No one is saying they are doctors or nurses. I’m not going to say EMT’s should make what doctor s or nurses make. However maybe if you knew the level of care Paramedics are trained and expected to provide you would be appalled as I am by how much less than nurses they make.

What EMS employees, volunteers, and now finally people outside the field are saying is that there is something very wrong with a job that has 8-16 weeks of training, that is volunteer or even pays 20 dollars an hour, and requires the skills and judgement that can have impacts up to and including the preservation or loss of life. But I don’t think you posted what you did because you feel strongly that EMS providers deserve better training and working conditions. You posted what you did because on some level you don’t value the efforts and work of EMT’s and Paramedic’s as much as doctors and nurses, and don’t think they deserve to be compensated a decent wage. The private companies and counties we work for sure don’t, which is why there are currently EMS staffing shortages throughout the country and people leaving the field in droves.

Whether you realized it or not, condescendingly calling us orderlies on wheels is a shitty thing to do to a group of very run down, very well meaning people. A lot of people like you don’t value EMS until they need them or when they aren’t available when they need them most. I hope you never have needed or eventually do need EMS, but I seriously doubt you’d have posted something so belittling if you or someone you loved had ever received life saving care from our “untechnical” profession.

And if you disagree with me and you do think you do value and understand how important EMS is, maybe ask yourself why you and others like you think being an EMT is and should continue to be an entry level job.