Working as a paramedic is a job that is hugely demanding but also very rewarding. Paramedics are the first on the scene to any medical emergencies, whether somebody has been involved in a car accident, is having the symptoms of a heart attack, or has broken a bone. As a paramedic, you’ll be working as part of an ambulance crew to ensure that medical attention reaches those who need it as quickly as possible. In order to become a paramedic, you will need to go to university to study a degree or diploma and should also have a range of further skills. Here’s what you can do right now to ensure that you’re already on the path to your dream career.
Learn to Drive
As a paramedic, you’ll be expected to be able to drive the ambulance. This means that not only will you need to have your full car driving license, you’ll also be required to have a license to drive heavy goods vehicles as well. Since you will be transporting patients to hospital, you will need to have good driving skills and be able to drive safely at speed and under pressure. If you don’t already have a driving license, the first thing that you need to do in order to be one step further to becoming a paramedic is take and pass your theory and practical driving tests. Click the link for a free driving theory practice test.
Learn First Aid
When you become a paramedic, you’ll not only be expected to have basic first aid skills but also advanced skills as a medically trained first responder. In order to put yourself in a better position for getting accepted onto a paramedic training course, learning first aid and becoming a registered first aider is essential. As a first aider, you will be trained to deal with a range of medical emergencies and will be able to help patients in need until paramedics arrive. This can be great experience for anybody who is looking to become a paramedic and can give you some insight into the career. Becoming a first aider is also hugely rewarding, as first aid skills could well save somebody’s life.
Get Work Experience
Once you have qualified as a first aider, the next step towards becoming a paramedic is getting as much work experience as possible. With a first aid qualification, you may be able to become a registered first aider at your workplace, and you can also apply to be a first aider at a range of different events. In the UK, there are a range of different companies and agencies which employ trained first aiders to work events such as festivals, family fun days, and more. The more experience that you have under your belt, the better your application to become a paramedic will be. You could even become a first aid trainer for even more experience.
Becoming a paramedic is a hugely rewarding job, but you’ll need to be prepared to put hard work in to get there.
