The first time I walked into the classroom, I was nervous.
Why had I come – was I making the right decision? I wanted to help people, some of my family members had become ill from stroke, heart disease and diabetes and I wanted to help them. They were getting older. I wanted to know what to do in emergencies, like those people I saw on TV or in the movies. They seemed to always know.
Once I got into CPR and bleeding & bandaging, I was hooked. I found a friend who wanted to pass as much as I did. We studied together before and after class.
We made index cards with important facts and flashed them to each other like in Jeopardy. It was hard, but we kept studying and practicing and having a good time. We would compete to see who could get the higher grades and before we knew it the course was over and we had passed our state exams.
I couldn’t help it – I loved the flashing lights, the uniforms and working with the medical equipment.
I felt good because I was now part of something much bigger than myself. I knew the city in a way other people did not. I had my fingers on its pulse and knew when it was hurt and scared or celebrating and ‘under the influence.’ I watched more experienced EMT’s and hospital personnel and yes, I continued to study. Emergency care is an ever-changing and evolving field, and I wanted to learn all I could. Then, with my EMT certification and my driver’s license I got a job!
