Any EMTs here?

[Sev]

BLS/ACLS/PALS are all usually offered by the American Heart Association, a lot of jobs (not EMT) will cover the expense (it's usually not more than $100, and takes the better part of a day to sit through the certification class/practical stuff and practice on manikins and shit). The Red Cross cert usually isn't carried by healthcare providers, the AHA ones are, at least in most of the places I've been (shadowing & as a volunteer).

The only one he would have to worry about is the "BLS/Health Care Provider CPR". Depending on your service and I would hope with NYFD when he does his recertification process would have his cpr certification renewed.

ACLS/PALS is a medic only certification for pre-hospital. NALS is another level I have Neonatal ALS.

American Heart Association is carried by Health Care providers because it is a 2 year certification unlike the Red Cross one year card.

AFAIK, each is good for two years, then you take a refresher course to renew your cert. As an EMT-B, you'll probably need the BLS before you start classes, and keep it current throughout your training & work as an EMT-B before you can make the move to firefighter.

Most programs have it built in. You only need your cpr card before you test.

I typed way too much.

FDNY isn't a cakewalk to get into, majority of paid Fire jobs are Civil service and that test is one of the most grueling and physically demanding tests around. EMT is pretty easy to do, read your book, learn some common sense skills, you are done. It's not even remotely comparable to a college level course. Most idiots can pass it, simply because the majority of jobs now are non emergent transports (bring old lady from hospital back to her nursing home), or volunteer.

^ is very true.

Fire course in NJ is 6month somewhat physical course, the book part of it is simple as long as you read your book. Don't ignore the medic program, it's good pay, a good job, and it will most likely earn you ranks quicker in FDNY if you got in. Paid fire jobs in NJ are almost impossible to get, they take only a few applicants in every 2-3yrs. From what I've heard FDNY can be very picky and most of the people that make it in are the youngest, most p90x'd physically fit kids around. Goodluck.

Actually FDNY is a very legacy program as well. Fire families stay in fire. I have legacy to 3 departments at the moment. As stated here medic, fire science classes will give you anywhere from 5%-15% pay increase starting off, also help you get your promotions.

Sev whats the didactic time like in Mass for medic program? I think currently some of the cities are paying around 30-35hr for medics in NJ.

Didactic: 704 hours
Hospital: 400 hours + set # of skills
Ride Time: 150 hours + set # of skills*

Changes per program, believe it is 120 hours per the state.

Boston EMS 90,000/year starting.
Cape Cod pays 30ish and hour
Privates pay from 20-13.50 an hour. starting

Good info, my question is though. Can the CPR cert be including in the BLS course as well? Or do you need to have that cert before you can qualify to take the BLS.

- Answered this above, tho your program may not follow the rules set forth by OEMS.

@Boiyee Yeah the NYFD is the hardest of the civil service tests to get by. I'll have a little over 7 months to train for it, hopefully with proper training for the test itself I'll be ok.

The civil service test is a written test. FDNY by standards is on par with about every test in the country, they have a Civil Service: Fire test book you can get at borders books. Was like $15 was based off NY's test. The practical is rough depending on where you go, I would really recommend doing stairs and Running on the beach.

Good luck trying to get into a paid department. Do you guys need to be a resident of the town/city at time of application or is that just something they like to do in Connecticut? Also do the departments down/up their require you to have taken the CPAT in the last 6 months? I know it’s good for a year but all the departments in CT want you to have taken it in the last 6 months.

In Mass, and Rhode Island residence pre-hire give you bonus points on your test for that one city but it is not a requirement. You may have to move after being hired or live within X miles of the city center. Mass State Test is good for 2 years, Rhode Island each city puts on a test, range from 6m-3y, Cape Cod puts on a test that last 2 years iirc.

[Talus]

ACLS/PALS is a medic only certification for pre-hospital. NALS is another level I have Neonatal ALS.

Not entirely true. Paramedics have ACLS/PALS but so do a lot of nurses, and most residents and physicians - most residency programs include it as part of the residency benefits, the program picks up ACLS and usually does the class in-house right after orientation. So it's get your ID card, then go to the ACLS class in conference room A. Considering medicare pays programs about $100k/resident and most residents make no more than $51k/year (depending on location, PGY year, etc), that's one of the places that remainder goes to.. in addition to parking, on-call meals, etc.

[*Shinzon*]

BLS is CPR/AED/relieving choking training. It's "Basic Life Support" i.e. chest compressions/rescue breathing, and I haven't checked out the last congress but the newest thing was hands-only CPR, i.e. no rescue breathing. You don't get a CPR certification before BLS, since CPR is included in BLS but BLS is oriented to healthcare providers. There's also a "heartsaver" CPR course, which is different and NOT oriented to HCP.

Don't get it confused with a First Aid course or something. ACLS is "Advanced Cardiac Life Support" - paramedics, nurses, PAs and physicians receive ACLS training, and anyone working in a pediatric unit usually gets PALS training. [Edit: ACLS is when they get into managing an airway, pharmacological intervention, etc.]

[Further edit: most health/allied health students, like nursing, med students, PA students, etc. have to have BLS before beginning any kind of clinical activities/learning.]

Well like I said I'm just looking into the programs, on the flier I recieved from the recruiter, it provides a website called nycremsco.org, that supposedly offers information on EMT, paramedic and CPR certification but the site was kinda confusing and I didn't really have time to navigate and look through it.

As far as requirements listed on the flier, it just says emt applicants need to have an NYS EMT basic Cert, which is where I am looking to start. What do I need to be gear for that course. That's why I was curious as to whether or not I need a CPR course as a prereq to the EMT course, because I wanted to make sure I had everything I needed covered. If they are included in the course though, than I should be fine in that regard. If I need the CPR course though I'll take that over the next weekend I have time to.

[Sev]

Not entirely true. Paramedics have ACLS/PALS but so do a lot of nurses, and most residents and physicians - most residency programs include it as part of the residency benefits, the program picks up ACLS and usually does the class in-house right after orientation. So it's get your ID card, then go to the ACLS class in conference room A. Considering medicare pays programs about $100k/resident and most residents make no more than $51k/year (depending on location, PGY year, etc), that's one of the places that remainder goes to.. in addition to parking, on-call meals, etc.

Try reading again, none of what you listed is pre-hospital...

[Odon]

Hey dude, I got your PM. I'm at work right now but when I get home I'll write something up for you.

[Sev]

Well like I said I'm just looking into the programs, on the flier I recieved from the recruiter, it provides a website called nycremsco.org, that supposedly offers information on EMT, paramedic and CPR certification but the site was kinda confusing and I didn't really have time to navigate and look through it.

As far as requirements listed on the flier, it just says emt applicants need to have an NYS EMT basic Cert, which is where I am looking to start. What do I need to be gear for that course. That's why I was curious as to whether or not I need a CPR course as a prereq to the EMT course, because I wanted to make sure I had everything I needed covered. If they are included in the course though, than I should be fine in that regard. If I need the CPR course though I'll take that over the next weekend I have time to.

Best way is to call or email them. Cpr class last 3-4 hours lol, actually I could just write you a card.

[Boyiee]

Remember things vary per state. Most BLS courses around here, and nursing programs, require you to get CPR done on your own time or you can't be in the course at all. Fire is the only course I know of that includes it in the program.

Although, this was years go, BLS courses may include CPR now but I know the nursing program in my local college does not.

Try reading again, none of what you listed is pre-hospital...

I think he was just saying that ACLS isn't just for paramedics, which is fact.

The civil service test is a written test. FDNY by standards is on par with about every test in the country, they have a Civil Service: Fire test book you can get at borders books. Was like $15 was based off NY's test. The practical is rough depending on where you go, I would really recommend doing stairs and Running on the beach.

The civil service test includes written and practical, I was referring to the physical part of it which is a fucking bitch and a half. It takes a lot more than just running to prepare for. Like I said, learn to run backwards carrying a 200lb mannequin or a length of 3".

Thanks for posting your cert info and pay rates, probably going to have to tell a few people to check out up north for jobs lol.

[Sev]

The way he worded it was like he was under the impression that I said ALS onry! I can't wait for PA school to be over tho.

[Talus]

ACLS/PALS is a medic only certification for pre-hospital. NALS is another level I have Neonatal ALS.

Your original quote. ^

Try reading again, none of what you listed is pre-hospital...

I think he was just saying that ACLS isn't just for paramedics, which is fact.

Your wording was ambiguous. "Only paramedics (EMT-P) are ACLS/PALS certified as far as pre-hospital providers" would have been more accurate instead it sounds like ACLS/PALS are 'medic-only' and besides that isn't entirely true either. If you want to nit-pick, EM residents frequently rotate by riding along with the ambulance service & medics or flights & flight medics.

[Edit: I know PAs have ACLS/PALS generally too. I have a friend that is a PA in cards and she has both.]

[Sev]

Actually labeling it pre-hospital refers to outside of the hospitals.


To update on the MA Ride time it has recently been changed to: (for medic)
80 hours and 30 Patient contacts, 10 of which your lead.

[Boyiee]

I'm confused, you are a Medic that sometimes rides transports (lol if they are non-emergents) and in PA school?

[Sev]

I'm confused, you are a Medic that sometimes rides transports (lol if they are non-emergents) and in PA school?

I work 911 trucks as a medic primarily.
I have a second job that I work Per-Diem which is transport gig.
I go to school for my PA.

My free time ranges from like 5 mins to none, since I am also a single father with custody lol.

[Talus]

I hope you specialize, primary care is for suckers.