Advice for New EMT’s | Pink Warm and Dry http://www.pinkwarmdry.

com/blog/2009/04/advice-for-new-emts/

Home

Pink Warm and Dry

Blogroll
EMS
Family
Funny Stuff
In The City
Me Stuff
Photography
Uncategorized

Email this • 8 comments on this item • Save to del.icio.us • Add to del.icio.us • Stumble It!

Advice for New EMT’s

14th April
2009
written by Epijunky

A few weeks ago I received an email asking for some advice…

“My question to you is…what do you expect from an EMT fresh out of the box?”

I’m honored, first of all, that you’d choose to write me to ask your questions. Being the researcher that I am, I went to the
experts in my life. I asked coworkers, former coworkers, fellow bloggers. I got quite the response. Some of the following
advice is common sense, a lot of it has been gleaned from experiences we’ve been through.

I’d like to thank Fat Fireman, Medic Matthew, Bernice, @jisbellemtp, Pulse And A Patch and Crzegrl for their input. If
anyone else has anything to add, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment.

**********

Be prepared to work. Every day.

Be on time, which means at least 15 minutes early. Showing up thirty seconds before you’re scheduled, and sitting down
with your coffee, or stand around with your hands in your pockets is going to impress no one.

Pack some food. While there are definitely days where you can camp out and graze at the local pizza joint, there are also
days where there is no guaranteed meal break. Those days will almost always be the days you failed to pack a lunch.

Wear a watch with a second hand. Carry extra pens. Carry scratch paper. Buy a stethoscope that you can actually hear with.
(The Littman Lightweight II SE is what I have. Best $50.00 I’ve ever spent.)

Take pride in your appearance. Come to work in a clean, ironed uniform. Shine your boots. Remember that you are

1 of 12 4/16/2009 1:49 PM
Advice for New EMT’s | Pink Warm and Dry http://www.pinkwarmdry.com/blog/2009/04/advice-for-new-emts/

representing not just yourself, but EMS crews everywhere. Not to sound dramatic about it, but these people are my tribe, and
I take that seriously. Many of them have put in more years than you’ve been alive trying to advance this “job” into a
respected profession.

Your reputation is by far the most important tool you can have on your belt. Admit when you are wrong and learn from your
mistakes.

Leave your drama at home. Everyone is guilty of bringing problems at home to work from time to time, we’re human. Don’t
make a habit out of it. Believe me when I say that patients and your partner don’t want to hear you screaming at your
significant other on the phone.

***********

Learn Thy Truck.

Participate in the rig check. Ask questions. Get acquainted with the layout of the truck so that you know where everything is.
Having to tear apart the cabinets in back to find restraints while a little old lady or a psychotic drunk is pummeling you is not
fun.

Familiarize yourself with how your stretcher operates. For some reason they didn’t teach us in school how to raise and lower
it with help or on our own. They didn’t teach us how to put it away by ourselves. Ten minutes of getting to know your
stretcher (How YOU doin?) will save you from at worst, dropping the cot with a patient on it (and blowing your partner’s
back out) and at best humiliating yourself in the ambulance bay when those around you figure out that you can’t put the
stretcher away by yourself.

Learn what the buttons do on the console in the front of the truck. Learn how to turn the lights on and off, how the siren
operates. Know how to turn on the power to the back of the truck. Learn where the battery switch is (if your truck has one).

Familiarize yourself with the radio. Have your coworkers show you how to change the channel and adjust the volume. Learn
what’s expected when communicating with dispatch and the ER’s.

**********

“Fake it till you make it” does not apply when it comes to equipment or skills.

If there is a piece of equipment that you don’t know how to use, don’t touch it.
If I ask you to do something and you don’t know how to do it, tell me.
If you are in the back with a patient and there is something the patient needs that you don’t know how to do, tell me
immediately. It’s okay, really. We were all there at some point to some extent.

Under no circumstances do you ever fabricate a vital sign reading. If you can’t hear it or feel it, there may be a reason.

**********

Practice your basic skills. Then practice them again. And again… And again….

BLS skills are the foundation of everything ALS stands for. BVM ventilations can be just as effective as dropping an ET.
There’s never been an IV or fancy electrical tool that has saved a patient whose ABCs were not being managed effectively.

Many trucks have monitors on them that will take a BP for you. All initial BP’s should be done manually. Many monitors
can prove to be at the very least occasionally inaccurate, and at the most way the hell off.

Listen to everyone’s chest. Breath sounds, at the beginning, can be very confusing. The more breath sounds you hear that
are normal, the better. This way when you hear something that is off, it’ll stick out.

**********

Know when to speak up and when to shut up.

If you have a legitimate concern… speak up.

If you have a question… ask. And listen to the answer.

2 of 12 4/16/2009 1:49 PM
Advice for New EMT’s | Pink Warm and Dry http://www.pinkwarmdry.com/blog/2009/04/advice-for-new-emts/

If you have no idea what you are talking about… sit down, shut up and observe.
It’s okay to be confident, but don’t be cocky. Karma will bite you in the butt faster than you can say fresh meat. (AMEN,
Bernice!)

Watch what you say in front of a patient and/or their family. Patients are people first. Nothing will piss me off more than if
you talk about your patient to myself/a nurse/anyone else like they aren’t there.

Stay off of your cell phone when we’re with a patient. No phone calls, no texting.

**********

Know your Role.

Many of us come into this job with thoughts of saving the world. We want to help people at their worst moments. We want
to be Superman, and fly in with our ambulance and save the day, rescue a bus filled with Nun’s and discover the cure for
cancer, all in one shift.

That’s not the way it goes.

You’re not going to save the world.

Many of us get stuck on transfer trucks doing the dialysis shuffle or running bariatric patients to their podiatrist
appointments. There is little that is glamorous about this job, but that doesn’t make your role any less important than that of
someone working on a first-in primary 911 truck. These are still people who depend on you.

If you are on a 911 truck, realize that you are going to get called at ridiculous hours for even more ridiculous reasons. People
are going to abuse the system. You’re going to be called to transport people with popped pimples, drug seekers, and people
who just (quite literally) want a ride across town. Accept that it’s going to happen, and move on.

**********

Realize that it’s okay to be emotional.

You are going to see a lot as an EMT, even if you’re not on a dedicated 911 truck. You’re going to become attached to
patients. You are going to develop relationships with these people. And a lot of them are going to die. You are going to read
their names and see their faces in the obituaries. You’re going to learn more about their lives.

You will probably have particular runs that will wake you up at night in a cold sweat.

Caring about your patients is okay. Crying is okay. Asking for help is okay. Needing help dealing with these runs does not
make you weak.

Needing help dealing with these runs does not make you weak.

Yes, I typed it twice. On purpose.

If you find yourself having problems sleeping, or sleeping more than normal, or drinking more than normal, or just in general
feeling bad about anything… Find your partner or a coworker to talk to.

**********

Remember to breath.

Starting any new job can be stressful. This one is no different. There is a lot to learn, and relearn. You’ll be tossed into
situations you couldn’t even begin to imagine.

If you find yourself getting overwhelmed, take a second to breath. My EMT instructor once told us to check our own pulse
first, as long as we could find one we’d be okay. He knew his stuff. I still find myself unconsciously checking my pulse when
I’m in a situation that is outside of my realm of experience.

Keep your head up, and your eyes open. You’ll get through it, reader. Keep us posted on your progress!

3 of 12 4/16/2009 1:49 PM
Advice for New EMT’s | Pink Warm and Dry http://www.pinkwarmdry.com/blog/2009/04/advice-for-new-emts/

Blogroll, EMS

8 Comments

1.
JS
14/04/2009

This is a great post. I think I’m going to print this and give it to every student I have from now on… With your
permission of course. JS

2.
Epijunky
14/04/2009

Hey JS
Of course you can! Like I’d have a problem with it Truthfully, I wish someone had given a copy of it to me while I
was in basic school.

3.
Bernice
14/04/2009

I KNEW there were things I was forgetting. All solid advice.

4.
the Happy Medic
14/04/2009

Fantastic list! I love the attention to emotion, too often overlooked. You left out the part where they know what time
each coffee shop opens, but that can wait a bit I guess.

Thank you for a great post,

Happy.

5.
40lizard
14/04/2009

Oh Epi,

That’s a wonderful post! May I direct my classmates to it? Most of us are still at the “Oh s—, what am I doing here
stage” but it would be a great guideline once we hit the streets for real. Which with 4 weeks of school left scare the
living daylights out of me!

6.
RobertB
15/04/2009

While you’re talking about things that you carry on your belt (reputation), it’s worth mentioning that wearing as many
holsters on your utility belt as Batman doesn’t make you look cool. Besides, who needs to lug all that junk around
anyways ? I totally agree with the rig check part. For a new EMT, this is the BEST way to learn WHERE everything is
and what it does (and also where to find a new one in the supply closet when the last crew forgot to restock it).

7.
hilinda
15/04/2009

Excellent post. Should be required reading- and not only for new EMTs. Some good reminders for those who have
been around a while, because no one knows everything.

4 of 12 4/16/2009 1:49 PM
Advice for New EMT’s | Pink Warm and Dry http://www.pinkwarmdry.com/blog/2009/04/advice-for-new-emts/

I will join the ranks of those printing and sharing, if you don’t mind.

8.
Old NFO
15/04/2009

Excellent post EPI, and it applies not only to EMTs but most jobs! I’m going to give it to some of my co-workers…

Leave a Reply

Name (required)
Mail (will not be published) (required)
Website

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail

About Me

I'm a mom to two of the most wonderful kids in the world who challenge me to be a better person every single day. They
truly are my greatest contribution to the world.

I'm an EMT, a perennial Medic student and avid photographer as well, all things I'm passionate about.

RECENT POSTS

14th April 2009

Advice for New EMT’s
10th April 2009
View from the 8th floor…
08th April 2009
Similarities…
05th April 2009
An Open Letter To My Daughter….
03rd April 2009
A Blur of Pink

5 of 12 4/16/2009 1:49 PM
Advice for New EMT’s | Pink Warm and Dry http://www.pinkwarmdry.com/blog/2009/04/advice-for-new-emts/

April 2009
M T W T F S S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30
« Mar

Contact Me!
epijunky@pinkwarmdry.com

A Disclaimer.
Yes, I still come with a disclaimer. Let me make this perfectly clear... Names, ages, genders, locations, hospitals... All fake.
Totally and completely fake. Any similarity to any event that's ever taken place in the history of man is purely coincidence.
My thoughts, beliefs, etc. are my own and may or may not be the thoughts, beliefs, etc., of my employer, my school, or
anyone I know. In fact, they're probably not.

Countdown to the Race...

Archives
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007

6 of 12 4/16/2009 1:49 PM
Advice for New EMT’s | Pink Warm and Dry http://www.pinkwarmdry.com/blog/2009/04/advice-for-new-emts/

Blogger's I've Met

A Day In My World
A Day In The Life Of An Ambulance Driver
Annie and Burl Live!
JB On The Rocks
MaddogMedic
Niner and Associates
Old NFO
Sam The EMT
The Fat Fireman
Too Old To Work Too Young To Retire

Creative Genius
Annie and Burl Live!
Authorblog
Bayou Renaissance Man
Boobs Injuries And Dr. Pepper
C Jane
Confessions of a Pioneer Woman
Cranky Epistles
List Of The Day
Lucy’s Logic aka “you know…”
Manic Disciple
Passive Aggressive Notes
Photoshop Disasters
Post Secret
Sensible Folks
When Your Only Tool Is A Hammer

Family Life
Bob’s Blog
Cookie’s Oven
Our Deer Baby

Med Blogs
Surviving RT School
The Angry Pharmacist

Military / Law Enforcement

Better And Better
Old NFO
Pitchpull
PJ Country
The Law Dog Files

Photography
Her Space My Space His Space
Le Jour Bleu

7 of 12 4/16/2009 1:49 PM
Advice for New EMT’s | Pink Warm and Dry http://www.pinkwarmdry.com/blog/2009/04/advice-for-new-emts/

The Doctors
Doctor Anonymous
Musings of a Distractible Mind
Scalpel or Sword
Voodoo Medicine Man
WhiteCoat Rants

The Medics
A Day In My World
A Day In The Life Of An Ambulance Driver
A Medic’s Journey
Backboards and Bandaids
Blue Ridge Medic
Confessions Of A Stretcher Jockey
EMS Haiku
I Just Call It As I See It
JB On The Rocks
Lucid
MaddogMedic
Meat In The Seat
Medic Three
Medic7
More than just ’saving lives’…
My Life In The Firehouse
New Life Changes
Ninja Medic
Other People’s Emergencies
Paramedic SuperMonkey
Paramedic’s Logbook
Pennies From Heathens
Pocono Paramedic
Rescuing Providence
Ridin’ The Bus
Rocky Mountain Medic
Rogue Medic
Sam The EMT
Space to Rant
Star Of Life
Street Watch: Notes of a Paramedic
The Fat Fireman
The Runner’s Perspective
Too Old To Work Too Young To Retire

The Nurses
20 Out Of 10
Adventures of GuitarGirl RN
At Your Cervix
Baby Blue Pyjamas
Blissful Entropy
Crass-Pollination: An ER Blog
Crzegrl
Disappearing John RN
ER Nursey

8 of 12 4/16/2009 1:49 PM
Advice for New EMT’s | Pink Warm and Dry http://www.pinkwarmdry.com/blog/2009/04/advice-for-new-emts/

March of the Platypi

Musings Of A Highly Trained Monkey
My Strong Medicine
Not A Wanna Be, But A Gonna Be
Overactive Imagination

You Can't Pin Us Down!

MArooned
Niner and Associates
No more runnin’, I aim to misbehave!
Raging Server
The Breda Fallacy
The Munchkin Wrangler

Recent Comments
Old NFO on Advice for New EMT’s
hilinda on Advice for New EMT’s
RobertB on Advice for New EMT’s
40lizard on Advice for New EMT’s
the Happy Medic on Advice for New EMT’s
Bernice on Advice for New EMT’s
Epijunky on Advice for New EMT’s
JS on Advice for New EMT’s
Raymond on A Blur of Pink
Kacey on An Open Letter To My Daughter….

Spam Blocked

1,014
spam comments

Live Traffic Feed

Top Newton Blogs

Newton, Massachusetts arrived from google.com on "Advice for New EMT’s | Pink Warm and Dry"
Rochester, Minnesota arrived from backboardsandband aids.blogspot.com on "Pink Warm and Dry"
Broomfield, Colorado left "Pink Warm and Dry" via my-rt-life.blogspot.com
Broomfield, Colorado left "Pink Warm and Dry" via disappearingjohn. blogspot.com
Broomfield, Colorado arrived from lastblogstanding. blogspot.com on "Pink Warm and Dry"
Medford, Oregon arrived on "Pink Warm and Dry"
Petaling Jaya, Wilayah Persekutuan arrived from google.com.my on "Best Boob Blog? | Pink Warm and Dry"
Lynn Haven, Florida arrived on "Pink Warm and Dry"
West Monroe, Louisiana arrived on "Pink Warm and Dry"
Fresno, California arrived from google.com on "Pink Warm and Dry"
Watch in Real-Time
Options>>

Click to get FEEDJIT

BLOGROLL

9 of 12 4/16/2009 1:49 PM
Advice for New EMT’s | Pink Warm and Dry http://www.pinkwarmdry.com/blog/2009/04/advice-for-new-emts/

20 Out Of 10
A Day In My World
A Day In The Life Of An Ambulance Driver
A Medic’s Journey
Adventures of GuitarGirl RN
Annie and Burl Live!
At Your Cervix
Authorblog
Baby Blue Pyjamas
Backboards and Bandaids
Bayou Renaissance Man
Better And Better
Blissful Entropy
Blue Ridge Medic
Bob’s Blog
Boobs Injuries And Dr. Pepper
C Jane
Confessions of a Pioneer Woman
Confessions Of A Stretcher Jockey
Cookie’s Oven
Cranky Epistles
Crass-Pollination: An ER Blog
Crzegrl
Disappearing John RN
Doctor Anonymous
EMS Haiku
ER Nursey
Her Space My Space His Space
I Just Call It As I See It
JB On The Rocks
Le Jour Bleu
List Of The Day
Lucid
Lucy’s Logic aka “you know…”
MaddogMedic
Manic Disciple
March of the Platypi
MArooned
Meat In The Seat
Medic Three
Medic7
More than just ’saving lives’…
Musings of a Distractible Mind
Musings Of A Highly Trained Monkey
My Life In The Firehouse
My Strong Medicine
New Life Changes
Niner and Associates
Ninja Medic
No more runnin’, I aim to misbehave!
Not A Wanna Be, But A Gonna Be
Old NFO
Other People’s Emergencies
Our Deer Baby
Overactive Imagination
Paramedic SuperMonkey
Paramedic’s Logbook
Passive Aggressive Notes

10 of 12 4/16/2009 1:49 PM
Advice for New EMT’s | Pink Warm and Dry http://www.pinkwarmdry.com/blog/2009/04/advice-for-new-emts/

Pennies From Heathens

Photoshop Disasters
Pitchpull
PJ Country
Pocono Paramedic
Post Secret
Raging Server
Rescuing Providence
Ridin’ The Bus
Rocky Mountain Medic
Rogue Medic
Sam The EMT
Scalpel or Sword
Sensible Folks
Space to Rant
Star Of Life
Street Watch: Notes of a Paramedic
Surviving RT School
The Angry Pharmacist
The Breda Fallacy
The Fat Fireman
The Law Dog Files
The Munchkin Wrangler
The Runner’s Perspective
Too Old To Work Too Young To Retire
Voodoo Medicine Man
When Your Only Tool Is A Hammer
WhiteCoat Rants

META

Log in
Valid XHTML
XFN
WordPress

ARCHIVE
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007

11 of 12 4/16/2009 1:49 PM
Advice for New EMT’s | Pink Warm and Dry http://www.pinkwarmdry.com/blog/2009/04/advice-for-new-emts/

August 2007
July 2007

Pink Warm and Dry is proudly powered by WordPress

Web design by BrightCherry.

12 of 12 4/16/2009 1:49 PM