Ambulance Jobs EMT & EMS Jobs

Those considering ambulance jobs should check out the possibilities of working on an air ambulance.

Generally, each air ambulance has its own purpose and is outfitted with equipment to match that purpose. Helicopter ambulances are usually used in emergency rescue to transport patients in need of critical care or to transport patients from scenes that are not accessible by a regular land ambulance. Fixed wing ambulances are mainly used to transport patients who are in stable condition on longer journeys.

So how did air ambulances come about? According to an article by eHow, they were first used in Australia as a way to get patients from isolated areas to remote hospitals. The concept was then recognized by military units throughout the world as an easy way to remove soldiers from the field. Today, air ambulances are used as a way to transport patients to hospitals and in search and rescue operations.

The requirements for pilots and medical personnel working on air ambulances varies by state, with most requiring the same level of training as the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems. Pilots are required to have several thousand hours of flying experience, including several hundred hours of night flying.

Most air ambulance companies require medical personnel to be certified as paramedics. The CAMTS requires medics to be trained in advanced life support, pediatric advanced life support and as critical care technicians. Those working on fixed wing air ambulances usually require more training.

In addition, all ambulance crew members are required to be physically fit and maintain a “duty weight,” which is typically about 200 lbs. Crew members also must continue their medical training and achieve re-certification in their chosen fields.

Working in an ambulance job on an aircraft has its risks, such as working in poor weather conditions and being available all the time, but it also provides the reward of being able to help others. Employees should be able to enjoy a career in a fast-growing and competitive industry.