Same question, different thread

[Cody]

Im a fresh out of high school student who wants to know what I need to do to join the Edmonton fire fighter service. All I have gathered so far is that I need a diploma, which I have, and some previous training. Since I don't have any outside of the previous volunteer work I did with a friend up in Calahoo, I figured the best bet would be for me to go to fire.etc (http://www.afts.ab.ca/) for their training program. Is there any Edmonotn fire fighters here who can tell me if there is anything else I may require before applying? Or if I should even bother going to Vermilion?

Thanks in advance,

Cody

[backdraft343]

HEY CODY ,IT`S GREAT YOUR INTERESTED IN FIREFIGHTING.My sudgestion is to go get your EMR sert.Thats the min you need.Don`t limit yourself to Edm only.These are really hard jobs to get.Pad your resume with everything you can.SCUBA,WHIMIS,TDG,CPR,AED,EMT-A.H2S ALIVE.Anything and everything you can get.A big plus would be getting your NFPA 1001`s.All of this is a big investment,trust me i know but it will show that you are trully interested in this highly competative but truly the greatest job in the world.

[Cody]

I appreciate the imput backdraft343. I have already started in on your advice, so I have just recently obtained my NFPA 1001 from the U of A. Tough, but fair. I suppose I can toss that on my SCUBA and WHIMIS that I already have a grasp on. Now my question is what do "TDG, AED, EMT-A.H2S ALIVE" stand for and where can I find them? I suppose CPR isn't a huge thing seeing as how it expires every year or two alongside First Aid. And as for EMR training, is that an essential? Because I don't believe I have that much time, marks, or coin on my hands to undergo professional medical response training. Anything else you can toss my way would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,

Cody

[wannabe]

Originally posted by Cody
I appreciate the imput backdraft343. I have already started in on your advice, so I have just recently obtained my NFPA 1001 from the U of A. Tough, but fair. I suppose I can toss that on my SCUBA and WHIMIS that I already have a grasp on. Now my question is what do "TDG, AED, EMT-A.H2S ALIVE" stand for and where can I find them? I suppose CPR isn't a huge thing seeing as how it expires every year or two alongside First Aid. And as for EMR training, is that an essential? Because I don't believe I have that much time, marks, or coin on my hands to undergo professional medical response training. Anything else you can toss my way would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,

Cody

AED- Automated External Defibrillation...you can pick it up in a quick course at your local Red Cross or equivalent.

TGD- Transporation of Dangerous Goods I believe. I don't have this one myself yet. Another fairly short course though.

EMT-A is your Advanced Paramedic's licence. Not a quick course but valuable if you have the time.

I don't know what the other one is...

Good luck!

[FireEMTGuy]

Correction to wannabe's post.

EMT-A is Emergency Medical Technician - Ambulance.

Note: There are three levels of medical training in Alberta, EMR, EMT-A, EMT-P (Paramedic)

EMT-A training consists of an approx 3 month course ($4200) and a hospital and ambulance practium. This allows you to work as a "BLS" care provider.

You MUST take EMR as it is a prereq for the EFD. Also you must be registered with the Alberta College of Paramedics.

Take a look at the Edmonton ERD's webpage.

H2S Alive is training for encounters with Hydrogen Sulfide. This gas is found in the oilpatch and is also commonly known as "sour gas." Courses on this, TDG, and Confined space can be obtained at any industrial safety operation in the edmonton area, there are many.

I have just recently obtained my NFPA 1001 from the U of A.

The UofA does not offer NFPA 1001 Firefighter courses...?

...I don't believe I have that much time, marks, or coin on my hands...

Time? Well considering you have just graduated high school, then you have LOTS of time. The EFD does not put prefrence on "younger" guys. They like more experienced people, with "life experience" to lead them. Also without training, they will not even consider you.

Marks? EMS is directly related to fire. As a Firefighter you do not just put out fires. A LARGE majority of your calls will be medical related thus the requirement for EMR. The EMR course is fairly basic and if you can read a book and remember what you read you can pass.

Coin? An EMR course at any of the local schools here in Edmonton offer the course from $500-$800.

However before you undertake any of these projects I strongly suggest you go for a ride along with the EFD. This can be done by calling the EFD main office, station one. Check the phone book.

City of Edmonton EFD qualifications:

Grade 12 diploma or equivalent;

Current Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Course certificate from an approved institute that is sanctioned by Alberta College of Paramedics (ACP); Registration with Alberta College of Paramedics must be obtained by date of hire;

Valid Class 3 Alberta Operators license with air brake endorsement, or proof of equivalency;

Driver’s abstract with 7 or less demerits on date of application;
Security clearance from recognized police agency, marked clear, issued within six months of application date;

Meet the minimum visual and hearing standards of:

Visual standard – 20/30 (6/9) or better in each eye without visual aids; peripheral minimum 120 degrees in each eye;color minimum Holmgren/ Farnsworth 15 safe;minimum six month waiting period following eye surgery;

Hearing standard – thresholds no greater than 30 decibels in each ear at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz;

Canadian Citizenship or legal permanent residence (Certificate of Citizenship and/or Birth Certificate, Landed Immigrant Documentation);
and

Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in English under stressful conditions.

Fact remains that you are not going to get on with the EFD if you have simply the "basic" qualifications. You must show that you strive to learn and improve yourself. Take the previous advice and you will learn the process more clearly.

As stated by the CFD recruitment team:

Your first day as a firefighter is the wrong time to discover you don't handle pressure well.


Edmonton ERD LINK (http://www.edmonton.ca/portal/server.pt?space=CommunityPage&control=SetCommunity&CommunityID=212&PageID=0)

[Mongoose]

Cody, Brother what are you talking about 1001's at U of A ?
No such thing, anyway.
Got My 1001's at Fire ETC. Great time,real good. Was kinda sad when it ended. Back to reality I guess. Get all the certification you can. If you really want this it'll all pay off in the end. Dont worry about your age, time is on your side. Stay healthy and train clean,never compromise your health. later....

[Cody]

No no...Guys...The physical requirments?

You know...The treadmill? The ladder? The fake carry? The hose pull? All that crap thats done at the U of A? That Cert. I picked that up about a week or two ago.

Im registered to take classes at fire.etc in Vermillion in August. But like EMTGuy says...I sure as hell hope they don't slam on the young guys...How are you going to get life experience if you can't get the job in the first place?

What I wanna know is if I can join the Alberta College of Paramedics with only 500 bucks and a few weeks.

Everything else I have in great surpluses...for now that is. If they wait long enough on the young guys...We're gonna be blind, deaf, unable to drive, and could barely put our own pants on let alone lift X amount of weight.

Ah well. Only what? 6 months before I can do jack?

Keep flagging me on what else I could do in the meantime to keep busy and keep an edge.

I appreciate the imput guys.:D

[Newb on Fire]

Life experience doesn't always mean fire experience. I'm sure the fire department would like someone with other skills as well. Whatever you do, don't get discouraged. It is pretty uncommon to get hired on right after high school from what I hear. I'm not sure if they have rescue schools out there in Alberta but any kind of rope, water, ice, confined area rescue classes would be great to have on an application. If you can, volunteer as much as posible. I'm not sure what you call it down there but her it's called a DZ license which allows you to drive the trucks with air brakes. That too would be good to have. I know what your going through. All you want to do is start working but it seems like it's so far away. Be patient and good luck!

[FireEMTGuy]

Also for your EMR, check out CCEMS (http://www.ccofems.org/)

I took my EMR and my EMT-A training there. They are a good school and their EMR training will help you pass the course.

Also, yes, you can take your EMR and write the provincal ACP exams before August.

[wannabe]

Originally posted by FireEMTGuy
Correction to wannabe's post.

EMT-A is Emergency Medical Technician - Ambulance.

Note: There are three levels of medical training in Alberta, EMR, EMT-A, EMT-P (Paramedic)

EMT-A training consists of an approx 3 month course ($4200) and a hospital and ambulance practium. This allows you to work as a "BLS" care provider.

You MUST take EMR as it is a prereq for the EFD. Also you must be registered with the Alberta College of Paramedics.

Take a look at the Edmonton ERD's webpage.



Ah well...who would have known that Alberta does it differently...

Here's the BC version, from the JIBC site www.jibc.on.ca

Advanced Care Paramedic

Program Description

The Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) Program is an advanced level training program that builds on the skills developed as a Primary Care Paramedic. The ACP program is designed to give participants the skills and knowledge to perform an organized patient assessment, intervene in life-threatening injuries and conditions, perform ACP treatments, procedures and protocols, and record and report patient information.

The program has been designed by the Paramedic Academy to meet or exceed the National Occupational Competency Profiles (NOCPs) for Advanced Care Paramedics, as developed by the Paramedic Association of Canada.

This tuition-based program is offered in both part-time and full-time formats, and may be completed in 11 to 20 months. Courses are delivered using a combination of independent study, classroom sessions at the Paramedic Academy, clinical sessions in hospital and on-ambulance time in Vancouver.

:) Paula

[Cody]

Ah well...who would have known that Alberta does it differently...

Here's the BC version, from the JIBC site www.jibc.on.ca

Advanced Care Paramedic

Your site doesn't seem to work, but has me quite interested.

I've taken into account all your advice thus far and have pushed my name off the imeadite list for August registration of fire.etc's course for the time being. Mainly due to the fact that I still have half a brain in my head to learn what I still can, and would like to put that to good use in order to pick up some medical certs.

On top of FireEMTGuy 's suggestion of CCEMS, Im seriousily wanting to obtain "More that just the basic requirements" in order to make it all worth while.

Since I already come from a family with a medical background, picking up a paramedic cert and now this new advanced cert, would not only help me get ahead of the game, but make the rest of my family pretty proud.

What Im looking for is the equivilant training an ambulance paramedic would require to perform their job. Any information you guys have about any sort of course that has working links or sources to obtain the information Im looking for, please feel free to post and let me know about it.

Anything reguarding time frames, requirements, tuition, and relevant knowledge about any of these trainign facilities would be a god send. The sooner I can find a descent education, the sooner I can start in on my NFPA 1001. Location is not a problem.

Cody

(Ps. I appreciate all imput that you guys have tossed my way so far. If I missed any thing that would do me good in any previous posts that I have missed, please point it out to me. I know for example that FireEMTGuy suggested CCEMS, but Im not sure they could give me the "whole nine yards" medical training that im looking for. Thanks again.) ^_^

[FireEMTGuy]

Inorder to obtain your EMT-P (Paramedic) you must first get:

- your EMR ($500-$1000)
- gain experience as an EMR
- apply and get accpeted to an EMT-A course( normally they accept those with EMR experience)
- then you must take your EMT-A ($4200 / 3-4 months inclass +3-9 months of practium depending on wait times)
- Gain experience as an EMT-A (most schools like to see at least one but usually 2 years of EMT-A experience)
- Apply and get accepted into an EMT-P program (normally $15 000 - $20 000 CDN and 2 years of schooling including practium(s)
= All together to become a Medic it requires approx $30 000, 5 years, and a lot of dedication.

Reputable schools that offer EMR/EMT/EMT-P programs include:

CCEMS
NAIT
SAIT
PMA
ESA (Offers EMR/EMT-A)


Also to add to my posts, Alberta or ACP is moving towards a PCP/ACP/CCP system. The new system and scopes of practice are slated to be introduced in 2005. (VERY tennative date) The CMA is the body that produced the new system.

Also Cody... if you are going to be taking your Paramedic just so you can get onto a fire department then you are wasting your time. Only take your Paramedic if you enjoy it, otherwise it will be a waste of time and money. If you do still want to invest 5 years total to get your EMT-P and still have a strong interest in fire, and by the sounds of it it is fire you want, than an integrated service such as St. Albert, Red Deer, Airdrie, Cochrane, Lethbridge, where FIRE/EMS is combined, may be a better path to follow.

Cody, add me to MSN.

[Cody]

Alright now Im getting confused. Whats the difference between the system now and in 2005? And where would I get these "intregrated" courses from? And when would I need to register by?

Trust me man, your on the msn.

If a trench collapses and nobodys in it, who cares?

Your just never on.

If you want to add me, it's dark_mana@hotmail.com. Hope to talk to you soon.

Thanx again.