Paramedic - is it too late?

[YellowRedBlueGreen]

I'll be 39 next year (F) and have always been in office jobs. But more and more I'm considering a career as a paramedic, or something at least connected to the emergency services. I feel deep down that my life just needs to change to something more meaningful and as I've become more active physically and mentally over the last couple of years I want to do something that makes a difference. I also have a friend who does this for a living and whilst some of the stories he tells me are emotional and testing, I feel envious that he really makes a difference to people and does something genuinely rewarding. I know the shifts are long and I know the pay isn't fantastic but that isn't the main course for me. It's about getting out there, having every day different and genuinely helping people who need to be helped. I can be an emotional person but only privately and I am quite strong and assertive. But I'm no spring chicken anymore. No children, no commitments. Have I left it too late? Any paramedics out there with advice?

You do have to pass a fitness test 😐if not for all trusts as least for the majority. Not to get on to a paramedic science uni course, but when you're applying to work for a trust as a front line paramedic/student paramedic or technician.

If you want a taster see if your ambulance trust are recruiting Community First Responders. We are frontline volunteers for the ambulance service - we are sent by the ambulance service to hold the fort while the ambulance is on its way; mostly medical conditions (not much trauma or mental health) but serious stuff - cardiac arrests, breathing problems, potential strokes - and some trusts use their volunteers to get non-injury-fallers up off the floor safely.

It's amazingly rewarding, you cover your local area as and when you can, but it's also interesting and challenging. I've just come back from giving oxygen to someone with a nasty chest infection; this morning I got someone off the floor who'd been there for hours. (Warning: I married one of my trainers, half the local ambulance crews started out as CFRs, and it's seriously addictive). No previous experience of any kind needed.

Alternatively, if you have no commitments you could start as an EMA (healthcare assistant level) - Band 3 - or Tech/AAP Band 4 - both paid from day 1 but most trusts have ways of training you up to paramedic over time.

YellowRedBlueGreen did u apply to go to Uni for Paramedic Science? Did u change your mind?

Really interested at how u got on/ your decision, i do hope u decided to take the next step in this.

My daughter (17) wants to be a Paramedic, been her dream since the age of 8!!!!!