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the police are not around, paramedics have to be cautious in such situations, adding another layer to their mental stress. Fitness First Along with mental fitness, a paramedic needs physical fitness. It is a job that demands strength and hard work. You are on the go all the time, and you might have to lift heavy patient loads. Some- times just reaching the scene of an accident might mean climbing or making a long trek. “It is a physical job. You need to be strong for sure,” added Davis. “There are a lot of paramedics who miss time with injuries.” Paramedics make sure to work out and eat right so that they are ready to deal with the physi- cal stresses of the job. In 2012, the National Association of Emer- gency Medical Technicians reported a national rise in cases of very, very heavy people. America’s growing obesity problemwas causing problems for paramedics, who had been forced to carry heavier

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