The Fire and Emergency services have always been a big part of my life. I grew up with the smell of sweat and soot in my nostrils and the sound of shrill tones in my ears. I had always imagined I would work in a field that was more…slow paced...than that of the Emergency Services. I even spent two years studying Psychology before I was able to realize my passion would be found in the very same thing that my grandpa, dad, brothers, and my other half were finding themselves in.
My first semester of my sophomore year of college, I took my Emergency Medical Technician-Basic class and it took me on the ride of my life. At first I thought, ‘Well, I wouldn’t mind helping out on calls down at our Volunteer Firehouse...' Never thinking this certification would far surpass just that. Getting my EMT opened a whole world that I completely counted myself out of. In order to pass your EMT, you must first pass the class, then pass a practical in which you memorize step by step stations that test your ability to actually take life saving measures. Then you go to a (very intimidating) testing center to take your written exam. Once you have jumped through all of the hoops you will then be awarded the National Registry of EMT’s and then your state license to practice.
What I loved about learning in my EMT class was that level of practical intelligence. All of my life, the public school system has taught me to read, study, regurgitate. Never was that muscle of practicality in my brain exercised or strengthened for that matter. What I realized was that this type of career demands a certain level of hands-on knowledge that we are not usually exposed to in the public schools and liberal art institutions. There was something about it that intrigued me. Something about not just sitting behind a desk or in some tiny enclosed space.
I’m not going to lie, I did not pass my practicals the first time around and I had to repeat stations. My written, on the other hand, I passed with flying colors. But when I came to the end of my Emergency Medical training, I had the most overwhelming feeling of accomplishment. In a matter of three or so months, I learned how to bandage the wounded, support someone’s airway, and keep a heart beating. The confidence that came with knowing I could potentially save another person was unmatched with anything I had ever felt before.
This intense training was not only a mere certification I could put on a resume but a complete change in career choice. That spring I was applying to a multitude of schools to transfer to so that I could begin studying Nursing instead of Psychology. I found my passion and have not looked back since.
Not to mention the incredible support I had behind me every step of the way. In addition to my family and friends rooting me on, I gained support through the family I found in my class and in the firehouse. Having the support of others who understood this passion was so incredibly helpful. I probably would not have passed had my superiors not helped me train and study for these tests. In joining the firehouse, I am now surrounded by people who have my back and who hopefully know, I have theirs. Being a part of a firehouse is more than just being on a team, it’s a true brotherhood. I say brotherhood because the fire service has been a field predominantly run by men. But there are a few of us that have put the “her” in brotherhood. I did not know if I would be well received by the other members or if I would sink under pressure. Instead, I found a group of people and their beautiful families who have been nothing but supportive, and encouraging, and offer every bit of help and advice they could possibly muster. I found people who completely get the craziness of running into burning buildings if it means saving a life. It’s hard to explain to someone who isn’t a first responder how you can wake up in the middle of the night, go to some place you have never been to take care of someone you have never met.
Through this I felt a lot of aspects of my character changing too, and for the better. I felt more self reliant, as far as being able to make important decisions and to delegate when the moment requires it. I have learned the importance of empathy for the sick and the hurting, and sympathy for the family member who calls us in the middle of the night asking for help. The biggest change of all has to be the emotional strength. Something changes in you when you’ve witnessed a life come to an end. After something so sobering, you learn to count your blessings, hold your loved ones a little closer, and not take anything for granted.
You are not the same person after seeing someone knocking on death’s door and then come back by the time you have ended the call at the hospital. And knowing that I had something to do with that, I had a hand in making an improvement in my patient’s day, health, or life, makes all the difference.
“I didn't become an EMT to get a front row seat to other people's tragedies. I did it because I knew the world was bleeding and so was I, and someone inside I knew the only way to stop my own bleeding was to learn how to stop someone else's"
