Paramedic student Jesse Gil, 44, has always had a lifelong passion to become a Firefighter-EMT
After working as a financial advisor for 16 years, Gil decided to follow his dream. After working in the new career for nearly six years, he decided to continue his education in order to become a paramedic.
“I am advancing my skill set from EMT to a paramedic so I can be more beneficial to my team and the patients in the field,” Gil said.
Several paramedic students stated the hardest part about the program is not just learning the material but applying it during the time of the call and occurrence at the scene.
“This program is like drinking water from a firehose, it’s a lot to take in,” Gil said.
Being a paramedic is much more than being an ambulance driver. They have extensive medical training.
EMTs and paramedics are able to give more than 80 different medications, they can use a 12-lead ECG which lets them view 12 different visuals of a patient’s heart, and they can even do vehicle extractions.
“This program allows you to challenge yourself, it provides the skills, knowledge, and tools to live up to your potential,” Gil said.
As a first responder, paramedics are the first to arrive on a scene without knowing their surroundings or what to expect once they arrive.
Calls EMS may receive can vary from car accidents to mental health crises, and even the most basic sick calls.
The advancing technology is continuing to add support in many ways. For instance, there is now a system to transfer pictures from the ambulance to the hospital’s on-call physician for a quicker transition and easier diagnosis.
The evolution of EMS has transitioned tremendously. The field went from funeral homes running ambulances with no medical training to a dedicated career with extensive training and certifications.
In this career field paramedics works either work one day on two days off, or two days on with four days off. They spend a third of their life at the station.
Del Mar has a training partnership with the Corpus Christi Fire Department and Driscoll Children’s Hospital. This allows EMS students to complete their ride outs with CCFD and clinicals at Driscoll Children’s Hospital.
“This is a very rewarding job but it is not easy, there is no room for anyone who is half-hearted or lazy,” Emergency Medical Instructor Richard Bassett said.
