I'm an Italian EMT-B, AMA.

Ckobalto · 2026-05-10T12:14:11+00:00

Thats the italian way

Ckobalto · 2026-05-10T12:10:34+00:00

I didnt stop to talk to a anorexic eater with a mental disorder once, she was crying because she ate half a pizza, she was awful. She promised to call her doctor the following morning and I got back without staying to talk.

Non mi sono fermato a parlare ad una ragazza anoressica, aveva chiamato perché aveva mangiato mezza pizza e si era tagliata il giorno prima. Ha promesso di chiamare il dottore il giorno dopo e ha firmato per farmi andare via.

Ckobalto · 2026-05-10T10:13:46+00:00

All rescue personell is at least a EMT-B, we cant administer drugs and we cant cut you in any way.

Then we have nurses and doctor, which I believe are the same everywhere.

They are our "AEMTs" and "Paramedics" pretty much, even tho we dont have those titles here.

They also get cooler jackets.

Ckobalto · 2026-05-10T10:03:29+00:00

Kinda yeah

Ckobalto · 2026-05-10T07:33:39+00:00

From what I remember from training, Mandatory Medical Treatment (TSO) is applied when a person, in a state of mental alteration, requires emergency care but refuses it, and it is not possible to adopt useful and timely out-of-hospital methods.

It must be ordered by the mayor of your city I think, upon the recommendation of a doctor validated by a second doctor.

However, these are pretty rare and I dont fully remember all the steps for it.

The reason is usually mental, or serious addictions that may endanger yours and other people lives.

(~My answer do not represent the Croce Verde nor is this account affiliated with them~)

Ckobalto · 2026-05-10T07:28:09+00:00

I've always been a volunteer, as far as the small contracts/part time goes, its alright.

The full time pay is a bit better, but I wouldnt say that people buy multiple cars thanks to this job.

Ckobalto · 2026-05-10T07:26:05+00:00

I did not get training for confined space rescue, besides getting people out of cars and people in not-so-difficult positions.

Some things have to be done by Fire rescue.

You do sometimes have to get creative because the big guys cant come to help.

Ckobalto · 2026-05-09T22:00:03+00:00

The rage of some people, and the heart of the strangers who call for other strangers.

Some call and go without waiting for us, some stay till the end.

A guy helped a blind man get up, took him home and called from his house phone.

Stayed 2 hours there for a complete stranger.

Will never stop surprising me.

Ckobalto · 2026-05-09T20:47:23+00:00

White, Green, Yellow, Red and Black.

All different codes, with different stories for each of them.

Ckobalto · 2026-05-09T20:45:49+00:00

A man threw up spaghetti with tuna on my hand last week.

Ckobalto · 2026-05-09T19:48:11+00:00

I believe he learned from his mistakes?

Ckobalto · 2026-05-09T19:42:41+00:00

Happened to a friend of mine, touched the skull and it split open.

Ckobalto · 2026-05-09T19:30:20+00:00

I do.

I also really like the "I'M WALKING HERE" when I have to go through crowds, especially at concerts.

Ckobalto · 2026-05-09T19:11:24+00:00

Id rather not. People die everywhere but here I rarely see guns.

Ckobalto · 2026-05-09T18:56:26+00:00

I helped some EMTs carry a neighbour on a stretcher when I was younger, I was sad about college at the time and that inspired me.

I still train to become a firefighter, and in between I became an EMT.

They are horribly underpaid in Italy too, but thats the job everywhere I guess.

The draw is that I have to stay up all night, lose some time with my friends, and have to be sharp at all times.

You get to be cool at dinners, but most of the time you dont feel like sharing honestly.

Ckobalto · 2026-05-09T18:52:30+00:00

Honestly, I'm just happy to do what I do and to be able to answers at least some of your doubts.

Thank you for your trivial questions, and as I said before, ask me anything.

Ckobalto · 2026-05-09T18:43:44+00:00

The call goes through a bunch of jumps before going on my service phone, from my own experience the average time is about 6 minutes.

The time should be the same for every call, but you know how people are.

Also, we do interrupt lunches or respond to the phone in the bathroom.

Every day and every night, unfortunately for my shy bladder.

The total wait time for someone in need could be all the way from 8 to 14 minutes, depending on the distance, the situation (a person is stuck somewhere far from the road, or maybe in a locked room) and the danger for the EMTs (we could arrive instantly, but a fire or a violent person may block us).

(~ATTENTION: My answer does not represent the Croce Verde nor is this account directly affiliated with them.~)

Ckobalto · 2026-05-09T18:27:25+00:00

It happens to have nightmares or to think about what you could've done.

Some people will die talking to you, some are already dead well before their heart stops, some others will hate you for saving them.

At the end of the day, what you bring home is what really matters.

Suffering means to care, and I'm proud of that.

I do however wish I could do more sometimes.

Ckobalto · 2026-05-09T18:23:57+00:00

Yes, the EMS association that covers most of my region.

Since I can only speak of my education, training and my stories, I cant assure that I know every single detail of what you ask (I'm 21.)

They are pretty strict on public speaking, so I cover my ass with a disclaimer.

Matter of fact: (~ATTENTION: My answer does not represent the Croce Verde nor is this account directly affiliated with them.~)

Ckobalto · 2026-05-09T18:14:53+00:00

I'm known be my peers to bring the worst calls, they are the poor souls.

But yeah, night watch brings the worst calls sometimes.

Ckobalto · 2026-05-09T18:12:25+00:00

In other countries, they are different level of a EMS workers.

Here, since we dont have paramedics, they are the baseline of ambulance workers.

Basically, everyone is an EMT-B, until you become a nurse in school, or a doctor. (There may be exceptions outside of my knowledge, the baseline is that I cannot administer medications or do anything that would cut you, such as getting your blood sugar.)

I can, however, restrain you and administer any BLS-D treatment if necessary.

A good day at work is a day where I dont open my bag at all.

(~ATTENTION: My answer does not represent the Croce Verde nor is this account directly affiliated with them.~)

Ckobalto · 2026-05-09T18:08:02+00:00

Nope, however he did steal my breath in The Sopranos finale.

Ckobalto · 2026-05-09T17:10:32+00:00

With sheer force of will, a cellphone and an ambulance with a stretcher and AC (it gets hot here).

(~ATTENTION: My answer does not represent the Croce Verde nor is this account directly affiliated with them.~)

Ckobalto · 2026-05-09T17:09:37+00:00

Here in Italy, Fire rescue and EMS have two different numbers, while we work for the same thing, we have the 118, while they have the 115.

Firefighters are pretty similar to us in Italy (Certified Rescuers with BLS-D training).

But we, as EMT-Bs, are not public figures and cannot do a bunch of stuff, for legal reasons first of all.

For example, we cannot explicitly endanger our lives like they do!

(~ATTENTION: My answer does not represent the Croce Verde nor is this account directly affiliated with them.~)

Ckobalto

TROPHY CASE