Pros/Cons of being a paramedic?

[dantheman1985]

I ask because I have been accepted in to both the paramedic and firefighting programs at college and can not decide which field I want to pursue. I have also done career surveys, and personality tests, and both jobs keep coming up... so these have been of no help. I was hoping someone who works in the field might be able to share some insider information on their respective career.

[Bj_PRFD]

If you want a job and want to start work right away .. be a paramedic.. if you want an emotional roller coaster and the the fact hanging over your head that you might not have a fire job for 10 years, and you are prepred to go the distance than be a firefighter..you might be one of the lucky ones that gets a job on the first go....you just dont know... if i had it to do over again, 10 years ago i would have went to paramedic school... got a job started working and than worked toward a fire job. I got all my IFSAC fire training for free through a vollunteer dept... im glad i did it that way cuase ive been trying for 5 years for a fire job...i feel bad for the guys that paied 10,000 to go to fire school and cant get jobs... ... i went to medic school last year and 3 weeks out of school i had a job.... in the end its up to you.. but thats my 2 cents

[fire_cracka]

if you wanna feel like "the man" be a firefighter.
if you wanna get applauded for carrying a baby out of a building be a firefighter.
if you want girls (or guys i guess) be a firefighter
you wanna make money be a firefighter

if you wanna get spit on by people with hep C be a medic
if you wanna be the one that takes the baby from the firefighter and it dies on your lap, maybe youll even get questioned on your preformance even after doing eveything possible be a medic
if you want to be critisized by firefighters because you sacrifice some spinal mobility and dont let extricate because you are worried about time be a paramedic
you want a crappy union be a medic

k but without being a narcicist, become a medic, enjoy it while you're young, learn to hate bcas and youll have a ton of down time to do your fire training online (training division).
then when you apply as a firefighter or fire medic you will have a kickass resume although you may get sucked into ACP (as this is happening to me) but thats not a bad thing.
also, medics have to learn a leadership/decision making skill that will blow fire depts away

no hate to firefighters, they save our asses just wanted to joke around a bit

note if taking medic programs there are tons of hidden costs

cost of school-$5000 (you can get an exact number i just made this up)
living while going to school-a bunch
practicum/travel expenses- another 1-3 months of living/rent and gas if your in different stations (example if you do your school on vancouver island, maybe work nanimo, powell river, gabriola)
licensing-$550
first 6 months of work -break even

[Lynx]

Go to Alberta, take your EMT and then your 1001. Get on an integrated department and do both. Love your job.