Lets talk more about the difference.

After starting this blog, I did some thinking. Maybe comparing the two is apples and oranges. For example, the mechanic at the Ford dealer works on cars and trucks, while the mechanic at the John Deere dealer works on tractors and combines and farm implement. If you asked both men what they do, they would say they are mechanics. I am a Paramedic as is the Medic on the private service. Do we both save lives? Yes. Did we attend the same schooling? Yes. But here is where the difference starts. On a private service, I will do both transports and emergency calls. I may take John Q from the nursing home to the hospital and then rush out for a diabetic call. On the fire side, I will pull someone from a burning building (it doesn't happen that often, but I had to say it) and rush them to a hospital and then respond to a garage fire. On the private side, most people get to go home each night and come to work in the morning. The fire side usually consists of 24 hour shifts where we get the pleasure of waking at 0200 for someone with a toothache (that is a fact, it was the dumbest call of my career yet).

Yes I have worked both!

I worked for a private EMS for 3 years before I got hired on a civil fire based EMS. I have 9 years experience and counting. I think as fire based we are better as customer service. I am always the good guy. Working EMS only, I did think I was a better medic (currently NREMT-PS) since that was the only thing I knew. However, if I had to choose between saving a life and putting out a fire, fire wins every time. Now I would love to read comments. If you are going to be an *%$ and start ranting, DON'T EVEN TYPE!!!!!!

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