Older Medic's in EMS

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Comment by K C Jones on November 9, 2009 at 6:16pm

In this EMS for over 30 years, Love teaching, love Patient contact. At the tender age of 54 I guess I can join this esteemed group. I have read the comments and as a NAEMT Board member I see bright day ahead for EMS. We are beginning to kick the slats out of our baby bed and growing as the EMS Practitioner we have become. God Bless Each of you for your service to the people of this great nation.
Stay Safe!

Comment by Thomas Gills on September 6, 2009 at 10:08am

For Joni
Age is not a barrier for anything. Should employers discriminate over age then that is their loss, move on. I am 58, have been a paramedic for over thirty years. Some of my best partners have been "older" providers with basic training yet I would not trade them for the smartest 20 something graduate. You cannot teach life experience.
I currently am working as an advanced practice provider, a recent change for me also but I look forward to the next twenty years and hopefully convincing the powers that be in my state that there is another option for "older" providers of EMS, Good Luck

Comment by Greg Taylor on September 5, 2009 at 7:38pm

I posted about 2 months ago as a 51 year old who got turned down for a job and was very depressed. Since then........As things turn out it was the best thing that could have happened. I got hired by a county ems service that I didn't think I had a shot at. This is the best job I have ever had! For the first time in my life I have a job I like getting up to go to!!! YES there is a market for "older" ems people. One thing my boss said he liked about me was the fact that "I DIDN'T know everything there was to know about ems and I didn't pretend to". Too many people walk in and try to impress with their knowledge. One person that responded to my post said "your real education starts the first day in the field with a good partner". I now know this is a fact! Greg

Comment by Dave Springer on September 5, 2009 at 4:19pm

Hi Joni,

I will be 57 in December. After many years of owning my own EMS business in the lower 48 I just started a new job on 17 Feb of this year as EMS coordinator of the largest health care corp in Alaska.

I need an EMS instructor. Our need is only an EMT-1 - Alaska speak for EMT-B, but IF I could find an EMT-P or an EMT-P, R.N. I would be absolutely ecstatic.

I remember in 1973 in my very first EMS job we had a 40 something woman who was a first aider who was taking the EMT class, and was hired right out of school.

One of my good EMS buddies is a woman who will turn 50 in the very near future, is QA / QI manager for a couple of ambulance services, does some work for the state EMS department, has written part of a new revision of an EMS text, and does EMS Consulting.

Are there positions available for older folks getting into EMS? You bet. Are they where you live now? Possibly, possilby not. Are you willing to relocate if need be?

Would I put you in a training class or would I put you on the street as a 40 something woman? If you are otherwise qualified you bet your bippy I sure would! You may be new to EMS, but you have life experiences that a 20 something kid won't have for another 20 years. The law says that I can't descriminate against someone 40 - 70, BUT is does not prohibit me from discriminating FOR them.

Personally I would not want to go back on the street as a roadie at my advanced age. My almost 57 year old back is no longer up to doing a dozen 350 lb people in a day who ALL are at the farthest distance from ground level with no functioning elevator.

Hold onto your dreams, chase them to the ends of the rainbow, don't give up no matter what. If you dream it, work for it, and persevere you WILL prevail in the end. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it. Do not let can't be in your vocabulary.

Use me, and the other people here as resources.

d. :)

Comment by Dolph Holmes on September 5, 2009 at 3:20pm

Joni, Don't worry about the age difference. About half of the folks in my intermediate class were over 40! Seems like those of us with some history are moving up the knowledge ladder. If you want to be a full time paramedic then go for it! Realize that you offer more to employers since
you have the life experience of dealing with people, something that I have witnessed is lacking in a lot of the 35 and under crowd. Good Luck!

Comment by Kevin Cunningham on September 5, 2009 at 2:12pm

Hey Joni,
I'm 45 and just finished my EMT-B, I'm enrolled in EMT-I (iv I think they call it in CO) and I'm on fire. I'm so excited to get moving in my new career. I really don't feel like our age is a huge deterent. Judging from alot of the younger people in my EMT B class, there isn't alot of competition out there.
I have two interviews lined up, and keep applying to various counties where jobs become available.
Embrace your wisdom and knowledge gained with age. My goal is to continue to move into being in the best shape of my adult life Mentaly, Physically, and Spiritually.

I believe that the more education we get, the more marketable we will be. Don't get discourage with the EMT-IV class. We're using the Brady Intermediate book, the first few chapters are rediculously difficult! But after that it levels out and so far, recovers the EMT B stuff but in GREATER detail.

Follow your dreams, passions, and God given talents.

Best wishes,
~Kevin

Comment by Donal W. Kirchberg on September 5, 2009 at 1:43pm

Joni__ I got my EMT-B 6 months ago, I am 59... the local ambulance company and two volunteer fire depts have already offered me positions. Go for it, don't let anything stop you from what you want to do.

Comment by Joni Drake on September 5, 2009 at 1:30pm

Hi everyone, I need your opinions please. I started in this field later in life. I was NREMT basic at 46. What are the chances of really ever being allowed into the job market at my age? I wanted to continue on for my paramedic but if I am never going to get hired because of my age.. what is the point right? I will always use my certs for volunteer work with the Red Cross but I really really love the job and I can do it well. Are my chances better as a medic or is it just not in my future?

Comment by Dave Springer on September 2, 2009 at 4:56am

Hey Denny, save these comments for two years, and see if you feel the same way. I tried retirement. Let me tell you bro, it ain't what it is cracked up to be. I WILL agree with idea of possibly dropping the medic license & going back to basic, or whatever we may call ourselves in two years. That may not be a bad idea.

I'll be 57 the first of December & after 36 years I can't see me ever doing anything else. Granted, I am no longer running the streets on a daily basis. I am in EMS education now. I am EMS coordinator for a large health care organization that serves an area in S.W. Alaska about the size of the state of Oregon with one hospital, a number of village clinics run by community health aides / community health practioners, and five subregional clinics staffed by midlevels. There is NO WAY this almost 57 year old back could handle 3,100 calls a year anymore. No way, no how!

On the other hand my retired fifty something self was going insane working half time as a site interpreter at Lincoln's Tomb State Historic Site in Springfield, IL. and going to various outlying volunteer services for CE because the three paid EMS services & the city FD would not let nonemployees attend. I absolutely LOVED the history, loved learning about LIncoln & his family, but it was quiet & not the spot for an EMSer, except for one day when a woman was swatting a bee, & went head over heals down the stairs & became a bloddy mess. ON MY DAY OFF! :((. lol.

Anyway so much for this discourse.

Take good care my comrade in arms,

d.

Comment by Duncan Hitchcock on September 2, 2009 at 4:36am

Denny,
I think one of the most commonly shared desire of this group is that with what we have gone through to help move ourselves and our profession to where it is today is that we could start again. Imagine, with what we have seen, learned and experienced along with that unique motivation we all share where we could take our profession.
Our role now is to groom the next generation. Preparing them for pushing this job we so love to its next level. To teach them the value of tenacity and persistence. Making sure that they never forget that its all about the patient.
Our job here is not done. Its just evolving.

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