BEING AN EMT
“As an EMT-I, I work for the community,
as one with the community, doing and seeing things that
most people
 |
| Melvin
Flippin accomplishes a high angle rescue in his
role as an EMT-Intermediate. |
do not see on a daily basis. It is my
responsibility to save lives and make wrongs right.
There are different aspects of the job from being, an
ambulance driver to a fire fighter, or even a police
officer. This career offers many opportunities from
going on 911 calls to working in government agencies
to providing private services. It all comes down to
you and doing what you have been trained to do. I completed
advanced levels of training, beginning the process in
the basic EMT course and continuing on to become a registered
EMT-Intermediate. I decided not to stop there, but to
add more competencies to my rescue personal resume’.
I attended high angle rescue training along with the
wilderness EMT upgrade. The training does not stop here.
Adding skills and knowledge will continue throughout
my career. In healthcare, technology changes everyday.
Commitment to continuous preparation to stay on top
of the changes is my goal.
Community service is a large part of
my responsibility. It is not always about saving lives,
but turning on lights to educate the community. People
need to know how to assist the EMS workers when we are
caring for patients. We educate the community about
the support we can provide. The teaching aspect allows
me to have contact with many age groups. I do presentations
at daycare centers, schools, churches, and special events.
One of my favorite lessons involves letting the children
know we not the bad guys, but helping and caring professionals.
My greatest instructional tool is a small remote control
ambulance that takes the role of the EMT down to the
children’s level. It shows them that we are pretty
cool as well as teaches them not to be afraid of an
adult in uniform. After setting the tone, we are able
to teach safety.
Being an EMT-I is more than the glory,
sirens, and skills needed to be effective. Being flexible,
willing to change something you just did, willing to
look at things differently is necessary for achievement.
Changes occur when you least expect them. Being a quick,
critical thinker, a problem solver, and a team player
along with having a little fun is what I incorporate
into my daily life to help me become successful at this
profession."
HOSA INVOLVEMENT AND ACHIEVEMENTS
- 1995 Fourth Place–First Aid/CPR–Regional
Competition
- 1995 Nursing Shadow Program, Aiken
Regional Medical Center
- 1996 Second Place–First Aid/CPR–Regional
Competition
- 1997, 2002 HOSA Alumni member
- 1997–2002 Annual fire safety
classes to local HOSA chapter
EDUCATION
- 1993-2002 South Carolina Interior
Fire Fighter, South Carolina Fire Academy
- 1994 First Responder, New Ellenton
Fire Department
- 1995 High Angle Rescue, Aiken Fire
Association
- 1996 Silver Bluff High School–Aiken
County Career and Technology Center
- 1996 Emergency Medical Technician,
Aiken Technical College
- 1996–2002 Pediatric Education
for Pre-hospital Providers, Aiken County EMS
- 1997 EMS in Hostile Environments,
Aiken Department of Public Safety
- 1998 EMS Bike Medic, Aiken Department
of Public Safety
- 1999 Child Safety Seat Technician,
Department of Health and Environmental Control
- 1999 National Registered EMT-I,
Midlands Technical College
- 2002 Wilderness EMT Upgrade, Wilderness
Medical Association
- 2002 South Carolina EMS for Children,
South Carolina EMS Expo
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Additional career information is available
from these sources:
ThinkQuest-Emergency Medical Technician
Profile
http://library.thinkquest.org/15569/car1bmd2.html
National Association of Emergency Medical
Technicians
408 Monroe Street
Clinton, MS 39056-4210
1-800-34-NAEMT
http://www.naemt.org
National Registry of Emergency Medical
Technicians
Rocco V. Morando Building
6610 Busch Blvd., P.O. Box 29233
Columbus, Ohio 43229
Phone: (614) 888-4484 Fax: (614) 888-8920
http://www.nremt.org/about/nremt_news.asp
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