Episode 4: Andres Capra - Tactical Paramedic

Career Closeup

We sit down with Andres Capra and follow his journey to his career as a Tactical Paramedic. This is a relatively new field where he works as an Austin EMS Paramedic and also trains with Austin PD SWAT/ Travis County Sheriff SWAT teams. His pathway includes becoming a Marine right out of high school, digging ditches for electricians, having his own company building decks and framing houses, and being a college student and a bartender. He originally was interested in becoming a firefighter, but realized he was more interested in the medical side, because that's where the majority of calls happened. Andres explains how he takes lessons learned in one area of work and uses them to help in other areas. We rated this explicit due to the mature and sometimes graphic nature of emergency situations.

Show Notes:

0:00 Introduction

1:39 What is a Tactical Paramedic

4:59 The Tactical Paramedic Team

6:09 What made you choose medicine?

7:32 Anything you can do to standout as a paramedic 8:54 Break Down EMT to Paramedic

11:59 Getting hired and working as a paramedic

16:10 Andres background, high school, Marines

18:48 How did the your prior experiences (Marines and Bartending) help you as a paramedic?

21:41 "So our team." Coming over to Tactical Medic team.

23:08 Characteristics of a good tactical medic candidate.

26:49 Tell us about a notable experience/paramedic call

31:11 Other Cool Assignments: Presidential convoy, RNC

35:08 Continuing Education (CE) training as Paramedic/tactical medic

36:35 What are the challenges of your job both as Tactical medic and street medic?

39:52 What other opportunities are available for someone in your field?

41:22 What advise for someone interested in your field?

44:42 Anything else you wish you had done, prepared, school?