Been an EMT for five years with 4 services while going to school. First service had an FTO who has had his license suspended several times for claiming to be a paramedic while he barely functions as a basic. Dude got me fired because I called his bullshit in front of a patient who presented with chest pain, and I asked him if he was going to do a four lead or twelve lead and he said he the patient was faking it. Never elaborated on anything I asked as far as doing the job, always encouraged performing the job in a manner that was unsafe for the patient and provider. Such as no gloves, no aseptic technique with injections or finger sticks. Dude no longer works in EMS after having license revoked.

Second Service one of the umbrella companies under one of the big companies that does 911 to save face. Overall decent place, I went to the FTO and was like teach me and he was like oh I’ll fucking teach you alright. Proceeded to help me grow into the position over two years and even though I left the position for better pay and a smaller company I can still hit him up and be like hey I know I work another state over but help me out real quick and he will get back to me almost immediately. Many people worked with us that claim that they helped me grow by hazing my balls off and getting irate when I ask questions, defending their behavior by saying that they have to “Eat there young” because that’s the way it’s always been done. Those providers that take the eat your young approach are also the same ones that seem to take take joy in the suffering of some patients and are known to be escalate situations and provoke patients into fighting them. So those people are dangerous and will get themselves or others killed.

The third and fourth places I worked were much different, if you need help they will help you. If you are experienced they’ll leave you alone beyond learning how they operate with paperwork, dispatching, etc… These places tend to have the least problems with staffing and lower turnover rates that the other two. One was a tiny company and the other was a small county third service agency. Both places are pretty chill.