Work as EMR on Vancouver Island?

[veganess]

Hello!
I'm testing for my EMR cert very soon. I'm a prospective med student, but med school is many years away still. I want to get some work in the medical field that will get me hands on experience and something concrete to put on my future med school app.
That is why I went for my EMR.
I'm only 18 and I only have my Learners permit, which pretty much rules out any chance I had of working with BCAS for a while.
Is there anywhere I can work to gain experience in the med field that would be generally close to home on the island?
any ideas anyone?
I really appreciate the help, i'm stumped!

[otis23]

have you tried taking a look into St. John's ambulance, im not 100% sure on there hiring process, ( in fact i think it may be volunteer) but they do stand-by at big events (concert, festivals), it might be worth a look if you are wanting some hands on experience.

[FireChef]

Veganess

Dont let not having the DL rule out not applying with BCAS, because there are stations where they have driver only positions, so they would need someone with at minimum an EMR licence. Make sure you have a Class 4 Unrestricted. You will be posted to a smaller "rural" or "remote" station for atleast 6 months before you can put in for a transfer. So if you are going to be doing your EMR through the Justice Institute, apply with BCAS as soon as you get confirmation that you are regeistered for the EMR course. If you have any other questions, ask away. Myself, Paraone and Radar81 have all recently completed the EMR course, and Paraone is working with BCAS.

Good Luck!!

[veganess]

Thanks.
:)
My other issue is that I am going back to school in sept here at VIU. So working in a rural area off in the boonies isn't going to work very well.
I'm thinking Chemanius might be alright, I could probably make that commute.
But if I can't get on with BCAS in an area that will work for me, I'm not sure where else I can take my EMR license for work locally.

And yes, SJA is amazing, I've been vollenteering with them for four years in the cadet division. When I first joined I knew nothing about first aid, I had only ever taken a CPR course for babysitting, but now I'm helping to train the kids in first aid and we commute regularly to compete (and my girls are pretty darn good if I don't say so myself. ;)). Wonderful organization, it was what got me involved in the medical field.
Now I just want to step it up one and find a JOB in the field. While going to school.
Hmm. Maybe I should've thought this through before I took this emr course!
(I just passed yesterday, yay! Now licensing. :S)

[Paraone]

How about Sook station it is pretty close to Victoria? Another way of gaining experience in this kind of field is to look for work as a first aid person. Myself, I work at a mine site and I do get to use my skills every so often. You should really apply to the BCAS, as you never know how things will work out. Not sure where you are from, but if there is a Volunteer fire dept. close by, you can always join and become a first responder. That would get you some hands on experience.