Paramedics and firefighter/paramedics, answer?

Question

I am an aspiring firefighter/paramedic and have some questions.

Paramedics: was there ever a day as you went through school or even when you started the job that you didn't feel like you wanted to be a paramedic?
Because I get this some days, but I am ignoring it, because I really want to be a firefighter/paramedic.

Is being calm in the situations a paramedic is put in a mind thing. I think it is. Because i see the possibility of God teaching me to be as calm as you can be in a situation and I see it as being in the mind. That you have to control your emotions and such. Is thist true?
Also what can I do to train myself to be more calm in very serious situations?

thank you.

Answer 1

I am already a paramedic and am about to start firefighter school as soon as I get hired on to the right company...but going through school, as soon as we were done with cardiology, i hated it and didn't ever want to go. I had serious doubts about finishing because I did a 7 month advanced course straight out of intermediate school so it was rough as hell on me, but i pulled through and kicked some A and made top grades in the class but its a rough ride, just stick through it and dont quit! On the other hand of being calm in rough situations, it's a thing that just comes with experience and your personality. I took it well from day one because I keep a calm head under pressure. But one of the most important things I tell to other people who have trouble with that is by you being nervous and indecisive, you are hurting your patient. Even if you don't know what to do, keeping a calm head gives you the thoughts to make a "more right" diagnosis and allows you to call med control or something if you need too. Just see it as you have your patient, how can you help rather than, what if i do something wrong. Patient comes number 1 !...well...after scene safety and BSI ;)

Answer 2

Calmness in emergency situations comes from knowing what to do. Learn your lessons as well as you can, then when a situation arrises that you are trained to deal with, your training takes over and you simply do what must be done. Often, after the crisis, you may have an emotional reaction, and that is normal...but usually during the crisis, you are far to busy concentrating on what must be done to be emotionally involved or frightened.