Aspie voluntering as an EMT

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I don't know what response I'll get from wanting to pursue this vocation as a volunteer, but here goes nothing.
I am interested in taking and EMT course (and any other necessary courses for that matter) starting next summer (I'll be 16 by then).
I'll be at a fairly busy volunteer fire company that my father has been a EMT and Firefighter for years. I've known some of the people there since 2008 when I hung around my father there when he was on duty.
I've seen some of their apparatus and their medics (and even got to tour inside).
I feel some concern though (chiefly due to Asperger's Syndrome). I'm afraid that when I first start, something from being an aspie will screw me up. Has anybody here been an EMT or Paramedic? Any tips? I want to do well if I decide to start. Any tips to being an aspie EMT or paramedic? I also have Social Anxiety, so I feel as if I've already screwed up in front of the present Fire company crew by being awkward so far. Any other tips pertaining to Social Anxiety as well?
I know being an EMT can be stressful. You don't know the volume and nature of the calls you very well may receive each and every day. It's hard to see death and suffering when it does occur. But, I would like to donate some of my time to making a difference in another person's life.
So far, It seems as if EMS studies, Ambulances/Medics, Fire Apparatus are becoming my Aspie obsession. I don't know if that's a good thing for pursuing this volunteer vocation.
As an actual part time career, I work as a Café server. I sucked when I started, but I do extraordinarily well at my job now.
Any other tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.
I hope my dreams aren't crushed by Asperger's Syndrome this time.

The nice thing about EMT is that you would have a defined role and would not need to wing it like you do at parties. And volunteering is a good way to find out if you really are cut out for the work. Keep up the good work!

At 16 years old, your district will allow you to volunteer on an ambulance? I'm a nurse so I know what EMT's and paramedics see every day. It's not a pretty sight. I wish you luck but part of me wonders if that level of volunteerism might not be too traumatic for a teenager.

It does seem shocking at first. Even I was concerned at first. Apparently, the VFC I'm applying for had two different categories. 16-17 y/os and 18+ y/os.
16-17 y/os are Associate members. I don't know what that means yet, sadly. If it's non-emergency work or stuff like that, I'd still work on it. Whatever I can start off with first.

Thank you! I agree with your insight. Maybe one day when I leave my youth, I'll be a career worker at a FC with experience. (I hope )

Last edited by Marylandman889 on 06 Nov 2013, 10:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I have been in EMS for 11 years and have been a paramedic for 7. I absolutely love it and can't imagine doing anything else with my life. I was diagnosed a year after I got into the profession, so I didn't know until I was 20, but I love it. The cool thing is that you can completely focus on what you are doing and it is socially acceptable to be a little off. Seriously, people expect you to be kinda weird if that's what you do. It would be in your best interest to have a partner that can deal with the necessary evil of the social stuff, like dealing with patient's families. Some places it isn't enough to save a person's life, you also have to get on their Christmas card list for unfathomable reasons.

I'm a firefighter/Emergency Medical Responder. I love it.

We have 16 and 17 year old EMTs as well. There are limits on what they can do and how long they can be there, but they are still very active.

The best advice I can give is

1.) Be humble and always be willing to learn. Learning NEVER stops.
2.) Do things without being asked (like cleaning, taking out the trash)
3.) Study, study study. Know your equipment and your apparatus.
4.) Ask people to help you learn things.
5.) Don't be a 2/20 (someone who's been in for a short time but acts like they've been in for 20 years)

You may find that your social anxiety disappears when the bells ring. You are now a person in control of the situation. Your not having a 1-1 unstructured conversation, if your talking it's very focused and purpose driven.

It's one of the best things I've ever done with my life.

I have received such wonderful care from people in EM, I love being treated with that precision and professionalism, it's ultimately very calming (and I recently cut the tip of my finger off in a knife accident-- if it weren't for a co-workers' attention to detail and medical training, I would've been in a lot more pain).

I would definitely pursue it, if I were you, let your AS traits shine.

One thing that can be helpful is to be able to distance yourself emotionally so you maintain objective and level thinking.

And you def need a thick skin. Your gonna see some f'ed up s**t.

I've been Ambulance Service for 15 years, and a paramedic for 9. I love my job, and as others have said, it's very task focused. However 16 is pretty young. We have direct entrant coming in at 18 or a little older, and they all seem to have to same thing in common- they struggle to relate to patients.

The folks you'll be dealing with are from all walks of life, all ages, and that can be difficult- I started out on the non emergency side with our mob, and I believe that really helped as I learned to talk to people. I also watch, listen and learn from how the socially gifted of my colleagues interact with people- one guy in particular has taught me tons.

See what they are allowing you to do. You may be better off waiting a couple of years and volunteering to be a friend to the old lonely folks in your community- like at a local nursing home or something? Old people love to talk, and they could teach you a lot.

The other thing to bear in mind is that once you've seen something, you can't un-see it. There are images in my head that I wouldn't want a 16 year to have to experience, but only you can decide if you're prepared to expose yourself to that.

Good luck whatever you decide. It's a very rewarding career