Meet…Yosef Travis

Yosef has been an instructor at Emergency Care Programs for some time and is happy to share his EMT history with our students. Let us know if you have any questions for Yosef.

When did you decide you want to become an EMT?
On my second day of college, I walked into the student run EMS squad and signed up. My brother and his wife had both volunteered there, so it was the first thing on my mind. I ended up spending all my time there between classes and held a variety of officer positions.

What 1 event (good/bad/ugly) in life factored into your decision to save lives and become an EMT? 
Nothing earth shattering led to my decision to become an EMT. My first job was in human services, so I guess it just made sense for me. I was already volunteering at an EMS squad when I took the EMT course, so I’m sure the peer influence helped too!

Tell me the best way to find an EMT job?
It really depends on what you want to do with your EMT certification. However, many EMTs start in private transport companies and either work their way up or move along to hospital/municipal positions once they have some experience.

What is your Level of Certification? EMT/Paramedic/Lab Instructor/Lead Instructor
I’m an Emergency Medical Technician – Basic (EMT-B) and a Certified Instructor Coordinator (CIC).

How challenging is it being an EMT?
It’s challenging because there is a high level of stress that comes with being involved in EMS. It’s also physically challenging, so staying fit is an absolute necessity. I encourage my students to think about why they want to be an EMT. I hope that they can focus on those reasons when the work gets tough.

How do you keep sharp in your own skills?
It’s actually easier for me as an instructor to keep sharp, because I interact with a whole range of EMTs and I use my conversations with them to constantly improve my own practice. I recommend to all EMTs that they find opportunities to review and improve their skills by reading journals, participating in skill drills, and talking to experienced EMTs who strive to stay on top of their game.

How’s the comradery on the job with your fellow EMTs?
There are a lot of truly dedicated EMTs and paramedics who I have met who have helped me and influenced me as an EMT. With these colleagues, there’s always the awareness that we are all there for each other and for the same end goal. Sure, there are some who are just “punching the timecard”, but much of the EMS community in NYS is comprised of people who really care, about their patients, about their partners, and about the community.

What advice can you give others who want to become an EMT?
Clarify to yourself what your motivation is for becoming an EMT. Seek out mentors who will guide you and offer a listening ear when the going gets tough. And above all, never mock any patient (even among your colleagues), because it’s a slippery slope once you stop respecting the people for whom you are supposed to care.

Why do you enjoy teaching your students? 
For me, it is truly satisfying to take a new class on a journey through the ins and outs of prehospital care and see them go on to become dedicated EMTs (and perhaps EMS educators)!

How do you encourage others to follow this career path?
Everyone who takes a class with me has already made a decision to become an EMT. It is my responsibility to help them nurture that original idea and develop a strong knowledge and skill base, so they can reach their true potential in EMS.