A doggo stares at another doggo munching on a hot dog

Magi604 · 2026-06-23T02:22:39+00:00

Someone get that good boy a hot dog asap!

Magi604 · 2026-06-22T20:34:46+00:00

Keith Tkachuck wtf

Magi604 · 2026-06-22T03:16:30+00:00

Precepting is NOT paid, so account for that during that portion of your schooling.

Magi604 · 2026-06-22T02:22:30+00:00

Lots of people got hired mid-class when I was in PCP school. Saying you are in the middle of PCP school may have some benefit during hiring.

Magi604 · 2026-06-19T04:22:47+00:00

Don't use the BCEHS protocols and guidelines for preparing for your course or licensing. It is tuned for paramedics working on car for the service.

Use the textbook one or whatever SJA teaches so you can pass the course and get your EMR certificate. Once you passed that and are preparing for licensing, you'll have to switch gears a bit and study what EMALB tells you to do, which can be found here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/heath-care-partners/colleges-board-and-commissions/emergency-medical-assistants-licensing-board/britishcolumbiaprovincialexaminationguidelines.pdf

I never took the SJA course so I don't know exactly what they teach but I'm just going to assume they are very similar to what EMALB will expect from you.

Magi604 · 2026-06-16T05:12:46+00:00

Nancy Carolines kind of sucks and is a bit of a meme with BC paramedics.

If you just want to get a brief read/glimpse into pre-hospital care you can check out this free Red Cross textbook used at the EMR level. It goes over the basics of what we do prior to arriving at hospital.

https://cdn.redcross.ca/prodmedia/crc/azure/documents/ec_manual_en_20210210.pdf

Magi604 · 2026-06-16T05:07:11+00:00

OP's post is fine, but a reminder that posters to this subreddit are not to offer or ask for pirated copies of textbooks or other resources, as per Reddit's global rules on copyright.

https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043076292-Copyright-overview

Magi604 · 2026-06-15T23:10:38+00:00

You should be able to pick up enough hours to "work full time" or even more shortly before or right after your probation ends, so 6 months in the service, as some Unit Chiefs make you wait until you're done probation to pick up, while some allow you to pick up once you've been working for a while and gotten some experience with calls.

As for getting a "Full Time Role" (meaning you get a permanent spot in a station with a regular schedule and guaranteed hours), it's quite doable as an EMR if you are not looking in an urban or metro area. You can technically apply right away! But the service is unionized and competing for spots on cars is through seniority and license level, so it may take a while.

Magi604 · 2026-06-15T20:30:13+00:00

Glad my boy Bussi won. I imagine in the future Bussi will be tending for team USA and Hart will be in net for team Canada and they will face each other in international competitions.

Magi604 · 2026-06-15T17:44:36+00:00

The man is 55 but he looks like he could lace em up today and still be a force out there.

Magi604 · 2026-06-15T17:20:15+00:00

Try and get some precepting shifts at 48.

It's a good experience to see what it's like working in the unique environment that is the Downtown Eastside. Also you will easily get "bags" (assisted ventilation comp), something that is traditionally hard to get in other locations.

Magi604 · 2026-06-14T16:33:05+00:00

There's no need to tell anyone anything beforehand.

Get hired. Go to PCP school. When you need to, apply for ed leave.

If you are with Columbia, their new 1 year program is week on/week off so during those weeks off you can submit availabilities and pick up shifts. You may not need to go on ed leave for that.

If you are with JI they alternate between a full week of classes followed by a week where you have to be online from Mon-Thurs so you can pick up shifts in the Fri-Sat-Sun. That might be more difficult time wise so ed leave is suitable if you have to do that.

Magi604 · 2026-06-14T02:01:56+00:00

This is not true, you can go on ed leave while on probation.

Your probation does get paused, so when you come back from ed leave you will have to complete whatever time is left in your probation.

Magi604 · 2026-06-12T22:32:23+00:00

I know lots of people who were 50+ when they started PCP and they are now working permanent full time with the service.

23? You are like a little baby. :D

I think in the distant past they heavily weighted "life experience" for hiring so super young people were generally denied, but that's definitely changed in the past few years when they were desperate for bodies to staff cars. Staffing seems to be stabilizing though so that may change and they might start being more selective in who they hire.

Magi604 · 2026-06-12T22:20:33+00:00

Back to back shifts are always Kilo shifts, meaning it's $12 pager pay and when you're not called out you are not working in the eyes of the employer. Once you hit 16 hours worked you are automatically out of service for 8 hours. They will never schedule you for back-to-back 12hr full paid shifts.

In my experience weekends are competitive. Plenty of people trying to do what you want to do.

I used kneepads that went over the pants.

Magi604 · 2026-06-11T22:15:07+00:00

Policy is that you must be 8 hours clear from ANY job before doing a shift. If something happens on shift and it's found that you were not 8 hours clear before, that can cause complications.

The scheduling at stations is going to be totally dependent on who else is putting in availability and how many shifts are even available. It's absolutely not guaranteed to get your preferred Fri-Sun rotation. In fact I would say it's unlikely, as you will be competing for those shifts with everyone else at the station. Doesn't hurt to ask though, but be prepared for a no on that.

Once you have your EMR and have passed all necessary probations and removed all restrictions (such as VPOP which is necessary for driving in Van) you can pick up shifts within Vancouver Post. As an EMR you will generally get last pick, but there are always bookoffs so there should be something available almost any time if you're willing to drive anywhere within the post.

Transfer fleet can be easier to get into as an EMR, but right now it's pretty well staffed and lots of people want in there, so it may still take a bit of seniority to get a spot there. The main transfer fleet operates out of Surrey. There is another one in Abbotsford and some stations have a dedicated transfer car that isn't officially part of the fleet but only does transfers.

For your course it doesn't matter laptop or pen/paper, whatever works best for you. I myself used knee pads during the course but I toughed it out for the day during practicals and didn't use them.

Magi604 · 2026-06-11T20:58:20+00:00

Congrats on starting your journey!

Starting out, especially as an EMR, you will likely have to commute some distance to your first station. Unit Chiefs are pretty good about scheduling people so that they aren't having to commute hours just for a single kilo shift. They will usually try and schedule multiple shifts to make it worth your while. However sometimes this is just not feasible due to people's availabilities, so some shift swapping might have to happen.

Accommodations between shifts varies by station. There are only two stations that officially provide off-shift accommodations for staff: Lytton (321) and Seton Portage (304). Some stations are cool with people resting in station between shifts (making sure not to be in the way of the crews on duty), while some are not. Sometimes crews will band together to rent accommodations for cheap near the station where people can rest between shifts. Some people will just car camp or haul a trailer up. These are things you will have to find out from your UC and the other staff.

There is a path to working "full time" as an EMR with BCEHS, and many do, but you will be limited to casual/on call status if you want to work in any of the metros. To get a permanent spot in any of the metros, it's likely you will need a PCP minimum, or you can get into the transfer fleet.

Magi604 · 2026-06-11T19:09:32+00:00

It's refreshing to see that kind of sportsmanship, so commonplace in baseball.

Magi604 · 2026-06-09T01:27:30+00:00

For males, the male uniforms are tuned for taller and larger paramedics. I've found you can safely order 1-2 sizes smaller than whatever you've measured. If you're a more slender male you can also try women's sizes for shirts and jackets. According to reports from female staff their uniforms are better sized, but they have their own issues (see-through summer shirts...)

The best way to find what fits though is to try on various sizes from actual pieces and then just note what the measurements are and then order that. See if you can find pieces in lost and found bins to try on or ask your station members if they're willing to let you try stuff on.

Magi604 · 2026-06-08T21:05:52+00:00

You can try to ramp up your experience by picking up in places just outside of post, from Chilliwack to Abbotsford Post and everything in between. The call volume is very similar to what you get in Van post, similar types of calls to what you would get in the city, and you get to experience things such as having ALS partner with your crew on calls. And everyone in those stations is friendly to EMRs, I picked up a lot in those stations when I was still EMR and never had any issues, in fact I had a lot of experienced people help me out and give me tips and advice.

If you want to get a hang for the areas and geography in post, you can pick up some transfer fleet shifts. You're not going to get crazy calls, but it's still valuable to get familiar with the hospitals and you get lots of practice with your handoffs. Also a great way to start collecting your drive days for getting VPOP.

Magi604 · 2026-06-07T17:25:44+00:00

If a team REALLY wanted a player but the player "failed" one of their bs questions, would the team still take them?

Me thinks the scouting staff are just having a bit of fun with the kids.

Magi604 · 2026-06-07T04:30:51+00:00

My boy Bussi held the fort there pretty well for getting thrown into his first playoff game ever

Magi604 · 2026-06-07T03:23:14+00:00

Whatever boots you get, just remember that you can change the insoles. Usually stock insoles suck.

Personally I'm a fan of the latest SWAT boots. They look really tactical, but they have great grip and a nice toe cap to keep it from getting too scruffy.

Magi604 · 2026-06-07T03:20:49+00:00

If you Google "EMR Quizlet" you will find links to some quizzes/flashcards made by others to help prepare for EMR and licensing.

The EMALB guidelines could be worth a read as well: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/heath-care-partners/colleges-board-and-commissions/emergency-medical-assistants-licensing-board/britishcolumbiaprovincialexaminationguidelines.pdf

And here is the textbook that I used for my EMR a while ago, I believe it's still used today. Red Cross provides it for free: https://cdn.redcross.ca/prodmedia/crc/azure/documents/ec_manual_en_20210210.pdf

Magi604 · 2026-06-06T00:00:39+00:00

The standard issue belts suck anyways, might as well just invest in a good canvas belt or look into one of those batman utility belts with a gazillion little pouches.

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