Heather

43, Female

Tinley Park

United States

Profile Information:

Type of Organization

Private EMS

Job Function

EMT - Paramedic (or Other ALS)

Years in Fire/EMS:

5 years

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

Trace Ambulance Tinley Park Illinois

Years With Department/Agency

2 years

Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations

My Training:

EMT B, EMT P . CPR instructor, FFII, extrication specialist, Vertical Rescue tech

About Me:

I guess there is not a lot to know. I went to Eastern Illinois University out of high school on a music scholarship, percussion performance, realized that I hated it, it wasn't were I belong. I left got right into the first emt program I could find and the rest is history. I was always one of those kids that was never bothered my blood or broken bones, I have copies of all my x-rays, and I can sit in front of the tv watching the discovery health channel while eating dinner for hours. You just know when you are doing what you are to be doing, when you are where you belong, and I definitely found my calling.

Relationship Status:

In a Relationship

Facebook or Other Online Profile:

http://myspace.com/medic8171

Why I Joined Fire/EMS

I always knew that it was something that interested me, I remember growing up and hearing the fire whistle going off, and seeing the volunteers speeding to the station leaving there families behind, to go help someone else's. I began in ems, I hate to say it but I guess as a female it was the easy way to start. Coming from a town with a old school department, were it was generations of men in the fire department, just jumping in wasn't a option. I went through my emt class took an extrication class at the same time. I fell in love even more. I was good at it and that felt great. Continued on with fire academy, started as a volunteer firefighter, and ended up moving to the Chicago area to pursue me medic license. I am now a paramedic for a private that runs 911 for two towns, and am looking forward to testing for the city departments and showing the men just what a women can do.

Why I Love Fire/EMS

What everyone loves, being able to help people...I love that my job is diffrent every day not one shift is ever the same as the one before, and you gain some really great friendships throughout your journy.

Top Issues Facing Responders:

Coming from a rural ems setting where the communities are still volunteer and you get called to the fire house by the sound of the whistle, and ems and the fire department run together as a team, because they want to not because they are paid, to a area where you are 5 minutes from a hospital at any given time, firehouses are staffed by paid personnel with in house ambulance crews...I guess the hardest thing to get used to is that full time departments look down on the private services, its sad. Do I see myself working on the private side the rest of my career no...but not all of us were born with famous last names, or grew up in house holds were generations have been in the firehouse. Some of us have to do it the old fashioned way and work to get in the full time spots. We are all out there to do the same thing, we all do the same job, so why is it so taboo to me associated with a private service? The experience and knowledge that I gain from the private service is only going to make me a better medic in the future. I guess in the long run if I were to end my carer never leaving the private side, I would know that I did my job, the job that I love because I wanted to, making minimum wage working 90 hours a week,no unions on our side, bad health insurance, but i was happy and gained a lot of experience. I also know that if life does lead me to get on to a full time department, that I will be great full for the opportunity, the lessons learned, and never once will I look to a private medic or emt and think any less of them.

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