Faculty member, Hendrika Meischke, and her team recently released a new tool to support recruitment among Emergency Medical Services professionals in King County, Washington.
We sat down with the team to learn a bit more about the new EMS Careers Toolkit and the role it plays in workforce development.
Why was this tool created and why is it important now?
This toolkit was created to promote careers in Emergency Medical Services and to make the field more inclusive and representative. Across King County, EMS leaders have identified the need for a workforce that reflects the diverse communities it serves. By featuring different role models and providing an overview of how to pursue each career, this toolkit encourages people of all backgrounds to consider careers in EMS.
What information is included in the toolkit?
The toolkit includes four interactive modules: Firefighter/EMT, EMT, Paramedic, and Public Safety Telecommunicator. Each module highlights what the job involves, how to get started, and what training or education is needed. The modules feature short videos, real-world scenarios, and interviews with local professionals who share what they enjoy most about their work.
They also include links to local programs, scholarships, and community resources to help people take the next step toward an EMS career. Local EMS professionals and dispatch centers also contributed their time, stories, and expertise to help make the toolkit accurate, engaging, and relevant to the communities it represents.
Who is the audience for this material?
The toolkit is designed for high school and college students, educators, and community members who want to learn more about careers in Emergency Medical Services. It can also be a resource for career counselors and workforce development programs that support individuals exploring public health and emergency response fields.
The materials are especially intended to reach multilingual students and people from underrepresented communities who may not have previously considered a career in EMS. We hope this toolkit will inspire students and community members to see EMS as a meaningful and attainable career path.
How else can the material be used?
Educators and community organizations can use the materials in classrooms, at career fairs, and during outreach events to introduce the different roles within EMS. For students and job seekers, it offers a clear starting point to learn what each role involves, what training is required, and how to begin a career that serves their community. The toolkit also consolidates local resources, programs, and scholarships in one place, making it easier for people to take the next step toward an EMS career.
This project was led by the University of Washington School of Public Health and funded by King County EMS’s Vulnerable Populations Strategic Initiative. The Northwest Center for Public Health Practice supported the digital design and development of the toolkit.
Visit EMS Careers Toolkit to learn more.
