Do You Think You Have What it Takes to Become a Paramedic in San Diego?

Southwestern College Paramedic Intern, Omar Asfar, is delivering a demonstration on the Zoll EKG monitor as part of his paramedic field evaluation time on Medic 3. Paramedic students like Omar are assigned to a paramedic ambulance for a minimum of 528 hours. During that time, the students are trained and evaluated on paramedic skills that they have developed in the classroom. In addition to the 528 hours on a paramedic ambulance they have to complete 860 hours of classroom time and 168 hours of clinical hospital time.

 Paramedic Intern Omar Asfar gives a presentation to the Lake Jennings Fire Station crew on the defibrillator.

While in the hospital, the student rotates through various departments, such as, the Emergency Room, Labor and Delivery, Pediatrics, and the Operating Room. In the hospital the students learn first hand skills from doctors, nurses and other specialists to help them become professionals in the field of Emergency Medicine. Lakeside Fire Protection District was one of the first paramedic providers in San Diego County and is proud to continue to participate in the training and evaluation of new paramedic students eager to provide public service to the community.

Currently Lakeside Fire has two interns. One is assigned to the Lake Jennings station, the other is at the River Park station.

Submitted By: Firefighter-Paramedic Jamie Hazlewood, Lakeside Fire Protection District