EMT-B Jobs in Mississippi

[redcrossemt]

May be moving to Mississippi in a year or so and am considering whether or not to become a paramedic before moving.

Are there many opportunities for EMT-B's in MS? Are those opportunities strictly in special events and inter-facility transfers (as they are here), or do basics run a lot of 911 response? Are the opportunities mostly with FD's, county services, or private services?

Also, are there good paramedic academies available?

Thanks for your help.

[Delta85]

Don't move to Mississippi. Second, if you still "want" to make the move hrer are a couple of things to consider.
1) Probably the majority of the ambulance services are ALS level services c either double medic, medic/basic, and (rarely,and usually for basic transfers) intermediate/basic crews.
2) Services are county wide.This means that one service,be it private or public, covers the entire county.
3)Shifts are either 24 or 12 hour shifts. Variations abound, but mostly involve 24/48,48/96, etc.
4)There are a variety of services that offer different working enviroments. Private services offer a greater degree of autonomy,while a hospital based service might offer a more austere enviroment for those that require a little more concrete opereating enviroment. Check them out before you commit. Visit and talk c the employees as candidly as possible. Be wary of burnouts offering their two cents.
5)Pay is on a competitive scale. In my area(the Delta) The choices are limited to 3 or 4 private services and 1 hospital based service. The private services average btw $5.50 to $6.70/hr(respectively). Hospital based services are a little more generous c an avg of $7.60/hr.
6) GO TO PARAMEDIC OR NURSING SCHOOL!!! ASAP!!! It doen't pat to be an EMT in the state of Miss. unless you want to work one job making $24k per annum or working 2 jobs and half the year to clear $30k per annum.
7)These are both from objectional and lets face it ,often personally biased information. Do your homework and be wary. It pays off in the end.