i expect paramedics to be more businesslike in front of a patient and reserve the banter for amongst themselves, they're the frontline defense, it's a very demanding job to do all the right things _and_ get the tone just right; businesslike is safest.

That could be true, but my experience with paramedics (and basic EMTs and I-techs) is that they banter if it fits with their personality, and not if they don't. (Some of them banter specifically because it is such a demanding job.) I haven't ridden with my instructor, but she banters constantly outside the ambulance and in the classes I took with her. The other female EMTs I know don't joke much, nor do the men, except for one totally irreverent medic I know who cracks me up. I should see if I can get ride time in his bus.

So I'm not necessarily seeing the gender difference you are, but my sample is also pretty small; I wouldn't be at all surprised if there was much more banter from men than women if we could look at a wider pool.

Me, I don't banter much because I don't think I'm funny, and am never quite sure what to say that would go over well. I don't know that that's a female thing.