Saturday October 19 1996 06:51, Stephan Gascon wrote to Chris Ecclestone:
 SG> In Quebec, the training is now of 845 hours, plus five weeks of clinical
 SG> training on the ambulance, at 40 hours a week. The training is 100% EMS
 SG> related; no philosophy, French or English litterature, maths,etc.
 SG> And the course is in French, so you have to speak and read it.
    My french may be a bit rusty since I don't get to use it often, but I 
don't think that would present any great diffculty - except perhaps the 
medical terminology in french - the EMCA course (and all my EMS experience) 
was in english.
 SG> The thing is though, that EMCAs have a high failure rate of the
 SG> reciprocity exams, more than the Europeans do. After talking with a
 SG> representative of the Montreal college, it seems the EMCAs do not have
 SG> enough training  in trauma.
    Really?!?  Is this from before or after the BTLS course was added into 
the program?  Is it that the EMCAs haven't had the training - or that they 
haven't used it properly?  I know of EMCAs whose patient care is terrible 
through no fault of their training, but due to their attitudes and baseless 
preconceptions or laziness. 'Ah, you survived that fall, you can walk to my 
stretcher'.
 SG> My recommendation is that you do the PHTLS course, because since its
 SG> introduction in 1992, most of the principles and techniques have been
 SG> integrated in the Ambulance Technician program.
    Is the PHTLS course anything like the BTLS (Basic Trauma Life Support) 
course or does it incorporate advanced life support techniques to some 
gree?
 SG> I don't know about the other provinces, and for the states, i think that
 SG> you have to be at least an EMT-i or CC to be able to do the reciprocity
 SG> exams. The prerequisites for the complete course applies for the
 SG> reciprocity program.
    What are the standards for those certification levels?  How would I know 
if I qualify for writing the reciprocity exam?  I do have training beyond the 
EMCA course, and am always seeking to upgrade my knowledge, skills, and 
certification.
 SG> The main reasons are: they want people that can read, write, and think.
    Would you want anyone who couldn't think working in EMS?  I sure 
wouldn't. There are not many jobs in which you are required to make such 
important decisions on such little definite information on such a regular 
basis without much hope of ever finding out the result of your decision.  If 
you can't think clearly on your feet as the world falls apart around you you 
don't belong in EMS.
 SG> The pay is not bad, i guess. Probie is around $12.50/hr, for three
 SG> months, then it goes from $13.50 to $19.00/hr after 12 years of
 SG> seniority. They give you credit of years of seniority pay for each year
 SG> of experience in relevant fields. Roughly $35000 after 12 years of
 SG> service. Firfighters earn $46-49000 and police $51000 a year.
    Yet more evidence that your house and car are far more important than you 
are.  Pathetic but true.
 SG>  * OLX 2.1 TD * Standard disclaimer: my opinion and MINE alone.
    Does this mean I can't share even some of it? :-)
Chris
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