About / Disclaimer
I am currently working as a part-time paramedic with the ambulance service. I hope that my account of my journey and my work as a paramedic will aid others who wish to follow the same path as well as provide an insight into what paramedics do. I originally started this blog when I first wanted to become a paramedic back in 2009. When I first embarked on my journey, I noticed there were not a lot of information on becoming a paramedic in BC. I questioned whether becoming a paramedic was really right for me and I had a lot of difficulty having my questions answered. Luckily I stumbled into many wonderful individuals who were more than willing to show me the ropes. It is my hope that this blog will not only be a source of entertainment, but to also serve as a guide for those who are looking towards being a paramedic and what the journey may entail.
You can follow on twitter here: http://twitter.com/#!/PocketMedicBC
(Note that in BC, “paramedic” is a general term that refers to anyone working as a pre-hospital care provider. The different levels one can work as a paramedic include EMR (Emergency Medical Responder), PCP (Primary Care Paramedic), ACP (Advanced Care Paramedic), CCP (Critical Care Paramedic), and a specialized pediatric unit: ITT (Infant Transport Team) ).
———————————————————————————————————–
Disclaimer
**The stories told in my blog are real but I have changed the names, places, times, age, gender (randomized), and generalized the calls for confidential reasons. None of the calls or stories will be written in a way where an individual can be identified. Photography is a hobby I enjoy, and any photos related to EMS that have been taken by myself are taken when I’m off duty in my leisure time. Lastly, all my thoughts and comments are purely my own reflections and musings and do not reflect the organizations’ thoughts, ideologies, etc, which I am associated with.
———————————————————————————————————–
Artwork and Photographs
All the artwork and photographs on this blog with the creative common license 
are my property. I believe that artwork should be shared and enjoyed by all, be it for motivational purposes or just for the pure beauty of it. Withholding artwork and keeping artwork to myself defeats the purpose of why I draw and take photos. That being said, I would appreciate that you ask for my permission and provide appropriate attribution before the use of my art and that my artwork are not to be used for any commercial purposes.
WOW. I came across your blog while looking for information on the pcp programs. Im currently registered with my emr course this month and I can’t believe how informative your entries have been written. They exactly follow the steps i’ve researched to become a paramedic myself, and so much more!!
great blog. I will be following it from now on.
Trevor
Hi Trevor,
Glad you found my entries informative. I thought maybe my ramblings might help someone along the way
Are you doing your EMR at JIBC?
I sure am. At the D/T campus.
I wasn’t aware there was a D/T campus…unless that’s the one they put under “Vancouver”.
Well good luck with the rest of the course! and the rest that follows
I just stumbled across your blog – your stories are excellent and the journey you have recounted is fantastic. Please drop me a line, I would really like to chat with you!
Hi – Just came across your blog and wanted to let you know how awesome it is and thank you for all the great info on it. I’m currently in the PCP program as well as hoping to be hired by BCAS as an EMR pending licensing and an interview, so everything on here is uber relevant to my situation. Cheers!
Glad you found my blog helpful
Good luck with everything!
Hey, just wanted to ask a question about the PCP medical knowledge test. Ive been doing all the pratice tests on the JIBC website and I am wondering if those 11 tests are similar to the test given on assessment day. Also do you remember around how many questions the test is?
Thanks,
Brandon
Hi Brandon,
The medical test for the PCP application is very similar to the practice test online. I recommend repeating the quiz online till you can answer all the questions correctly as quite a few of those questions do come up again on the test. The test format is also similar to your EMR final exam. As for how many questions…its been a while so I don’t quite remember. I think there were about 70-100 questions.
Hope that helps!
C
How do you find those practice test on the JIBC website? I have my assessment soon and I’m having difficulty finding the tests.
Thanks,
- Justin
You have to have taken EMR with JI to access the practice tests. You can access it after you log on into your student account under the “myJIBC” link, then you go into blackboard and you should be able to find it there.
Hi there,
I’ve thankfully just come across your blog after reasearching head injuury patients on Google. I find it absolutely amazing and informative.Please please carry on blogging, your reasearch and knowledge is of great help to me. My name is Jaime. I live in Sheffield, England and am an Assistant Practioner for Yorkshire Amulance Service with 13 years service. Assistnt Practitoner is possibly equivalent to your EMT. I have so much yet to learn but will get there!!! many, many thanks.
A little late on the reply, but thank you for the kind comments
The learning never ends in this field now does it 
Have a great day!
Hello
My name is Cyrus Soltani Manjaterra, I work as volunteer EMT for my city fire department in Brazil, and I’m planning to go to JIBC to study for Paramedic (something that doesn’t exist in Brazil), I read your blog and thank you for all the tips and helps that you are giving, they are really helping out. But I would was wondering, would you please add me on Facebook for me to send you some messages?
I’m also planning to visit Vancouver soon (I have 2 uncles that live in New Westminster area), so hopefully, something will work-out!
Thank you very much
Cyrus Soltani Manjaterra
Hi Cyrus,
Interesting, I never knew there were no paramedics in Brazil (I’m assuming fire takes over that role there?). I will send you an email in regards how to contact me if you have questions.
Cheers
“(Note that in BC, “paramedic” is a general term that refers to anyone working as a pre-hospital care provider. The different levels one can work as a paramedic include EMR (Emergency Medical Responder), PCP (Primary Care Paramedic), ACP (Advanced Care Paramedic), CCP (Critical Care Paramedic), and a specialized pediatric unit at the ACP+ level: ITT (Infant Transport Team) ).”
FYI: The infant transport team paramedic is not ACP trained prior to becoming ITT. The ITT licence level prerequisite is PCP (plus experience).
However, the critical care paramedic licence can ONLY be achieved with significant ACP experience.
Hi Erin,
Thanks for the clarification…I must have misunderstood it when an ITT was explaining it to me.
Cheers
I just finished reading your whole blog. I was looking up information on how to become a paramedic with BCAS when I landed on one of your posts.
I just want to thank you for writing this blog. It has given me a clearer view of which path I want to take to become a paramedic.
I hope you continue to write amazing stories and help me out with any questions I may have in the future.
Hi there,
Thank you for the very nice reply. I’m impressed you read through my whole blog…wow…
Feel free to ask me questions anytime. I’d be more than happy to answer any to the best of my ability. As for writing, I will continue writing, but due to some things that has happened, I need a break from paramedicine for a bit on my down time. I have many stories saved up in my head, I just need the right moment to continue back on writing.
Good luck with things!
I laughed so hard when I read about the blue and red thermometers. That’s something I won’t forget! I nearly cried when I read your “nightmare” post. I thought it was real until I read the last line. It should have clicked when I saw the title…
You’ll be back in paramedicine right? Just take a break. Have a KitKat. For whatever has happened, keep ya head up. I can tell you have great passion for what you do. They need more people like you doing these jobs.
Anyway. I look forward to hearing those stories that you have saved up in your head. Keep me posted!
Thanks!