The project I undertook for my EDGE requirement is to obtain my Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification. The training was conducted by Southwest Applied Technology College in Cedar City, UT. It started in August 2016 on the college’s scheduled date they selected and ended on December 12, 2016. Since I have completed this training, to include passing the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) written and practical tests, I am now a certified EMT on the Basic level. With this certification I am able to respond with an EMS crew to people or situations in the community that are requesting emergency medical attention. With this vital training, I am now able to render the medical attention needed to the person(s) and also transport them to the next level of care such as a hospital or clinic.
There are several reasons why I decided to take on this massive task as an EDGE Project. The first, and most important reason, is to complete the EDGE Project requirements for Southern Utah University's degree track I am on. Secondly, I figured since I have to involve myself in doing this project, why not try to get something useful out of it; like learning a new trade that I could possibly use in the future. Another reason I did this was because I expect this training and certification to be useful when it is time for me to seek employment as an Air-Medical Helicopter Pilot. I am sure this aspect of my knowledge will set me apart from other applicants for the same job. Finally, the last reason is a little personal. For years I have struggled with a slight bit of survivor's guilt. After being in the Army for some years, and having to deploy to the combat zones of Iraq and Afghanistan, it is no surprise that several friends, acquaintances, and fellow Army colleagues I have known through passing have paid the ultimate sacrifice towards America's freedom with their life. I often find myself sitting in silence wondering why I was one of the spared souls. I am no more or less deserving of that fate than they were. Why not me? I have come to the realization that I was given the privilege of carrying on these departed comrade's legacies through trying to save other people's lives. My healing starts now by helping others that need to be healed. This is the first step of many steps that I am taking on that path to mending.
HEALING FROM HELPING, HELPING BY HEALING
A little background as to what kind of investment this project took, because I would like readers to understand the time and effort I contributed to the overall success of this project. First, the cost of tuition, books, equipment, uniforms, registration into the Bureau of Utah Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness AND registration into the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, written and practical tests totaled about $1,200. This does not include the cost of travel, time spent voluntarily doing ride-alongs with Gold Cross EMS in Cedar City to learn in real world situations, and missed work hours. The class schedule was also a fairly rigorous one as well. Three nights a week, starting August 16th and ending on December 12th, lasting from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Finally, a very thorough testing schedule that included quizzes every night, Module exams once every two weeks, in which it was mandatory to score no less than an 80% or be removed from the class when this did not happen, and a two-day hands-on testing block in which the student had to perform EMT level tasks to the standard of a present and watchful grader. Oh, and I forgot to mention a National Registry written test that does not tell you immediately if you passed or failed, but rather informs you by mail some weeks later. There were also fun moments such as hands-on scenario based training that gave a taste to the students as to what they would encounter at their first EMS job. I actually looked forward to these moments, so I will not make it all sound like a doom-and-gloom experience. Overall, though, the training was rigorous, intense, fast-paced, and worth every penny I scraped together to pay.
A Story About Myself Starting the Process of Healing From Combat Afflictions by Helping Others to Heal From Their Wounds
