Become an Emergency Worker
By Elijah Thomas
We’ve all seen the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the job market. Employees and industries deemed “essential” have largely maintained their professional positions, while more “non-essential” roles have been eliminated from many companies.
This has left workers craving more stability and control over their work lives — and many have turned to the sector of emergency management.
Emergency management is the gathering and coordination of essential public safety resources including volunteers, ambulances, firefighters, police officers and public workers. Employees in this field are focused on protecting civilians, property and nature against disasters of all types.
There are many different fields in emergency management, including:
- Local and state governments
- Healthcare
- Education
- Science and technology
- Law and policy
- Management
- Administrative support
- Human resources
- Military
- Nonprofit
While all jobs have the potential to offer exciting experiences, some occupations are built around life-saving activities. If a nine-to-five office setting isn’t your idea of a career, consider these high-intensity positions, and give yourself more security in your role.
Police Officer
Law officers are exposed to intense decisions, responsible for quick decision-making and find themselves in physically demanding situations. Traffic enforcement officers find themselves in scenarios ranging from routine traffic stops to high-speed chases.
To become a protector of peace, officers must graduate from their agency’s training academy before completing a portion of on-the-job training.
Emergency Dispatcher
As a 911 dispatcher, you will be under pressure to keep callers calm while they are facing an emergency. These roles offer shift flexibility, as offices are open around the clock to be available to the community.
Dispatchers must listen to a distressed person’s situation and determine which type of responder is best suited to assist.
Emergency Medical Technician
EMTs and paramedics are typically the first on the scene of an emergency. They are responsible for performing medical services and transporting patients to medical facilities.
Emergency Room Physician
ER physicians generally work in fast-paced emergency room or urgent care facilities. They are required to quickly assess a patient’s condition, develop a treatment plan and oversee their recovery. Scenarios they encounter can vary dramatically but may range from severe cases like trauma and heart attacks or more moderate instances like minor bone breaks.
HOT JOB PROFILE
NURSE ANESTHETISTS, NURSE MIDWIVES AND NURSE PRACTITIONERS
Number of jobs in 2019: 263,400
Job outlook, 2019-29: 45% (Much faster than average)
Employment change, 2019-29: 117,700
The role: Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners coordinate patient care and may provide primary and specialty health care.
Education required: Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners must earn at least a master’s degree in one of the advanced practice registered nurses’ roles. They must also be licensed in their state and pass a national certification exam.
Job outlook: Growth will occur primarily because of an increased emphasis on preventive care and demand for health care services from an aging population.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
