Whether you’re taking a strenuous in-person EMT class, or working hard on your online classes (like Incident Qualification), following these five tips may help you be more successful day in and day out.

Just show up.

Showing up every day (even when you don’t feel like it) creates and builds on discipline. The number one reason why most people fail at something is because they refuse to show up consistently.

Put in the work.

Have you ever heard the phrase “if you have to eat a frog, do it first thing in the morning”? As odd as it sounds, the idea of doing the most difficult or challenging thing on your to-do list FIRST helps to ensure that you’ll get it done. If you wish to achieve something, you cannot procrastinate and you HAVE to be willing to do the work.

Have a positive attitude.

Challenging yourself to think positively and use positive language will help you build perseverance and grow from difficult obstacles. Keeping a positive attitude helps when working in group settings and making connections with your peers and mentors.

Focus on one thing at a time.

By picking one thing to complete at a time, you may find you are able to complete tasks more efficiently and effectively than if you tried to bounce from task to task. Making a to-do list may be helpful!

Use a planner or calendar.

The simple act of writing down assignment due dates or important class events can help prepare you ahead of time and may help them stick better in your brain. Making a to-do list for the day or week in your planner can be a life saver. When you have a packed schedule and everything feels chaotic and out of control, the ability to look at your planned out schedule may help calm your nerves and help you feel more organized.

*based loosely off of “10 Mistakes that Rich and Successful People Never Make”*  

If you are reading this, then you might have a great idea about what firefighting is all about.  What if I told you that some of what you previously thought might be wrong? I am about to blow up some myths:

1) “The schedule is the number 1 perk”

OK, OK…this one is partially correct.  Regardless of the structure of your schedule (1 on-1 off-1 on-5 off, 48/96, etc.) you definitely have more calendar days off than you are at work.  That is a great thing even if you love your job like I do.  But the firefighting schedule is a double-edged sword.  As a group, firefighters show up 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 a year.  That means that when your schedule falls on Christmas, you work Christmas.  If the schedule falls on your spouse’s birthday or your anniversary,…you work.  This is definitely the truth early in your career when you are low on the seniority list.  Be prepared to miss some holidays at home and start new traditions.

2) “We went from fire to fire to fire!”

I am sorry, but most of the year, especially in suburbia, we are responding to EMS/EMT calls 85% of the time.  Fires can be few and far between and usually come in bunches.  If you have the privilege of working the 4^th of July (see schedule myths in #1), this is your best chance at catching some burners.  We don’t necessarily want things to burn, but hey…it’s what we train for!

3) “During the day, when we are not on calls, all we do is play video games”

This myth has been around in some form or another for quite a while.  At my department (and most career departments I know of), we have a structured work day (8:00am-5:00pm) where we are training, cleaning, maintaining, and inspecting…when we are not going on EMS/EMT calls (see myth #2).  After 5:00pm, we are on “Standby” time.  Still in uniform and ready to respond, but able to cook dinner, workout, sleep, attend to personal business, and yes…play video games. 

Don’t get me wrong, this is still the greatest job on the planet, but these are a few things people ask often that have gained momentum and are widely believed about firefighting.

Signing up to take an EMT class can be extremely nerve racking and even cause people to avoid it because they don’t feel like they can meet the expectations. Why is that though? A big part of it is the reality that as an Emergency Medical Technician you will be making a direct impact on people’s lives and with that comes responsibility. The other part is the notion that you may not feel equipped to pass the class, let alone the NREMT test!  It can all be a little much.

During my EMT class, I remember leaving the first day already overwhelmed and stressed with the same concerns thinking “How am I going to pass this class with the rest of my life going on?”. The secret is . . . wait for it . . . hard work and determination. (You were expecting something complicated weren’t you?)  The fact is, this is a certification course and as such the expectation is that students meet the required benchmarks.  There is no easy way around it.  If you call 911, you want someone that scored high on their tests and skills showing up to your emergency.  

One of the biggest realizations in this whole journey is that YOU ARE NOT IN THIS ALONE!!! You will be surrounded with peers from all over Seattle and King County that are facing the same obstacles and will work together with you to meet those challenges. Understanding the element that you are now a part of a team is a huge step towards being successful in your EMT class.

The next expectation/requirement for success is that you spend the required time outside of class studying and completing the online curriculum. Aside from comprehending the material, designating the appropriate time to study will determine your success or failure.

What happens when you have to work or go to school during the day?

At that point, it comes down to not just the hour study periods but making use of the minutes you can spare between your other responsibilities. Whatever study method works for you . . . stick with it! But, also don’t be afraid to change it up if you aren’t seeing the results you were looking for.

Finally, utilize technology!  We live in a tremendous age where information is but a few clicks, swipes, or spoken words away.  EMTPrep is a great app to purchase at the beginning of your class and to use throughout your training to get ready for the NREMT test.

Having a good understanding of these expectations and how to apply them in reality will put you a step ahead when you walk in the doors to your first FIRE Tech EMT class! – Austin Allen, FireTech – Instructor/Advisor