EMS

Yep. Fire/EMT. Trying to avoid any weight gain due to the rough hours and limited availability of good food. Having (some) success at losing a little bit of weight too. Also want to build strength for lifting those bariatrics.

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I'm not sure about Colorado, but here in VA - the best way to gain experience is to volunteer.

As far as paid, usually new EMTs have better luck trying to get on with a transport company first to gain some experience. It's not nearly as exciting, but you gain a lot of knowledge about routing in your area, the facilities and you will do a LOT of lifting patients. It also helps you learn about documentation and gives you experience talking with patients and monitoring them en route. And to be honest, the transport companies here where I am actually pay better hourly rates than where I work. (This seems pretty backwards to me, but it is what it is)

As far as the female aspect -- my experience has been this: Be confident in your skills. (This requires actually knowing everything you need to know) I continually study even though I'm certified. I memorize my truck and know exactly where things are so I can find them quickly. I stay on top of restocking after calls. Being on point with this stuff will prove to whoever you're working with that you're not lazy and you can be very helpful. Also, recognizing that while you're knowledgable and you should be confident in that, you are new. There is so much that can be learned from more experienced people that they may not have taught you in class.

There is a big caution I will give you though: People have a tendency to become complacent over time and there are some things that you don't want to pick up from an older provider. Like not getting a 12-lead on a 40 year old patient who is only complaining of a headache or stomach problems. Or not always wearing gloves. Or assuming the call that came in for your frequent flier is just going to be BS like it always is. Or not staging off site for a domestic, psych or assault call. Sometimes dispatch will tell us to stage and other times they won't, but they will never be angry with us if we choose to stage and tell them that. There is a fine line between being confident and cocky on a truck. You have to find that line for yourself and not be afraid to look at a more experienced person and say "Hey, hold up, this lady is 35, she doesn't feel well and her systolic is over 150. Let's cover all our bases and get a 12-lead." If something goes wrong on the call, you need to have been on point because you and your partner will both be responsible and can be sued.

Anyways, that's a lot of rambling to simply say this: People may initially question your abilities, etc - but if you stay on top of your skills, try to be respectful when you decide to question someone and keep the truck/bags stocked and clean - those questions will resolve on their own.