Just a small comment Smallflame "In CFS/SES you can distance yourself somewhat from the blood and gore," Who do you think cleans up the mess after you guys leave - including the ones beyond your help & the mess you guys leave .
And we are normally in there with the paramedics as there isn't that many of you guys is there?
So incentives hey - tell us more, I would be interested in what they are considerng since the same problems that affect SAAS affect SAMFS retained, CFS & SES. $5.00 a job? sounds like a real deal .
Anyway good luck with it cheers
Chook, I'm in all 3... Mind you, I think most of the goriest stuff I've done has been with CFS and SES.. SES probably the worst. Was speaking from experience though, mentally its easier to distance one's self in orange or yellow because you don't have to develop too much of a rapport(yes, primary entry you do develop something of one.. before someone jumps on that too) so its easier not to think too much about whats going on.
The age thing is also because we get to administer some pretty interesting things. I mean, as is CFS and SES I've probably used just oxygen in those roles, SAAS we're (under consult in most cases) allowed to administer Midazolam ,Diazepam, Penthrane (the green whistle), salbutamol, Epinepherine (adrenaline) and several other cool bits and pieces. I guess its something of a responsibility thing; I'm not keen on having half hte people I know stick a needle in me, intermuscular or not... I'd be even less pleased with someone in highschool standing over me with a syringe!
I'd make the assumption also they're hoping for a higher level of maturity, rather than people who still find themselves dying seeing someone naked etc.
Incentives for SAAS are looking like subsidised Study, or the opportunity to go beyond the usual Cert IV in Basic Emergency Care. These however seem like rumours, though this was directly from the horse's mouth.