Working on an emergency response team is fulfilling, but not everyone has the skills to succeed at this career. If you’ve been considering pursuing a degree in emergency management, becoming an emergency nurse or simply volunteering with a local emergency response organization, you should evaluate your own abilities first. If you have the fundamental abilities necessary to excel in this field, you can pursue educational options to land your first role in emergency management.
Adaptability
Emergency response workers must be adaptable. When you arrive at a natural disaster site, you may find yourself coordinating transportation efforts, providing medical care or assessing property damage. You may be in an area with limited housing and lodging options, forcing you to sleep in a tent or stadium rather than a hotel room. If you need structure, regular breaks and a 9 to 5 work schedule, emergency management jobs are not for you. However, if you crave adventure and the chance to make a direct impact in the lives of others, you have the right attitude for a successful career in emergency response.
Organization
Because emergency response efforts take place in chaotic situations, organizational skills are especially important. If you want to work directly for an emergency management organization like the Red Cross or Federal Emergency Management Agency, your first job will likely be logistics management. In this role, you will make sure that bottled water, medication and other necessary supplies arrive on time and in the correct quantities. You’ll also need to track data for grant reporting, report writing and other organizational needs. If you want to start at a more advanced level, consider pursuing specialized training in emergency response or other related fields.
Technical Training
Although emergency response is open to volunteers with all levels of skill, you will have the greatest professional success if you focus in a key area. Medical professionals are always needed, so training in nursing, emergency medicine or trauma counseling is one way to begin your career. Construction management and experience is helpful for responding to emergencies in urban areas where buildings can pose a danger to rescuers and the local population. Public health and environmental management training is another strong option for building your resume, as natural disasters often lead to unsanitary conditions.
Resource: Top 10 Emergency Management Bachelor’s Degrees Online 2016-2017
Interpersonal Abilities
A diverse group of professionals make up emergency response units. You may coordinate medical care provided by physicians, send law enforcement officers or firefighters on rescue missions or dispatch construction works to repair critical structures. On any given day, you could find yourself assisting farmers in the Midwest, refugees in Haiti, or senior citizens in Louisiana. To be successful in emergency management and response, you must have the ability to work with each of these populations.
You don’t need to have every one of these skills to be a successful emergency responder. If you have a desire to help others during a crisis and a willingness to learn, you can be an integral part of an emergency response team.