A Day in the Life of an EMT
This is where our journey begins.
Morning Routine
Every shift starts with something called a “pass down.” This is where the team talks about what happened during the previous shift—what calls they had, what equipment was used, and what might need to be restocked.
After that, everyone checks their gear and vehicles. The firefighters check the trucks, EMTs check the ambulance, and everything has to be ready to go at any moment. At the same time, the captain is handling schedules, emails, and planning out the day.
Training is also a big part of the morning, helping everyone stay prepared for whatever comes next.
On the Job
Calls can happen at any time—sometimes up to 15 in one shift. Some are physically demanding, like fighting fires in extreme heat. Others are mentally and emotionally challenging, especially when children or serious injuries are involved.
One call that really stuck with Leon was a child drowning. He said it affected him more than he expected and took time to process. It shows that this job isn’t just physically hard—it can stay with you mentally too.
Teamwork
Teamwork in emergency situations is everything. EMTs follow a chain of command and use something called the Incident Command System (ICS). Everyone has a specific role, and things run smoothly because each person knows exactly what to do.
Leon compared it to an ant farm—everyone is working together at the same time without needing constant direction.
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