When one thinks of the phrase "Emergency Medical Technician", the typical image that pops into one's mind is the scene of a bloody car accident, a gunshot wound to the head, a man who has been mauled by a vicious animal. While EMTs do see these cases every so often, it is much more realistic to see calmer events on a regular basis. There are common misconceptions about the environments that EMTs work and live in, and this is the main misconception.

EMS was started in the 1940s when rural communities were concerned about the care of their citizens. That being said, EMS's main responsibility was not to attend to dramatic freak accidents, but rather to the everyday injuries and health problems that we, as humans, undergo. Most EMTs go into the field with a mindset that they will be called to extreme cases everyday, saving lives, and receiving large amounts of money in return for their services. However, it is just the opposite.

On a regular basis, EMTs interact with and help elderly people and babies the most. These are the two main categories EMTs work with, yet they are also the two types of cases that often bring the most sadness to the workers. Almost any EMT you have a conversation with will tell you that after working on a case where babies or older people are involved, so many emotions and feelings will be raging through your body and mind. Even if the patient survives, there is a constant pressure and stress on the first responder becase these two stages of life are precious and often viewed as the two best times of a person's life. Every once in a while, when an EMT is called to a dramatic case that looks identical to that out of a movie, they experience the same wide range of emotions on an even deeper level, causing emotional exhaustion.

In addition to the emotional distresses, EMTs are expected to be able to respond to calls at whatever time they occur, regardless of what they are doing. Many sleepless nights and days are lived when you are in the EMS field, causing crabbiness, anger, irritation, and often the need for solitude. Another condition of being an EMT is the aspect of physical strength. EMTs have to be able to carry and transport people of all shapes and sizes, and have to do so in the proper manner. They continually have to stay in shape and undergo physical workouts in addition to keeping up to date on their medical knowledge.

It is difficult to lead a typical lifestlye as an EMT for many reaons, the main one being the odd hours and shifts. EMTs can be called at any time to respond to a call, disrupting their sleep patterns. The unusual hours of the shifts make it difficult to spend time with a spouse and/or family. There are unexpected times, sometimes even when you are not on duty, to which you are required to respond to because of a lack of EMTs. These demanding conditions are one of the main factors that disrupt the everyday life of an EMT.

The mental, physical, and emotional drain on EMTs is extraordinary. Unless you have witnesed the situations EMTs are faced with, it is quite difficult to understand the toll that their profession takes on them both emotionally and physically. These working conditions are often the most unexpected aspects of the life of an EMT, but they are at the same time exactly what defines the life of an EMT. As one blogger wrote, "If you wanted fair, you should have found another job."[8]