Emergency Vehicle Checklist On the Job Stephan at Work Battalion 49 Paramedic/EMT Patch

Stephan Petras is a Paramedic for the New York City Fire Department. He has the tremendous responsibility of providing medical attention to patients during emergency situations. This includes providing emotional support not only to the patient, but also to family members.

To reach this emergency medical position, Stephan had to follow many steps. He needed to complete a basic Emergency Medical Technician course and pass a test to get his EMT certification. Then, to be come a paramedic, he had to train hard and pass tests given by the NYS Department of Health, the Medical Advisory Committees and the American Heart Association. During this time, he was also required to spend many hours working in a hospital emergency room and on ambulance shifts.

Stephan honed many of his skills as a volunteer firefighter before pursuing his EMT training. He points out some of the skills you should have to do this very important job. You will need to:

• Communicate very well with others.
• Lift and carry at least 125 pounds.
• Remain calm and use sound judgment in high-stress situations.
• Determine and apply the right medical treatment in adverse conditions.
• Be able to interview a patient, family members and, or, bystanders.
• Clearly and accurately explain the condition of the patient to family members and hospital workers.

You may wonder, why Stephan does such a high stress job. "Making a child laugh, or an elderly person smile when he or she is in pain can be one of the biggest payoffs. If you can realize and appreciate that you may be the difference in a person's chance for survival, then being a paramedic can be a very fulfilling career."