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Retained Firefighter or Paramedic

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  • 14-06-2017 11:33am
    #1
    Confused1999
    Registered Users Posts: 6 ✭


    Guys. Anyone on here with their views on if being a paramedic or retained firefighter is a better career path to follow. Couple of things to note is a paramedic could be stationed away from home for their shifts whereby a firefighter has to stay near home when on call. Paramedic has days off but firefighter is "tied" to pager 24/7. Money is id expect roughly the same for a relatively busy firestation. Paramedic retires 65, 66,, firefighter 55 but can go to 58 on passing annual medical. Whats yer thoughts on "better" career from a lifestyle point cos both really deal with tragic scenarios


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    #2
    timmywex
    Registered Users Posts: 2,626 ✭✭✭timmywex


    Confused1999 wrote: »
    Guys. Anyone on here with their views on if being a paramedic or retained firefighter is a better career path to follow. Couple of things to note is a paramedic could be stationed away from home for their shifts whereby a firefighter has to stay near home when on call. Paramedic has days off but firefighter is "tied" to pager 24/7. Money is id expect roughly the same for a relatively busy firestation. Paramedic retires 65, 66,, firefighter 55 but can go to 58 on passing annual medical. Whats yer thoughts on "better" career from a lifestyle point cos both really deal with tragic scenarios

    A paramedic is a full time job, a retained firefighter is not and nearly all of them would have other jobs working in the community.

    Apart from that they're both emergency services, but vastly different skillsets and interests!


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    #3
    Confused1999
    Registered Users Posts: 6 ✭Confused1999


    I wonder from a financial point though would you earn more as retained firefighter or paramedic. Im only guessing you are less "tied down" being a paramedic seeing as you have to stay close to your station while on call with fire brigade


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    #4
    ectoraige
    Registered Users Posts: 2,100 ✭✭✭ectoraige


    Paramedic has better potential for overtime earnings than retained.


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    #5
    Schindlers Pissed
    Registered Users Posts: 221 ✭✭Schindlers Pissed


    I'm a NAS Paramedic and I was retained in a past life.

    * I loved my time in the fire service, really enjoyed the work.
    * Decided to apply for NAS as I liked being "hands on" at RTCs and helping Paramedics (EMT then).
    * Found it very hard to find a full-time job that would release me for fire calls.
    * Retained FS.....it's a part time job. No real pension, but you pay the pension levy.
    * You are tied to the station.
    * The job isn't as busy now as it used to be in my time.
    * I only realised after I left that I had my life back.

    NAS:
    * Permanent.
    * Pensionable.
    * Full time.
    * When you finish you finish, very little on call and only in small pockets of the country.
    * Start at the beginning, but look at progressing to AP or whatever.
    * Stationed far away from home? Put in for a transfer.
    * Lots of OT to bump up your pay.

    Hope this helps.


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