Let me explain the medical side of a firefighter. First off i want to say that when you become a fireman it's not all about fighting fires there is a other side of it also. The medical side of it is just as demanding as the firefighting. The key to being a good firefighter is being able to switch between firefighter and medical personal fast! Say you went to a 2 alarm fire at 4am and got the fire almost out but then you are told that there is someone in ther house that is badly hurt. You must be able to gear up and go get the vitum then you must be able to switch roles and provide the medical attenion that the vitum needs. At first being able to do this will be hard but after you get used to it you will be able to do this just as quick as you can put your gear on. Depending of where you at most of the firefighters now days are EMT or Paramedic along with it. Alot of people that I've talked to tell me that they just want to fight fire and not do medical. Well in a way I can understand where they are comming from but me being a paramedic and firefighter for more that 12 years I feel that the two go hand in hand. Ok now that you have a understanding of the medical side of all of this I will tell you the least medical exp. you can have then the most you can have. The least medical trainning you can have and still be a fireman is basic first aid and CPR.. The most medical trainning you can have is paramedic. Both of these will come in handy but I would recommand that you go ahead and get you paramedic. It's more trainning and you have to go to collage for 2 years to become one but it is well worth it. I love doing both of them. Also the big change in being an EMT and a Paramedic is a medic has the power to give meds with the  ok from medical command. In intence settings you will be happy to have medical trainning. I will tell you this once you get  your paramedic you will have alot more responceablety than you are used to having. Remeber this befor you ever get some one medications you MUST first get in contact with medical command and get them to approve it. If you do nto do this and they die or someone goes and tells them that you gave meds with out them apoveing  it you could loose your cards and go to prison. Just keep this in mind the more you go up the medical and firefighting ladder the more you have to follow guildlines to the number.

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