How to become a Paramedic

324

311

£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."

Get qualified

To train as a Paramedic, you'll need minimum of five GCSEs (including English, mathematics and/or a science), plus at least two A-levels or the equivalent. You could also find first aid certificates and membership of organisations like St John Ambulance useful when you're starting out. A full, clean driving license is also essential.

Recommended Paramedic Training courses

Paramedic Training Course

Skill Buster

UKRLP & CPD Certified | Free Certificate | Updated Material | 24/7 Support | Free Exam
- Compare
- Online
- 27 hours · Self-paced
- Certificate(s) included
- Tutor support
Great service

Popular

See more See less

Paramedic Online Training Do you want to start a career in the Paramedic sector or learn more about it? This Paramedic course is designed by industry experts so that it assists you to have a better understanding of Paramedic. This Paramedic training has covered all the latest top …
£10 £12

Save 16%
Paramedic Training Level 3 Advanced Diploma

Learningidol

CPD Certified | Free PDF Certificate | 2023 Updated | 24/7 student support | No hidden fees.
- Compare
- New course!
- Online
- 27 hours · Self-paced
- Certificate(s) included
- Tutor support
See more See less

Paramedic Training Level 3 Advanced Diploma Online Training Do you want to start a career in the Paramedic Training sector or learn more about it? In Paramedic Training Level 3 Advanced Diploma, you'll explore the fundamental aspects of Paramedic Training. This Paramedic Train …
£10