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How to become a Paramedic

Paramedic
£35,000/y
avg. starting salary

Do you pride yourself on how calm you can be in a crisis? Are you happiest when helping people? If you answered yes, then you might make the perfect Paramedic. A Paramedic is the healthcare professional who will be responsible for responding to emergency calls to accidents or medical emergencies. They are usually first on the scene and frequently provide life-saving treatment to anyone from an elderly person suffering a stroke to the victim of a car accident. If you train as a Paramedic, you'll:
  • Respond to 999 calls
  • Assess each patient's situation as soon as you reach them
  • Provide emergency treatment using drugs and equipment like defibrillators
  • Drive the patient to hospital in your ambulance, if necessary
  • Provide a brief yet detailed report of the patient's injury or illness upon arrival at hospital

As a Paramedic, you'll need to deal with all kinds of medical emergencies, so it's not ideal for anyone who's squeamish. Also, you could be outdoors in all weathers - this isn't for you if you like the comfort of a cosy office. You should be:
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Responsible, and the ability to take own initiative
  • Calm and quick-thinking in a crisis
  • Able to convey medical information succinctly
  • Good with people, including relatives of the injured who may be hysterical

"For me, being a Paramedic is the most exciting job possible, as you never know what situation will crop up from day to day. Sometimes it can be emotionally draining, but I feel a real sense of achievement every time I help someone through what will probably have been one of the most difficult days of their life. I wouldn't want to do anything else."

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