I can go through my college website to give you a lot of information. For Social Services, what kind of Social Worker are you interested in becoming?
For the EMT, here’s a bunch of info:
Specific work activities
The following list of occupational tasks is specific to emergency medical technicians.
* Administer first aid and emergency treatment to sick or injured persons.
* Operate equipment that monitors the heart, restarts the heart, and provides oxygen to patients.
* Assess nature and extent of illness or injury to decide what medical procedures to do and when to do them.
* Clean, decontaminate, and maintain vehicles. Refill supplies that were used.
* Observe and record patients’ conditions and reactions to treatment. Report them to physicians.
* Perform emergency care and procedures during ambulance ride.
* Administer drugs under a physician’s direction.
* Comfort and reassure patients.
* Use specialized equipment, such as backboards and stretchers, to keep patients from moving.
* Communicate with other emergency personnel, such as fire or police departments, to organize treatment.
* Work as part of a team with other emergency responders.
* Drive ambulances to accident sites, following instructions from dispatchers.
* Assist treatment center staff to obtain and record victims’ vital statistics and medical history.
Working conditions
In a typical work setting, emergency medical technicians:
Interpersonal Relationships
* Have a high level of social interaction. They constantly work with the public and other emergency workers.
* Often deal with people who are angry or unpleasant due to their illnesses or injuries.
* Are greatly responsible for the health and safety of patients and coworkers.
* Are responsible for the outcomes and results of others.
* Often deal with patients that are physically aggressive.
* Are sometimes placed in conflict situations.
* Work as part of an emergency team. This is extremely important because they must coordinate their work to provide the best care.
* Communicate face-to-face with coworkers and patients everyday.
* Communicate with other emergency departments daily by telephone.
* Write letters and memos often.
Physical Work Conditions:
* Are always exposed to diseases and infections when treating patients.
* Work both indoors and outdoors.
* Wear protective attire daily.
* Are often exposed to contaminants.
* Are often exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures.
* Are often exposed to hazardous equipment, conditions, and situations.
* Work in an enclosed vehicle, such as an ambulance, daily.
* Work very near other people and have little space between self and others.
* Regularly work in cramped places that require them to get into awkward positions.
* Are exposed daily to sounds and noise levels that are distracting and uncomfortable. This is especially true when riding in an ambulance with the sirens on.
* Often work indoors without heating or air conditioning.
* Are sometimes exposed to extreme lighting conditions. They may work in very bright light or in dim light.
* Sometimes wear specialized protective gear or safety attire.
Work Performance
* Must be very exact in performing the job and make sure that all the details have been followed. Errors could seriously endanger patients.
* Often repeat the same tasks over and over, such as checking vital signs and administering first aid.
* Can make most decisions without consulting a supervisor.
* Can set some tasks and goals without talking to a supervisor.
* Make decisions daily that affect the health of their patients.
* Meet strict weekly deadlines.
* Make decisions that strongly impact other people.
Hours/Travel
* May work part time or full time.
* Most work over 40 hours per week. Those who work for fire departments work about 50 hours per week. Those who work for hospitals work between 45 and 60 hours per week.
* May work days, evenings, nights, or weekends. Emergency services are available 24 hours a day.
* May be on call for extended periods of time, especially those who work for police and fire departments.
Skills and abilities
Emergency medical technicians need to:
Communicate
* Express ideas clearly when speaking or writing.
* Listen to others, understand, and ask questions.
* Read and understand written information.
Reason and Problem Solve
* Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
* Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
* Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
* Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
* Develop rules or follow guidelines for arranging items.
* Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
* Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
* Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
* Identify problems and review information. Develop, review, and apply solutions.
Manage Oneself, People, Time, and Things
* Check how well one is doing something.
* Manage the time of self and others.
* Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.
Work with People
* Be aware of others’ reactions and change behavior in relation to them.
* Look for ways to help people.
Work with Things
* Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.
* Operate and control equipment.
Perceive and Visualize
* Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
* Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
Knowledge
Emergency medical technicians need knowledge in the following areas:
* Medicine and Dentistry: Knowledge of injuries, illnesses, and defects. Also includes the knowledge of setting up a plan for treatment.
* Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of providing special services to customers based on their needs.
* English Language: Knowledge of the meaning, spelling, and use of the English language.
* Education and Training: Knowledge of teaching and the methods involved in learning and instruction.
* Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of protecting people, data, and property.
* Transportation: Knowledge of ways to move people, goods, or materials. This may be by air, rail, sea, or road.
* Personnel and Human Resources: Knowledge of the department that is in charge of the relationship between a company and its employees. In particular, includes knowledge of the activities performed by the department.
* Therapy and Counseling: Knowledge of the effect of diseases and injuries. Knowledge of how to give advice on social or personal problems. Also includes the knowledge of setting up a plan for treatment.
* Psychology: Knowledge of people, their actions, and mental processes. This may include knowledge of how to treat emotional and behavioral problems.
* Law, Government, and Jurisprudence: Knowledge of laws, rules, court procedures, and the political process.
* Communications and Media: Knowledge of producing, sharing, and delivering information or entertainment. This may be through written, spoken, or visual media.
Preparation
To work as an emergency medical technician, you must:
* have a high school diploma or GED;
* be at least 18 years old;
* have a driver’s license;
* be in good physical condition;
* complete an approved emergency medical technician program;
* work well under pressure; and
* be able to work as part of a team.
Education after high school
Emergency medical technician programs are available at community colleges, hospitals, and fire departments. There are several levels of EMT training. The first is EMT-Basic. This program offers courses in patient assessment, trauma, and cardiac emergencies. You spend your time in a classroom and an emergency room. You also study topics such as bleeding, fractures, and emergency childbirth. Students learn how to use and care for equipment, such as backboards, suction tools, and oxygen systems. This training prepares you for the next two levels of training.
The second level is EMT-Intermediate training. Students may attend classes called EMT-Shock Trauma. This training teaches you how to give intravenous (IV) fluids and some medications. You may also study EMT-Cardiac where you learn about heart rhythms and how to give more advanced medications. This level of training usually requires 35 to 55 hours of instruction.
Some people working in this occupation have not completed this level of education. One reason is they may have entered the field when requirements were different. The table below lists the level of education attained by a group of workers in this occupation. The workers surveyed were between age 25 and 44. (Not going to list the table, but 68% EMTs have some college which includes an associate degree.)
Helpful high school courses
You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state’s graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.
Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this occupation include:
* Anatomy and Physiology
* Driver Education
* Health Education
* Introduction to Health Care
* Nursing
* Safety and First Aid
The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.
You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.
Wages:
Upon entry level, EMTs in Washington make $9.91 an hour, $1,717 monthly, and $20,604 yearly. Median level is $15.29 an hour, $2,650 monthly, and $31,807 yearly. Top level is $25.28 an hour, $4,381 monthly, and $52,572 yearly. Top end wages in Washington for EMTs are significantly higher than they are nationwide. Beginning and mid range only vary slightly.
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