Chapter 6: Pre-Hospital Care
Karen Piette
There is no typical day! A typical day for one paramedic will not be the same for another. Paramedics work in eight, twelve or twenty-four hour shifts. The paramedic may be assigned to a certain station or be mobile in the community in order to respond to calls faster. In a more rural town, a paramedic may respond to two or three calls, while in a large city they may respond to thirteen calls per shift.
When first coming on to shift, the paramedic assesses the equipment in the response vehicle to make sure everything is working correctly. After equipment is assessed, the paramedic will head out, take calls, and treat patients. After treating and transporting the patient to the hospital, the paramedic must turn over the patient to hospital staff and complete necessary paperwork and documentation. At the end of shift, paramedics report to the new oncoming crew if anything is wrong with the equipment and/or vehicle, they sign out and go home.
The majority of calls taken are non-critical (non life-threatening) calls. A paramedic treats at risk populations and elderly patients most. Breathing difficulties, diabetic emergencies, chest pain, traffic collisions are the norm. Violent crimes (gunshot wounds, stabbings) are treated as well.
In between calls is the time to grab a bite to eat. Units do not go out of service for calls, so paramedics must eat between patient contacts. Some days are busier than others and no two days are alike. Unions and labor laws are being exacted to force employers to make sure employees have breaks for meals and beyond. These laws vary state to state.
Attributions
- Figure 6.7: image released under the Pexels License