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.

Just 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 services 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

 Because paramedics have complete responsibility for the care of the patient while they are in transport, they have to be very skilled in how the human body works and what medications and equipment will be the most valuable in any given situation.  They must be leaders, able to make stick with decisions that they make and also be able to take charge of the scene that they are called to through a 911 call.

 In addition to being the one who is responsible for the patient, even though he is working on a team, he must be comfortable directing the actions of the person who is his partner in the ambulance.  The other person is usually also highly trained, but is often not a paramedic, but only a basic level EMT.  As such, the paramedic has gone through much more training than his partner and usually has many more years experience in the field, and is thus best able to make final decisions on the team.

Usually people do not even attempt to go through EMT paramedic training until they have spent a few years in basic EMT service.  In this way, they get experience in the field and can determine if they are willing to sacrifice the extra time in school that is needed in order to become a paramedic.  The EMT paramedic training equips them to be able to know how all types of medications affect the human body.  They cannot be confused by different medications such as analgesics, anti anxiety drugs, sedatives and more, because the 911 calls that they go to will have patients on these drugs, and they do not want to mix medications and cause harm to the patients.

 One difficult part of the job entails the use of medications, since patients are not always able to give a complete drug history when the paramedic arrives at the scene.  In addition, they have to be aware of any patients who might be pregnant, since there are medications that could cause detrimental effects to the unborn fetus.

 The EMT paramedic training will also equip people to judge the size of the patient so that when medication needs to be administered, they do not give the patient too little or too much.  They also have to know what to do for patients who have overdosed on a certain type of drug, so that they can keep that patient alive until they can get the patient to the hospital.  The EMT paramedic training thoroughly equips the people who are successful in completing the program and the certification testing to take care of critical needs patients in the field.

As an emergency medical technician you will have the training that is necessary for you to be competent and confident in a job that requires you to constantly adapt and be able to think on your feet. You will learn techniques and skills that you can use for the rest of your life, and in the process you will be saving lives in your community. Could anything be better than the chance to give others a new chance at life?

Training

Questions always arise about the training that is involved in order to become an emergency medical technician. Some people worry that they will not be able to schedule the courses at convenient times, and others might think that they have been out of school too long to change careers. Still others believe that the classes will be too difficult or too technical in nature.

You can take a deep breath and relax because emergency medical technician training is within your grasp. Although there may be some tight scheduling concerns involved with these courses when they are offered at local community colleges but online EMT classes are also available. When you sign up for these classes you are able to schedule them at times that are most convenient for you and your family.

The classes for EMT training can be challenging but they are designed for students with a variety of personal, professional and educational backgrounds. If you have been away from a classroom setting for an extremely long time you might want to brush up some basic skills, but most people find that the EMT training is fun and easier than they first thought.

Even though each state’s requirements are different, most will require that you take a written part of an exam as well as a practical portion where you have to demonstrate your skills.  Any EMT online program that claims that you can do all of the training without taking any ground classes is probably not a reputable one.  The ground classes are essential to allowing you to practice the skills you have been learning about and to get to use the equipment that will be on the ambulances once you get into the field.

As you can see, the online courses can be beneficial in giving you flexibility in scheduling the classes and completing the work.  However, you also have to be much more disciplined than a person who is required to turn in work at a particular time through a ground based class.

When you consider that you also begin this line of work with a solid starting salary of $25,000+ it starts to seem like things are indeed looking up. The initial training for you to become an EMT at a basic level can be accomplished in just a matter of a few months. And let’s not overlook the fact that you are going to get some much needed, on the job experience along with your EMT program courses.

There are some things that you need to be aware of when thinking about becoming an EMT. EMTs are the first responders on the scene of some terrible accidents and emergency situations. As such, they have to face blood, broken bones, illnesses, body fluids, and even death. The job is very physical as well, requiring bodies to be moved and lifted, CPR to be administered and more. However, because EMTs have to face these things, it is a highly rewarding position, since they save people’s lives on a regular basis, and give comfort to those they meet.

Becoming Certified

There are many EMT programs that can help you get started as an emergency medical technician. You can find EMT program outlines and courses by browsing online. Then you can decide which one is best suited for you.

You should determine which specific EMT program will best provide the basic knowledge that you need as an entry level EMT. Online courses are especially convenient if you have to work other jobs while training to become an EMT. The great benefit of an EMT program that features online training is that you are allowed to complete the coursework at your own pace.

Another way to take EMT program courses is through community colleges or technical colleges. These schools also work with you if you need to continue working another job while going to school. There are usually financial aid opportunities and scholarships available at most schools, plus the classes are usually scheduled at all times of the day and evening so that you can find a schedule that works for you.

If you are interested in pursuing higher levels of EMT training, you might want to look for an EMT program that leads to becoming a paramedic. Then you will need to continue your studies at a community college or four year school. Paramedic training requires more difficult coursework, such as classes in advanced anatomy and physiology and there are many practical, hands-on elements that are involved. People who want to become a paramedic often pursue this dream after gaining experience in the field for a couple of years at a basic or intermediate EMT level.

Paramedics have more knowledge of the different medications that can be utilized while in transit; are taught how to insert a variety of IV’s for life-saving fluids, and know how to use all of the advanced life support, emergency response equipment that is available in the ambulances.

They are also the ones that the nurses and doctors will look to when they need detailed information when the patient arrives at the hospital so that they are clear about the situation. Certain 911 calls can also require the services of a trained, skilled paramedic. Pursuing an EMT program will provide you with the necessary coursework that can be the bridge you need to move into nursing or another medical field at a later date.