paid for it. Service is of the upmost importance in the EMS field.

Physical and mental fitness – Working in EMS is by no means a desk job – you are constantly on the go, and because of this, physical fitness is paramount to stellar job performance. Mental health is also extremely important. More often than not, you will be meeting people in great distress. You will have to remain calm yourself, in order to help your patients calm down. You will also be called to some horrific scenes. It is hard for anyone to witness tragedy, but EMS personnel are faced with it more than most, and have to cope with it in healthy and productive ways.

In conclusion, a career in the Emergency Medical Services can be a rewarding life’s work. There are many fields to go into once entering the EMS: ambulance personnel, Fire or Police Departments, the military, hospitals that offer EMS care, the possibilities are limitless. After you complete your EMT training, you can decide where you want to take it and what you want to do.According to research by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, EMS providers are some of the happiest people in their jobs (NREMT, 4/2013 https://www.nremt.org/nremt/about/becomeInvolvedInEMS.asp). Going into the EMS field is both an accomplishment and a promise. It is an accomplishment because EMS testing and regulations require dedication on the part of the student. It is a promise because people in the EMS are the first responders to emergencies, and being in the EMS is a promise to society that you will be there for them in a time of need.

Next Steps – If serving the community in a dynamic and ever-changing workplace sounds compelling, a career in the EMS field would probably be a good fit for you. Unitek Education is a premier provider of accelerated EMT training. Learn more about what it takes to be an EMT: call 888-790-1458 for information or to register for the hottest EMT Boot Camp in California now!

 

About Unitek Education

Unitek Education is the premier EMT training provider in the United States. Our mission is simple: training the next wave of EMT professionals. We offer a variety of training options to fit your needs. Unitek Education’s instructors are experienced leaders in their fields, and our ultra-real-world training scenarios are ideal for both new and seasoned students, with training the covers all major aspects of emergency medical services.

 

4670 Automall Parkway

Fremont, CA 94538

(888)790-1458

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Ten Ways to be a Better EMT

May 3, 2013 By

In all areas of life, there is always room for improvement. Take a moment to reflect on your work life to find where improvements could be made. I thought about it this past week, and have written the following tips that will positively impact your life and work as an EMT.

1. Learn every patient’s name, Then use it. Asking your patients’ name should be the first step in every assessment: take your patients’ wrist, and ask, “What is your name?” Their answer will help you assess airway, circulation, major cranial nerves, and breathing. Now, remember their name. During your time with them, use it. This will make your patient much more comfortable and confident in your abilities as an EMT – drastically improving your patient rapport.

2. Leave the rig better than you got it. Next time you start your shift, open up the back doors of the rig and just examine it. Is it messy, organized, accessible, a nightmare? Whatever state you find it in, do something that will leave it better for the next crew. You can do something simple – wipe down the cabinet doors, for example. Or go a little further – do an inventory of the jump kit, or set up the pram for the next guys. It doesn’t have to be perfect (it never will be), just better than it was. You will feel better, the next crew will feel better, and who knows, maybe you will start a positive snowball effect of rig-perfecting.

3. Learn from your peers. Everyone you meet has something to teach you. In terms of your peers, you could learn valuable career-related insights. Engage with your coworkers, find topics they enjoy talking about, and dive in. People love to talk about things they love – use this to your advantage and let them teach you.

4. Care about your patient. Often times in the rush of things, we drop our patient off at the ER and get back to whatever had our attention before we got the call. “I wasn’t finished reading that post on EMTCourse.com!” I know, happens to me all the time. But I encourage you to get into the habit of staying around the ER after dropping off your patient, time allowing. Staying around the ER will only improve your future performance as an EMT. Use it as an opportunity to learn, ask the doctors what they think is happening and if there was something you could have done differently to improve patient outcome. They may not always be right, but their input is definitely worthy of consideration.

5. Be the kind of partner you would want to have. Everyone clamors for the best partner. Having a good partner not only makes your job easier, it makes it so much more enjoyable. So if you wa

Become a better EMT

nt tobest partner, be the partner that everyone else wants. The process is simple: take out a piece of paper, write down all the qualities you would want in a partner, and then strive to embody those qualities.

6. Master medication. There are so many medications, mastering a working knowledge of all of them and their interactions would be near impossible, but make an effort to understand each new medication you encounter while on call. Don’t recognize it? Write it down, and after your shift, look it up. Keep this up, and by the end of the year, you knowledge of medications and potential interactions will be vastly improved, allowing you to perform your job better.

7. Research. If you are serious about working in the medical field, you must know that technology and medicine are constantly improving. Many of the practices and equipment you are using now will be completely obsolete in a few years, so pay attention. Stay up to date on the latest research and do your leg work. Being an EMT means committing to a lifetime of learning.

8. Stop eating junk food. As an EMT, your job is literally to protect and preserve the health of others. So why are you neglecting your own? I know you work in an ambulance and you are constantly rushed, but make a conscious effort to eat healthier. Bring an apple and skip the drive-through. You will be more energetic and better able to care for your patients. Being out of shape is not only a disservice to yourself, it is a disservice to your patients.

9. Perfect the full head-to-toe assessment. Yes, this can and should be perfected. A smooth and, more importantly, thorough, assessment is vital in giving the best patient care. Skimping out on certain parts can have disastrous results. Detailed head-to-toes can have life-saving results. They are one of the most important things you can do for your patients. So do them, and do them well.

10. Claim your contribution. We can enter the EMS field and suddenly be overwhelmed with an uncertainty we’ve never felt before. “Can I actually do this job?” “Do I know enough to actually help this patient, and not harm them?” These are valid concerns, and the stress shows you care. But don’t let it debilitate you. Know that you can do this job. You were certified for a reason. You were hired for a reason. Ask yourself instead, “How can I contribute?” or “What is unique about my skillset that I can contribute to the team and to my patients?” Seriously, ask yourself. You may be surprised that the answer will probably come immediately. Jump on that, act on it, and contribute the world of EMS in a way that only you can.I hope you find these tips as useful as I have. If you practice them with consistency, I have no doubt you will see major improvements in both your job satisfaction and performance as an Emergency Medical Technician.

About Unitek Education

Unitek Education is the premier EMT training provider in the United States. Our mission is simple: training the next wave of EMT professionals. We offer a variety of training options to fit your needs. Unitek Education’s instructors are experienced leaders in their fields, and our ultra-real-world training scenarios are ideal for both new and seasoned students, with training the covers all major aspects of emergency medical services.

4670 Automall Parkway

Fremont, CA 94538

(888)790-1458

Filed Under: EMT Careers Tagged With: , , , , ,

Why California is a great place to get EMT Training

April 22, 2013 By

California is a great place for a host of reasons. Ask a Californian why California is the best state and the answers you get will be as varied and diverse as the state’s residents themselves. We have great weather year-round, sunny beaches, and snowy mountains. We have bustling cities and quiet stretches of farmland. Basically, we have it all. California has always been a vacation destination, but is has also become a mecca for people seeking top-tier EMT training. Located in the Bay Area, Unitek Education offers an accelerated EMT training program that prepares students for EMT-B certification in two weeks.

Unitek Education is located in Fremont, CA – and is basically in the center of the Bay Area. About a 20 minute drive from San Jose, 45 minutes on public transit to San Francisco, you can city-hop with relative ease during your stay here.

California EMT

EMTs on the job in California

If you are coming here for training and are from out of the area, you are in good company. Unitek Education can make hotel and car arrangements for you.  Unitek Education goal is to make your trip to California as comfortable and stress-free as possible, so you can focus on your EMT training! Because you will need all the focus you can muster during this two week intensive boot camp. Accelerated EMT training is short compared to traditional EMT training – condensing six months of training into a short, intense two weeks. Training is 14 hours per day, for 14 days.

Just because training is intense, does not mean you won’t have time to make the most of your visit to California! There is plenty to do while you’re here.  Attend sporting events, dine out at restaurants, get active outdoors, experience the nightlife, or explore museums – there is a lot to see and do in the Bay Area, so make a list of what most interests you. You’re classmates would probably love to join in on your itinerary.

Sports

Bay Area sports are huge these days! So many Bay Area teams did well last season, and everyone is getting pumped for upcoming sports seasons. The Bay Area is home to both the Oakland A’s and the World Series champions, San Francisco Giants. We also have The Oakland Raiders and the NFC champions the SF 49ers.  Hockey and basketball are also big here. So if you are a sports fan, you will feel right at home in the Bay Area. Chances are there will be a game for you to attend with your classmates during your time at Unitek Education.

Restaurants

14-hours a day of Elite EMT training will make anyone hungry. Unitek Education provides lunch to all our boot camp students, and if you stay at a hotel via Unitek Education’s accommodations, breakfast will also be provided. But I encourage you to use dinner time as a chance to explore the diversity of the Bay Area. The Bay Area is home to thousands of amazing restaurants. You will find every kind restaurant, of all types of ethnicities, at all different price ranges. Whether you choose a hole-in-the-wall or a five-star bistro, I promise you will not be disappointed in the options, nor will you try the same thing twice.

Explore the great outdoors

The Bay Area has tons of nature to explore. While you are in Fremont, try hiking up Mission Peak. It is a popular trail for locals, and for good reason – the views at the top are spectacular. There are hiking trails all over the Bay Area. If you’re not too tired after EMT training, grab some classmates and go exploring!

Next Steps

Call Unitek Education’s EMT admissions team or admissions advisors to receive an introduction on the course, enroll, and work out all the other details of your training. Call Unitek Education at 888-790-1458 to register for your EMT Boot Camp in California now!

 

About Unitek Education

Unitek Education is the premier EMT training provider in the United States. Our mission is simple: training the next wave of EMT professionals. We offer a variety of training options to fit your needs. Unitek Education’s instructors are experienced leaders in their fields, and our ultra-real-world training scenarios are ideal for both new and seasoned students, with training the covers all major aspects of emergency medical services.

 

4670 Automall Parkway

Fremont, CA 94538

(888)790-1458

 

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EMT Training – What to expect on your first “third ride”

April 2, 2013 By

At some point in your EMT training, you will go on a “third ride”. It is called a third ride because you are the third person in the ambulance. There are two paramedics riding up front, and you, the student, the “third rider”, sitting in the back of the ambulance. As the third rider, you are along for the ride (and the learning experience) of your life.

You will probably be pretty nervous. The crew you’re riding with will expect you to be. They were once in your shoes, and they were shaking in them too. Some crews will be understanding and accommodating, letting you sit back and watch. Others will push you to be more active, to help overcome your fears. After all, this is what you will be doing after you graduate. There is no better way to learn than to do.

EMT training

Being an EMT means constantly learning new things

It’s okay to be nervous, but remember: you are not alone. The crew is there. They are training you. The fire department is there, the police department is there. The pressure is not on you. You are the student, there to experience, and observe, participate when appropriate, and learn. It isn’t all on your shoulders!

The crew is there to do their job, but they will expect you to get involved. Don’t just stand there. If you stand around with your hands in your pockets, not only will you be in the way, but you won’t learn much; and if you’re not learning and not helping, your presence is not only unnecessary, it is literally a danger.

So jump in! Do exactly what you will do when you are a real EMT. Insider tip: As soon as you get to the scene, start taking vitals before you are asked. This will impress the medics you are with. While you are taking vitals, assess the rest of the scene. Listen to the paramedic conduct the patient interview. Listen to the patient’s answers. If the patient says something that you can act on, do so. For example, if they say they are having chest pain, start hooking them up to a monitor so the medic can run an EKG. You will be saving the medic’s time, getting real learning experience, and improving the quality of care for the patient. Get involved and do your best. Doing so will make the most out of your third ride.

The crews you are riding with will be evaluating you. And they will be reporting these evaluations back to your EMT instructors. If you want a great evaluation, ask what your crew expects, and do that. Simply ask them at the beginning of your shift. They will be happy to tell you, and you will be happy you asked. Not only will asking for their advice improve your performance, but your nervousness will decrease because you will have opened up a conversation with your crew.

So, be eager to help, be eager to do, be eager to ask, be eager to listen, and be eager to learn. Most importantly, have fun. This is a great experience and a major turning point in your EMT career. So enjoy it, and make the most of it. It will only serve you well in the future (when you are driving the ambulance and you have our own little third riders coming along).

About Unitek Education
Unitek Education is the premier EMT training provider in the United States. Our mission is simple: training the next wave of EMT professionals. We offer a variety of training options to fit your needs. Unitek Education’s instructors are experienced leaders in their fields, and our ultra-real-world training scenarios are ideal for both new and seasoned students, with training the covers all major aspects of emergency medical services.

Call our EMT admissions team and our admissions advisors will introduce you to our program, help you enroll, and work out all the other details of your training. Call 888-790-1458 to register for EMT Boot Camp in California now!

4670 Automall Parkway
Fremont, CA 94538
(888)790-1458

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Operation Rolling Chaos: Mass Casualty Incident Training

March 18, 2013 By
Car Crash Disaster Operation Rolling Chaos

A view of a small part of Operation Rolling Chaos. This event featured over 25 vehicles in the disaster simulation

Aspiring EMTs who signed up for Unitek Education’s February 2nd 14-Day EMT Boot Camp, were in for the experience of a lifetime.  All enrollees were able to participate in Operation Rolling Chaos, held on February 10th, 2013, one of the largest emergency disaster drills ever conducted in the Bay Area. The goal of the event was to establish a standard operating protocol amongst differing agencies in response to a mass casualty incident.

 The sheer size and scope of Operation Rolling Chaos set it apart as one of the most ambitious disaster drills ever conducted in the Bay Area.  Over 15 agencies prepared for and participated in Operation Rolling Chaos, creating a chaotic landscape of over 500 individuals. Among these agencies were Unitek Education’s EMT boot camp students, multiple branches of military EMS, local police and fire departments, and numerous other agencies. The goal of the exercise was simple: prepare emergency teams for large scale disaster response and build protocols for collaboration between multiple agencies.

 Working alongside the more than 200 patients and 100 military personnel, Unitek Education’s EMT boot camp students received unrivaled disaster simulation experience.  Through triage and first response procedure, responders needed to determine which patients had the most life threatening injuries, and how best to prioritize their efforts.  The disaster zone consisted of 12 cars, 2 buses, and 8 ambulances, with dozens of injured, screaming patients scattered amidst the twisted metal of the wreckage.  Despite the carnage surrounding them, the EMT students calmly and accurately prioritized treatment and delivered emergency care.  This exercise provided an ideal environment to sharpen their life saving skills should a real disaster of this magnitude strike.

Nothing displays our dedication to our motto, “Come Train with The Elite”, better than the air rescue drill performed with emergency personnel suspended from a flying helicopter.  The Sonoma County Sheriff helicopter pilots displayed true skill and expertise with an exciting air lift rescue drill.  One of Unitek Education’s EMT graduates air lifted one of our current EMT boot camp students and both hung far below a soaring Sonoma County Sheriff’s helicopter. This drill was an astounding display of skill, expertise, and bravery.  Amazing training opportunities like Operation Rolling Chaos are a testament to Unitek Education’s dedication to providing real-world, expert training.

About Unitek Education

Founded in 1992, Unitek Education’s EMT Training division’s mission is simple: Training the next wave of EMT professionals. Unitek Education’s 14-Day EMT Training Boot Camp is a one of a kind program that gets students skilled and prepared for their NREMT in 2 weeks of intense training.  Every EMT boot camp includes an event similar to Operation Rolling Chaos called Trauma Sunday.  During every Trauma Sunday you will find flipped cars, multiple ambulances, and groups of injured patients that have to be treated.  Unitek Education understands that realistic scenarios are key building blocks to the training of industry-ready EMTs who possess the knowledge and skill to surpass expectations in the field.  Get certified in less time and gain real hands-on experience. For more information call 888-790-1458.

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Unitek Education to Host Mass Emergency Incident on February 10th

February 7, 2013 By

FREMONT, CA­ – Unitek Education along with several tactical teams, local law enforcement, firefighting agencies and military personal will be collaborating for a mass casualty emergency simulation to educate and prepare for the next Bay Area major disaster. In total, this nonprofit event is a product of 15 agencies and is expected to educate 400+ attendees.  The event, titled Operation Rolling Chaos, is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, February 10th in Fremont, CA.

“The goal of this event is to educate our community, the agencies involved and mainly our students,” said Eric O’Neal, Unitek Education’s lead EMT instructor. Eric added, “We are giving these tactical teams who may not have the opportunity to work together, the chance to learn from each other so that when a real emergency like Loma Preita or Hurricane Sandy happens, we are all better prepared.”

Operation Rolling Chaos is open to our local community to attend. Unitek Education is encouraging anyone who is interested in disaster preparedness to attend this event. Attendees of this event will leave with a new understanding of how tactical teams operate during a mass casualty incident. “No one wants a disaster to happen, but the fact is they do,” O’Neal said. “If our emergency response teams, volunteers, and community at large should take away one thing, it would be that we were proactively preparing.  People may say that there is no way to be 100% prepared, but it won’t stop us from trying.”

This large training scenario will be centered on the breaking of the Anderson Dam near Morgan Hill. In 2009, Santa Clara Valley Water District concluded from a study that the dam may break if a 6.6 magnitude or 7.2 magnitude earthquakes were to hit within a mile. It has been projected that once the dam breaks, a 35-foot wall of water will engulf downtown Morgan Hill and its surrounding areas.  EMT’s will be the first to arrive, but once realizing the scope of the disaster will call in back up from military agencies.  To mimic this large scale disaster Operation Rolling Chaos commissioned the use of 12 cars, 1 bus, 8 ambulances, and the landing of 3 helicopters.

About Unitek Education
Unitek Education is a privately held company dedicated to producing the next wave of emergency medical technicians by enforcing real-life and hands-on training. Over 8,000 EMTs have graduated from Unitek Education EMT 14-day boot camp.

Contact:
Operation Rolling Chaos Team
510-896-7561
Operation@unitekeducation.com

Filed Under: EMT Training

Unitek Education to Host Mass Casualty Simulation

January 24, 2013 By

It is game 3 of the 1989 World Series. The cheers and screams at Candlestick Park are deafening. It’s the bottom of the 4th; the San Francisco Giants are pitching, Jose Conseco of the Oakland Athletics just created a point lead. Suddenly all the cheer and joy is replaced with fear and panic. A chaotic quake has shock the core of the Bay Area. For a brief but lifelong 15 seconds, the Bay Area suffered 63 deaths, thousands of injuries and many more in damages. How will your tactical team respond? Is there an emergency plan in place?

Unitek Education believes that a prepared community is a better community. Although we may not like to hear it, mass casualty incidents occur and a better trained and prepared tactical force is a necessity. Unitek Education will be hosting a one-day event on 02/10/2013, to bring their signature EMT mass casualty exercises, Trauma Sundays to a larger scale. Operation Rolling Chaos is a multiagency collaboration between civilian and military EMS designed to equip its participants with tactical procedures in response to potential disasters. Spectators are welcomed to join the event and get an insight on how these teams mitigate disasters.

Although some may argue that mock scenarios do not compare to a real life mass casualty incident. However, nothing beats a solid preplan.

Rubel Kahn, Director of Operations, Unitek Education said “Unitek Education’s EMT program is 100% committed to empowering our aspiring EMS professionals to be as prepared as possible when they enter the field. We do this through our signature Trauma Sunday mock accident training scenarios.  In addition to offering a dynamic training opportunity to our current and past EMT students, this exercise will help familiarize our local community with disaster response protocol.”

For more information on this special training event, visit: http://www.unitekeducation.com/emt-training/operation-rolling-chaos

Filed Under: EMT Certification, EMT Classes, EMT Courses, EMT Training

What Type of Environments Do EMT’s Work In?

October 30, 2012 By

What Type of Environments Do EMT’s Work In?

Certified Emergency Medical Technicians work in many different environments, indoor and outdoor, all types of weather, and the dynamics are always changing. These environments can be stressful; however, the challenge of responding to unknown situations is one of the most exhilarating and fulfilling aspects of the job.

As a certified EMT, you are an Allied Health Professional, you will be coming into people’s lives during what may be the scariest crisis they have ever experienced, and you will affect the outcome of the patient because of the education, training and skills that you possess.

Work Environments and Roles

There are various areas where Emergency medical services will be needed and it doesn’t look like the industry is seeing a slowdown anytime soon. In fact, the BLS is projecting a 33% rise in jobs for EMT’s in the 2010-2020 job market, this, as stated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is a “much faster than average” rise in demand for all occupations.*

911 Service

Many different municipalities hire EMT’s for 911 services. With volunteerism down (because people do not have the time to volunteer as much as in the past) Volunteer Ambulance Companies and Fire Departments hire EMT’s to cover 911 calls during the daytime hours because not enough volunteers are available to respond.

Inter-Facility Transports

Private ambulance companies transport hundreds of thousands of patients that are not emergencies. Countless patients need transportation to dialysis centers two to three times a week, many patients need transportation from one medical facility to another for specialized care, and some patients need transportation to, and from, hospitals in non-emergency situations.

Standby for Events

Ambulances and EMT’s are required to “Standby” at any event where very large crowds are expected such as sporting events, but not only professional events, but at high schools and colleges as well.

Volunteer

You may want to volunteer in your community and provide a vital service to your neighbors. There is no better feeling then when you give of yourself. Training, and acquiring the skills to save a life, assist in delivering a baby, treating trauma patients, and being there for someone who is in need of your professional ability is something that will raise your sense of self-worth tremendously.

Will I Be Able to Handle All of the Situations I Encounter?

This is a question that most new or potential EMT’s always wonder about. Yes, with your education and training, you will be able to assess a scene, evaluate a patient’s condition, and treat the patient to a Standard of Care that assures the best possible outcome for everyone you care for and transport.

What Can I Expect to Gain As An EMT?

There are so many things that you will gain as an Allied Health Professional. Most technicians will tell you there is nothing in life that matches the feeling they had when they found themselves in the right place, at the right time, with the education and tools needed to save someone’s life. It’s a feeling that cannot be explained until you have gone through it yourself.

Over the course of an Emergency medical technicians career there will be many situations where you will truly help someone, sometimes the situations will be life-threatening, sometimes not, but each and every patient will have the best possible outcome because of the willingness that you had to become educated, work hard, and care about people. The self-satisfaction and sense of making a real difference will be unsurpassed. You will know that you have contributed in big way to society, and as a respected professional.

Are you ready to get started working in one of these exciting environments? Contact us to reserve a spot in our next EMT Boot Camp.

*The Bureau of Labor Statistics is projecting a 33% rise in jobs for EMT’s in the 2010-2020 job market. (Source: www.bls.gov, 10/2012).

Filed Under: EMT Careers

More EMTs Needed to Assist With Wildfire Emergencies States Veteran Firefighter Touched by Tragedy

July 19, 2010 By

More skilled Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are needed to assist with medical emergencies involving wildfire personnel, expressed experienced wildland firefighter Rob Palmer. His concerns over the disproportionate lack of qualified emergency service professionals, such as Richmond EMTs, assigned to wildland firefighting teams were expressed in a July 23 article published by Scripps Howard News Service. The story profiled plans to improve the rescue efforts of firefighters who become injured or endangered while battling California wildland blazes.

Sadly, Palmer knows first-hand the devastating risks faced by wildland firefighters. His younger brother Andrew was killed on July 25, 2008, while battling a wildfire in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Northern California. Andrew was a rookie firefighter from Washington state when he was dispatched to California to assist with the blaze in the state’s largest national forest.

Paramedic Saving lifeJust 18-years-old, Andrew died due to severe blood loss after debris from a collapsing pine tree hit and severely injured his leg. Much of the blood loss occurred during the 3 hours and 20 minutes it took to remove and transport Andrew from the accident scene to the airport in nearby Redding, California. Rob Palmer believes valuable time was lost during the prolonged rescue effort, due in part to a lack of qualified emergency services personnel immediately available to respond to his brother’s emergency.

Since the tragedy, Palmer has retired from firefighting in order to campaign for improvements to the emergency response plans for treating and rescuing wildland firefighters. His research and proposed changes are outlined in his 8-page proposal for national wildland fire reform titled “The Palmer Perspective.”

One of his key suggestions is to increase the number of skilled emergency service professionals assigned to assist with wildfire emergencies. According to Palmer, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group requires only one emergency service professional for every 499 wildland fire personnel. He identifies this figure as “the lowest medical ratio in the industry.” By comparison, says Palmer in his interview with Scripps Howard News Service, there are two to four EMTs for every 22 high school football players. Palmer recommends having at least one EMT for every 10 wildland firefighting team members.

As the summer months heat up and fire dangers increase throughout California, highly-trained wildland firefighters will prepare for the precarious job of combating dangerous and often widespread wildfires. Skilled emergency service professionals such as Sacramento EMTs are needed to help treat wildland firefighters during medical emergencies.

If you’ve considered pursuing an exciting a reward role in the healthcare field, consider an in-demand job as an Emergency Medical Technician. Whether you’re thinking of working as a San Jose EMT or a paramedic in Fremont, Unitek Education offers extensive emergency service training that can help jumpstart your career.

For additional information on Rob and Andy Palmer, and the wildland firefighting field, please visit:

http://wildfiretoday.com/documents/Palmer_perspective.pdf

http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/55134

http://www.nwcg.gov/index.htm

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CDC Study Finds Demands for Emergency Services and ER Visits on the Rise

July 9, 2010 By

If the latest government-issued statistics are any indication, training for a job in the Emergency Services field, like a role as a Bay Area EMT (Emergency Medical Technician), is bound to be a smart investment in your professional future.

According to a recent brief issued by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of Americans requiring emergency room visits and related services is rising sharply across the country. The brief, published this May on the federal agency’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) website, summarizes nationwide statistics on emergency services for 2007.

The brief, titled “Emergency Department Visitors and Visits: Who Used the Emergency Room in 2007?,” states:

“In 2007, approximately one in five persons in the U.S. population had one or more ED visits in a 12-month period.”

Specifically, the agency identifies people aged 75 and older and adults over 18 reporting “fair or poor health status” as having the most emergency department visits in 2007.

The brief also cites the CDC’s 2006 full-length report on emergency department visits as providing evidence of the recent pressure on emergency services to meet rising public demand. From 1996 to 2006, the number of emergency department visits is reported to have increased 32 percent, from 90.3 million annual visits to 119.2 million.

What do these reports and figures mean if you’re considering a job as an EMT in Milpitas or as a San Francisco Paramedic? If the CDC’s ‘06 and ‘07 statistics are a sign of what’s to come, then the demand for complex emergency medical care will likely increase dramatically, particularly among the rapidly expanding population of aging Americans.

As the need for emergency services continues to grow, the number of job opportunities for qualified EMTs and paramedics is likely to increase significantly. Besides the potential for excellent career security, the emergency services field also provides an invaluable public service. As the CDC summarizes in its May brief:

“EDs [emergency departments] provide a critical service to persons in need of immediate, often life-saving, treatment and are a major component of the health care system.”

Whether you’re interested in becoming a Northern California EMT, or a San Jose-based Paramedic, the time has never been better to start training for an exciting and fulfilling new career! Find out today how Unitek Education’s quality EMT training program can help you land a rewarding role in the expanding emergency services field.

For additional information on the Center For Disease Control and its National Center for Health Statistics website, visit:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db38.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db38.pdf

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