Not all heroes wear capes, some wear scrubs, fire fighting gear or even just regular everyday clothes. There are so many career paths that you can take if you want to save lives, some might be more exciting than others but all equally important.

Firefighter

Firefighters are people who are trained to put out and rescue people and animals from fires. They also work to prevent future fires as well as looking for causes of fires. The basic requirements to become a firefighter include a high school diploma and a valid driver’s license. It is also important to be physically fit and able to lift.

Doctor

Doctors are people who practice medicine to help their patient’s health. Becoming a doctor involves a lot of schooling, some types of doctors have to go through more training than others

Surgeon

A surgeon who performs surgery on people; there are general surgeons as well as surgeons who specialize in specific types of surgeries. To become a surgeon you need to get an undergraduate degree in medicine and then complete a 5-year residency program in general surgery. Depending on if you plan to be a specialist you might have to take an additional 2 years of residency in surgery specific to what you want to specialize in.

Psychiatrist

Mental health is just as important as physical health. A psychiatrist is someone who diagnoses and treats mental health conditions. To become a psychiatrist, you must graduate medical school and complete a psychiatric residency.

Veterinarian

A veterinarian is someone who practices medicine, but for animals instead of people. To become a veterinarian, you must graduate from veterinary college.

Lifeguard

A lifeguard is a person who rescues and supervises swimmers in areas like pools, beaches and waterparks. In order to become a lifeguard you must pass the Red Cross life guard course with a minimum of 75%, and be at least 15 years old on the last day of the course.

Wildlife Rehabilitator

Wildlife rehabilitators might not save human lives but they save the lives of animals, and that is also important. Wildlife rehabilitators take in sick and injured animals and nurse them until they are healthy again. Animals that can survive by themselves get released back into the wild. To become a wildlife rehabilitator in Ontario you need to pass the Ontario Wildlife Rehabilitation Exam (OWRE). You should consider volunteering with an authorized wildlife rehabilitator before taking the exam to gain experience.

Paramedic

A paramedic provides first-aid to people on the scene of emergencies and transports them to the hospital. The requirements to be a paramedic is to graduate with a Paramedic diploma, pass the provincial certification exam and be at least 18 years old when you graduate. You also need to be physically fit and able to lift a certain amount of weight.

Police Officer

A police officer’s job is to protect and ensure public safety. To become a police officer you need to have a high school diploma or GED, and at least obtain a Police Foundations college diploma. You can also earn a university degree in criminal justice and then, a police training certificate.

These are just a few jobs that can be lifesaving, inside and out. All of these career paths are great to follow if you really want to help people. They might be difficult but in the end it will be fulfilling.

Resources:

https://www.toronto.ca/home/jobs/information-for-applicants/recruitment-initiatives/toronto-fire-services-careers/becoming-a-firefighter/

https://www.verywellhealth.com/types-of-doctors-1736311

https://www.redcross.ca/training-and-certification/course-descriptions/swimming-and-water-safety-courses/lifeguarding?gclid=CjwKCAiA6vXwBRBKEiwAYE7i

https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-wildlife-rehabilitator

https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/a-career-in-veterinary-medicine-handout-2018

https://cags-accg.ca/patient-care/general-surgeon-education-training/