Paramedics are medical professionals, who provide first aid and emergency treatment for patients who have become ill or experienced trauma outside of a hospital or clinical setting. Paramedics are often the first people on the scene and they are often responsible for administering emergency, life-saving treatment.
What does the job involve?
The role of the paramedic is extremely important; paramedics save thousands of lives every year in the UK alone. Being a paramedic is a demanding, challenging and varied position. No two days will be the same and you may be faced with situations you never dreamed could even happen. Paramedics tend to be people of all shapes and sizes, all ages and backgrounds and people with a huge range of different medical conditions and injuries.
When paramedics arrive at the scene of an incident or come across the casualty, they will assess the situation, try to talk to the casualty and obtain information about what has happened, before deciding on an appropriate course of action. The paramedics will administer treatment on site if necessary and then monitor the patient’s condition and give further treatment on the way to the hospital. Often, the paramedic will contact the hospital in advance to allow them to prepare for the incoming casualty; this is particularly important if the casualty has life-threatening injuries and needs emergency surgery.
Being a paramedic involves working long, sometimes unsociable hours (including night shifts and bank holidays), confronting difficult situations and facing huge emotional challenges. On average, paramedics work around 40 hours per week and most work in shifts.
Becoming a paramedic
Most people work their way up from being an ambulance assistant to an ambulance technician and then finally becoming a paramedic. If you choose to become a paramedic, you will have to complete years of practical training. You can either choose to apply for a student paramedic position at an ambulance trust or complete a university degree in paramedic science. Paramedics are also required to have a full, clean driving license and some trusts and private companies require paramedics to complete advanced driving courses, as they will be required to drive in heavy traffic at high speeds.
Is becoming a paramedic for me?
In order to succeed as a paramedic you need the following characteristics:
- People skills: your job revolves around helping others and often you will find yourself helping people in very serious, scary situations, so it is important that you are comfortable around others and can talk to people and reassure them.
- Calm under pressure: you will often find yourself in very scary, pressurised, life or death situations and you need to remain calm and act rationally.
- Decision-making: you will need to act quickly and make split-second decisions.
- Teamwork: you will often need to rely on other medical professionals and emergency service staff so it is important that you can work well with others
- Emotional strength: like all medical professionals, you will face some emotional challenges and you need to have the strength to deal with these and move onto the next challenge.
- Academic ability
