Is anyone here and EMT or Paramedic? I have some questions about how I can get a job in the field since I have partial seizures. And how or if I should disclose the info to potential employers.
I am an EMT-basic and just interviewed for a job with at a local ambulance service and it is a requirement that you know how to drive the ambulance. I was planning on just being going with BLS trucks and working in the back rather than driving, but they said they still wanted everyone to know how to drive. Problem is I have a seizure disorder and I really didn't want to disclose that to them. I stay alert and everything durning them, but feel kind of odd. Not so bad I wouldn't be able to do my job, but if I were to be driving I would have to pull over (its partial seizures, I stay aware enough to do that and can still do simple tasks during them). Should I tell them this info if they call me back to offer the job? My neuro hasn't reported me to the DMV, so I don't know how they would react or it they would then report me (can they do that?). Would that get my EMT licensing revoked? I really didn't want to drive in the first place because I get lost easily (I pretty much have directional dyslexia, so I even get lost in my city even though I have lived there for all 23 years of my life), then I panic when I get lost. I mentioned that part to them and they said that they have a few employees like that and it wasn't a problem. I was hoping that that would take care of me not driving, but apparently not. So how do I deal with this? Should I tell them about my condition or just leave it out? I've never had one while driving and they are fairly well controlled with meds. But driving the ambulance with it scares me, if I don't tell them and it happens, I could put a patient at risk because I couldn't get them to a hospital quickly due to me having to pull over and recover, I could lose the job, get my license (both EMS and drivers) revoked.
Thanks for any input! Oh, and just as a side note, I am not photosensitive or sound sensitive, so lights and sirens won't be a problem for me. I just get them whenever for unknown reasons.
Re: Working As EMT With Seizure Disorder?
Submitted by tonialpha on Sat, 2008-09-27 - 21:29
I respect what you want to do. I worked in a police dept. I enjoyed the police dept and it had a lot of stresses. I had a driver's license at that time. I loved the work. My neurologist noticed that I was stressed out. My seizures were still under control. He told me sure to get plenty of rest, and exercise and eat the right foods. The third year while working I had a seizure while fingerprinting a drunk. It was on tape and the jailer was there. My neurologist told me to get into a less stressful job. I did. I worked in the medical field as a neurodiagnostic tech. for 15 years at a Medical Center. I am on disability at this time and live on a different Coast. If you keep yourself even keel, everyone has their trigger points. I ended up still helping people and I did it in the medical field in a less stressful situation. Your field might be ok. Each person has to try it out maybe there is something in the EMT field in training or in the ER that you can do not dealing in the the ambulance driving. I know in the Police Dept. we were one man units and if your car was not working you had to take care of it yourself and radio for assistance and have the public stare at you! Take it easy ! Pat yourself on the Back! As my algebra teacher used to say "Life is a Festival!" I wish you luck!