Keep in mind I am a volunteer, additionally I am a Firefighter/Technical Rescue Specialist and must maintain all of the additional training requirements for those disciplines as well as EMS. My passion is technical rescue (rope/mountain, swift/flood water, confined space, trench and collapse rescues) and while I started out in EMS and drifted into fire and technical rescue, I have sought to maintain my Paramedic status more in support of those disciplines rather then straight EMS.

I could not agree more with the need for additional educational requirements, high standards and on going training for all levels of EMS (especially Paramedic) and support 110% the position you are advocating. However, for me I can no longer maintain the increasing requirements to maintain my ALS license/affiliation, technical rescue training requirements, my “real” job and family life. I suspect in the future, others in the Fire/Rescue/EMS fields (career and volunteer) will also have to make the tough choice and chose between Fire/Rescue and upper level (Paramedic and above) EMS. I further suspect that unless upper level (Paramedic and above) EMS providers (career and volunteer) are given major incentives to remain at the advanced EMS level, many will choose Fire/Rescue over EMS.

Note: You will notice I mention upper level EMS providers as; Paramedic and above and wonder what is above Paramedic (I am not talking about Doctors, PAs or Nurses). In many areas, Paramedics are specializing in such areas as critical/aero- transport, general medical care (treat and release on-scene medical care) and neo-natal care. This is over and above the standard Paramedic education.

Pete