Reasons I didn't become an EMT, ranked
- ID
- 31671
- Status
- summarized
- Published
- 04 Oct 2026, 4:49 AM
- Fetched
- 05 Oct 2026, 1:27 AM
- Provider
- Hacker News
- Category
- dev-community
- Original URL
- https://ben.stolovitz.com/posts/reasons-not-emt-ranked/
- Source URL
- https://hnrss.org/best
Summary
- Score
- 2.5
- Created
- 05 Oct 2026, 1:27 AM
- Tags
- Audience
- developers
What happened
Ben Stolovitz, who says his main job is software engineering and that he became an EMT in 2024, lists 21 reasons he delayed getting his EMT license. The biggest barriers were time—his accelerated NOLS Wilderness EMT course took 28 consecutive days—and EMS culture, including burnout and an unpleasant first-responder experience. Other reasons ranged from not fitting in with students to not wanting to work on an ambulance, though he says balancing work and EMS became straightforward after certification.
Why it matters
There is no direct AI/ML, database, agent, or Malaysian startup impact here. The one concrete decision for developers is whether an intensive side credential fits your leave and budget: the author needed unlimited vacation, a supportive boss, and money to travel to Wyoming for a 28-day course, plus ambulance shifts beyond a '1 weekend a month' minimum.
Discussion angle
Would your current team or leave policy allow a 28-day consecutive course plus ongoing shifts, and what does that reveal about how non-work expertise is treated?