9-1-1, S-H-S!

Written by: Kanita Tariq 

   For students with an interest in and passion for the medical field or for those who are simply looking to improve their people skills, volunteering with Sparta's Ambulance Squad has proven to be an undeniably impactful experience. Current volunteers from Sparta High School - Maddie Arcuri, Kirsten Scott, Amanda Sansone, Julianna Riehl, William Nichols, Henry Flint, Erin Finnegan, and Nadir Hassan - can attest to just that.

   Regular duties of an EMT include stocking the ambulance, comforting patients and recording vitals like temperature and blood pressure. What a student EMT can and cannot do depends on their age and level of experience. Newcomers start by observing and learning how to handle different types of situations before moving on to doing assessments with the oversight of a certified EMT. Potential EMTs hear lectures and practice on mannequins before joining the team, and must be supervised by an experienced colleague before working on their own.

   Although working in the Ambulance Squad is desirable amongst students, all volunteers can confirm that the process is no easy job  - EMT school was a challenge and with shifts ranging anywhere from four to twelve hours, time management is a key for a healthy work experience. Despite the struggle, students love it and many people wish they had signed up sooner.

   The EMT experience can be life-changing. Kirsten managed to bring back a man's pulse in the back of an ambulance. Although he eventually passed away a few weeks later, thanks to Kirsten, he gained a few more moments with his family.

   Kirsten's experience taught her about the bigger picture, reinforcing the idea that grades are not always as important as teenagers these days sometimes feel they are.

  Julianna, an aspiring nurse, believes that she will have a step up when she begins studies in college as she has learned how to appropriately handle patients and tackle certain scenarios. She feels that working as an EMT has not only made her more confident as a person but also gave her a place to feel comfortable - "I'm not really sporty, I'm not really super smart... so in that aspect, EMS really helped me find my place." Gaining direct advice from EMTs was immensely helpful. Besides the medical experience, being a student EMT teaches the students time management, with school, extracurriculars, EMT school and a possible job. "If you really love something, you'll make time for all of it," stated Maddie Arcuri.

  All in all, each and every volunteer can vouch for the immense impact working as an EMT has. They wholeheartedly encourage fellow students to join up as soon as they can to make a difference in our community.