Don't call me an ambulance driver

If you really want to get under the skin of a Paramedic or EMT, call him/her an “Ambulance Driver!” Nothing bothers them worse. In fact, some get pretty ugly.

“Years of schooling, including classroom and clinical, just to be called an ambulance driver, is an outrage,” claims Ray Hedrick, a paramedic with West Virginia. “On the other hand, it could be worse. Years ago, when my mother was sick, a hearse came to pick her up and she was still alive!” he continued.

The misconception that it takes more than one driver to drive an ambulance is real. In fact, paramedics and EMT’s all over the country will tell you, the public thinks it takes two to drive an ambulance.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked into someone’s house and a family member will say, hey the Ambulance Drivers are here,” says Adam Palinkas of Pasadena. “You know, plural, as in two. But there’s only one steering wheel.”

Steve Berry is a Paramedic and author of the cartoon series, “I am not an Ambulance Driver.” Mr. Berry has made a lucrative income publishing EMS related cartoon books since his career as a paramedic began 20 years ago. His cartoon series relates real life situations, but spins them so they are humorous. You can find more information about Steve Berry by going to www.iamnotanambulancedriver.com

In order to be a paramedic you must attend an accredited paramedic program. Most of these programs are taught at your local College. They are intense in both classroom participation and clinical training. If you start from the ground up, you are looking at three to four years for the entire program.

There are different levels of prehospital care. Everyone starts as a basic Emergency Medical Technician or EMT-B (Basic). Then, with additional training, you can become an Intermediate EMT or EMT-I (Intermediate). Finally, with even more (intense) training you can become a Paramedic or EMT-P (Paramedic). Each level allows the provider to perform distinct prehospital care procedures that they are trained and certified in.

In Maryland, all Paramedics are licensed as well as certified nationally. Maryland paramedics follow medical protocols that allow them to function under physicians “standing orders,” as opposed to calling the physician on the radio for each patient. The radio remains an option when needing a physician’s direction, as well as contacting the hospital.

The average starting pay for a paramedic is around $40,000 and max out between $60,000 and $80,000. Many jurisdictions, like Annapolis City, have open (vacancy) announcements which will not close until all the spots are filled.

So if you are looking for a challenging career and thought about becoming a paramedic, now is the time, as you shouldn’t have a problem finding work. But beware if on your first run don’t be surprised if someone calls you an “Ambulance Driver!”