
Josh Hernandez
Paramedic
Advance
San Antonio, TX USA
“You can feel defeated but the best thing is to keep moving and try to stay on your feet. Get back up even when you’re knocked down.”
Advance
San Antonio, TX USA
“You can feel defeated but the best thing is to keep moving and try to stay on your feet. Get back up even when you’re knocked down.”
Paramedic
I perform medical care while transferring patients as a critical care paramedic.
I start by going through my check-offs for medications, supplies, and equipment. Throughout the day, I do basic transfers. I get to know the patient and learn about their diagnosis. I also do critical care transports. For example, I may take someone on a ventilator from one hospital to another, making sure their breath and heart rates are normal while keeping them hooked up to monitors. I also get emergency calls from people who have fallen, had a stroke or seizure, or taken too much medication.
Here's the first step for high school students
You don't need any prerequisites before enrolling in an EMT program. Start by applying for the EMT program at the school you're interested in. You'll need to complete a certain amount of class hours across a variety of medical subjects, perform skills in class that the instructor will check off, and complete exams. Then you'll do 96 hours of clinical work. You have to be an EMT-Basic before becoming a paramedic. I recommend spending time working as an EMT-Basic before going to paramedic school.