Going back to Emergency Medical Technician - Basic school

I just got a phone call from Seattle Fire Department inviting me to the Emergency Medical Technician - Basic, or EMT-B, course they we be hosting this fall!!!

I have a pretty extensive background in emergency medicine. I first received my EMT-B certification in North Carolina back in 1998. I then became a volunteer with the Watauga County Rescue Squad (WCRS) based in Boone, NC. While I was volunteering with the WCRS I went through the NC EMT - Intermediate course and became a certified EMT-I which allowed me to start IV's and administer some medicines. EMT-I can be a bit more agressive with their field interventions under the direct supervision of the area Medical Director. I worked part and full-time for the county EMS service, Watauga Medics, Inc. During this time starting in 2000 I started the NC EMT-Paramedic course of study. The Paramedic course was a year and a half long and pretty intense. I also complete a wilderness medicine course through SOLO Wilderness Medicine and ASU Outdoor Programs. I continued to volunteer with WCRS conducting search and rescues and EMS service through out the county. I also did my college internship as an Outdoor Trip Leader requiring Wilderness First-Aid training.

In the spring of 2001 I applied to the US Forest Service to become a wildland firefighter, or a Hotshot. I was hired on to the Baker River Hotshot crew based out of Concrete, WA in May 2001 for the 2001 fire season. I was one of the few crew medics and I used my medical knowledge at least a half a dozen times to help save peoples lives. I completed my Paramedic course final exam, sent through the mail, during the first few training weeks with Baker River in May 2001. I never did receive my EMT-Paramedic certification due in part to King counties rules of who can be certified as a Paramedic, only firefighters. Thus started my quest to become a paid firefighter in Washington state. I reciprocated my NC EMT-I to a WA EMT-B and started working for Tri-Med Ambulance but after working primary 911 ALS response working secondary BLS transport just did not cut it.

My WA EMT-B certification expired in December 2004 and I have been waiting ever since for a chance to renew!!! Here is my chance and I WILL make the most of it! I also plan to go back to KCFD #20 and I will be able to keep my EMT certification updated through them until I either get hired as a firefighter or complete nursing school and get my RN license.