Any paramedics/police in the house?

[raf_gti]

When I leave the RAF I am thinking of becoming one of the above. My current training is in communications but I am seriously considering a more 'real life' job if that is the correct term to use.

For the police side I would love to be either traffic or a dog handler in the long term. I guess the question would be is how likely either of those would be to get into and would I be happy with being a regular PC for however long that would take.

Paramedic I can't really find any information about, what level of medical knowledge is required for entry and indeed what kind of salary would I expect?

Anybody with experience, both good and bad I would be most appreciative if you would care to share.

Steve

[captainzep]

raf_gti said:

When I leave the RAF I am thinking of becoming one of the above. My current training is in communications but I am seriously considering a more 'real life' job if that is the correct term to use.

For the police side I would love to be either traffic or a dog handler in the long term. I guess the question would be is how likely either of those would be to get into and would I be happy with being a regular PC for however long that would take.

Paramedic I can't really find any information about, what level of medical knowledge is required for entry and indeed what kind of salary would I expect?

Anybody with experience, both good and bad I would be most appreciative if you would care to share.

Steve

Not an expert but I work in the NHS and paramedics are not paid brilliantly. Salary is Band 5, so £19k-&25k. You can bank on about 25% on top for unsocial hours though. Some other benefits here and there. I spent a week with a paramedic crew and most of the time your waiting around or ferrying elderly people/drunks to A&E. Its exciting stuff when you are working on a trauma case though. Blue light rides are fun too.

Police earn more and there is probably a better defined career ladder afterwards. Start on about £25k before overtime? Paramedics don't tend to go home worrying about revenge attacks each night though.

[satchbot]

You can go onto department with the BiB after two years. Getting into dogs is more or less filling dead mans shoes.

[raf_gti]

captainzep said:

I spent a week with a paramedic crew and most of the time your waiting around or ferrying elderly people/drunks to A&E. Its exciting stuff when you are working on a trauma case though. Blue light rides are fun too.

Being a 100% honest I'm not sure if I would have the patience or tolerance for the mundane 'ferry' jobs, I've only really started to consider this as a career and already I'm thinking what will piss me off about it!

[gtitim]

In the force i am in it takes up to two years to get in, then two years as a response and patrol officer before you can specialise. I asked about dogs and was told someone will have to die and then the queue for the post will be 100 deep. Traffic is easier to get into, but you need perfect vision and have to carry firearms in the force i am in. As i don't wish to carry a gun, it's not something i would be able to do.

start pay is 21.5k rising to 24k after initial training and up from there. potential to do 30k if you want to work.

Edited by gtitim on Monday 1st September 22:08

[maddog993]

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/...

It's predominantly degree based now (I think you need two A levels to get on board - though there is an increasingly high number of graduates that become paramedics, you'll also need your C1 & D1 driving licence qualifications)

Pay is on a par with BIB - not brilliant but okay - comes out averaging about £36K with the enhancements, plus any overtime.
Job itself is fantastic but (like most others) is plagued with piss-poor management - who often know fk all about the job- that st on you and do their best to interfere with you getting on with the job itself, misdirected and completely erroneous, pointless 'targets' that have nothing to do with- and severely compromise patient care that have all contrived to detrimentally affect morale amongst us (you can probably tell I'm not bitter)- lots of bks, pissheads, wrs, smackhead wrs, aggressive wrs amongst the satisfying genuine stuff.


However, despite all this I would still just about recommend it

Edited by maddog993 on Monday 1st September 22:28

[hope2421]

Im a Paramedic and would echo ALL that maddog993 has said.

[philthy]

Ask yourself this question:

Could I be pedantic enough to give someone a speeding ticket for 10mph over the limit?

[gtitim]

philthy said:

Ask yourself this question:

Could I be pedantic enough to give someone a speeding ticket for 10mph over the limit?

At 40 in a 30 - yes not a problem
at 80 0n the motorway - not unless you are driving like a tool.