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Am I Suited For This Job?

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Source

Paramedics must be:

  • able to make decisions calmly and efficiently in moments of crisis
  • emotionally mature
  • compassionate
  • physically fit
  • able to work well independently and as part of a team

You must have:

  • excellent communication skills
  • a strong desire to help people
  • good eyesight and colour vision

Most emergency medical assistants (EMAs) in B.C. work for the BC Emergency Health Services. Full-time paramedics work assigned shifts. Part-time paramedics work on call, depending on need, scheduling and availability. The BC Ambulance Service hires emergency medical responders (EMRs) only on a part-time, on-call basis. Since services are provided 24 hours per day, weekend, evening and holiday work is required. Workers may also have to work some overtime.

Paramedics work both indoors and outdoors in a physically demanding job. You spend a great deal of time standing, kneeling, bending and lifting patients in stretchers. Work can be physically demanding, as well as emotionally stressful.

Sources: WorkBC and Career Cruising