I realized that it was something he is and not just something he does. I wanted to be part of that, feel the camaraderie, give back to the community. It’s been 31 years since I joined and it is part of me. Now I teach the occasional CPR or EMT class and volunteer one night a week to staff the ambulance.
Everyone has a talent. Don’t think that we’re just about patient care. We need teachers, accountants, secretaries, and housekeepers too. Expand your horizons, add to your résumé, start a career, all in EMS.
Peter Lupkowski
Volunteer EMT-Instructor
Wellsboro Firemen’s Ambulance
Hi, My name is David Cochrane and I am a paid paramedic for Greater Valley EMS in Sayre, Pennsylvania. I have been an EMT now for 20 years and this June will have been a paramedic for one year.
I first joined into the wide world of EMS at age 18, very wet behind the ears and scared to death on every call I went on, but as the days, months and years progressed, I realized that it wasn’t all about me, but it WAS all about my patients and helping them. I have seen pretty much everything there is to see, and I tell new EMT's and students that I teach, that you can do this job for a million years and never see everything there is to see. Each and every day, I learn something new or see something different. Now don’t get me wrong, there are those calls, at 2 am in the morning, where you have to go and tell a family member that their loved one has passed away, or pick up someone from a motor vehicle accident, that is young, had their whole life ahead of them, but just by the sounds and smells, you know the patient isn’t going to make it. On the other end of the pendulum are the patients that when you get them in the back of your ambulance and through your interventions, they are breathing easier or their chest pain is relieved and they look up at you and say, with a twinkle in their eye, THANK YOU and they give you that smile, that will last with you forever, then you know your job is done.
EMS is long hours, little sleep, and seeing a lot of things that most people don’t ever want to see or hear about, but as long as you do your best, and that IS the key, doing your best no matter what the outcome, it is worth it. Just always remember, we are there for the patient, not for ourselves. Be safe out there and God Bless.
David Cochrane
Paid Paramedic
Greater valley EMS
Sayre, PA
I became involved in EMS through my local fire station, which also operated an ambulance. There were only two or three EMT’s, which made operating the ambulance very difficult. As a junior fireman at the age of 14, I enjoyed being around the “action”. I developed a genuine desire to help others. My becoming an EMT seemed to be part of a natural process for me to fulfill my desire to help others. After obtaining my EMT certification, I attended plenty of related training while functioning as a 16 year old EMT. By responding on calls at my local fire department, I obtained plenty of experience. During that same time, I was developing a sincere interest in becoming a Paramedic. This desire was stirred by watching the hospital-based response unit paramedics come to our calls and seemingly “save the day”. Shortly after high school, I began working full-time as an EMT for a local private ambulance service. Soon after, I attended a Paramedic program and enjoyed it greatly.
It is my most sincere belief that EMS is a calling…a passion. I have been involved in EMS for over 20 years. Still to this day, I take great pleasure in “saving the day” of those who rely on my ambulance service. For me, there is no greater feeling in the world!!
Chris, Paramedic
Elizabeth, PA
I have been involved in EMS as a volunteer EMT for almost 25 years, since the age of 18. I joined a local volunteer organization in December of 1983, 1 month after my 18th birthday. At that time you had to be 18 to be a member. During the last 25 years, my organization has changed names and is now a combination paid and volunteer organization. I still love EMS today as much as I did 25 years ago. I enjoy helping people and my community. I run one set shift a week and also help out any other time I may be needed, whether it's for transports, covering community events, etc. I am currently also a member of the Board of Directors and am a preceptor for new EMTs joining the organization. I have never been interested in becoming a paid EMT myself as I love volunteering too much to give it up and already have a good job. I think EMS is a great way to give back to your community, meet new people, and share your skills with others.
Teri Lathrop
Age 42
Sayre, PA
Hello, my name is Doug and I am from the Grove City/Harrisville area. I have been involved in EMS since 1976 both as a volunteer and paid/career provider. I began my EMS career when I was in a High School Outdoor Club. My career goal was to be a Conservation Officer; however, in 1977 my father became ill and after multiple ambulance trips and hospital stays it seemed natural for me to work in the EMS Field; especially since EMS was a new thing and the “new” local paid service needed EMTs. I began my paid EMS job in 1978. At that time the pay rate was $ 5.00 for a local call and a long distance trip to Pittsburgh paid $ 15.00.
During my career , I have worked in every aspect of EMS from filed provider to Chief. I have been a co-owner of a very progressive ALS Service since 1996 and still work on the truck now and then.
I am also involved with EMS Education as an instructor for both EMT & Paramedic courses as well as an AHA Instructor in ACLS, PALS, and CPR. Furthermore, I hold instructor certification in Basic & Advanced Tactical EMS and have been involved in bringing “ Care Under Fire” training to law enforcement, EMS, and Fire/Rescue providers in our area. During my time in EMS, I have met some fantastic people. Many have become very good friends.
One thing that I would like to see is every student be required to become an EMT while attending High School. The reason I feel this way is because it would give more young people a better perspective on LIFE and how short it may be. It is also a great training for team building skills and may just open up new doors for them.
Many ask me why I still do this? The only answer I have is that I LOVE what I am doing and that I pray I am making a difference each day I continue to do this “EMS thing”.Doug
Grove City/Harrisville Area
I am currently 50 years old and have been involved in EMS for over 33 years. I started out in a volunteer fire department at the age of 17. I enjoyed ( and still do) helping people. After being an EMT for 5 years and very active in my VFD I took the second paramedic class offered in Erie, Pa. in 1980. In 1983 I continued my volunteer career and started working for EmergyCare, Inc. as a career EMT-P. I am still employed by EmergyCare and mostly function in management. I would not have traded my career choice for any other profession. It truly is a rewarding experience when you know you continue to have a positive impact on people's lives.
Jim Pyle
Erie Division Manager
Emergycare, Inc.
Back in the mid 1970's, my baseball coach was an officer in the local Volunteer Fire Department (VFD). I was with him one day, on our way to a game or practice, when a call came in for a "Code 1" (Motor Vehicle Crash). I watched him and the other volunteers in action and my curiosity was piqued. I asked about joining the VFD, unfortunately I was only 15 years old and they required Junior Firefighters to be at least 16. The day I turned 16, my application was made.
The answer is simple. I had a mentor that took an interest in me and looked towards the future. He saw something in me....
Why am I still involved in EMS? I chose EMS as my career. I wanted to be a physician but money and personal trials prevented that from happening. I became an EMT at 18 and a medic at 19. I loved the action and later found out that I truly just enjoyed making someone's bad day into a somewhat tolerable day by providing compassion. I really believe I've made a difference in more lives by being a compassionate caregiver than I have by shocking patients, intubating patients, administering medications, etc. There is nothing better in my job than to have a little old lady give me a hug!!!!
Bill, 48
Erie, PA
Paid
I started out about 25 years ago as a Fireman with the Penns Creek Fire Department, after being there about 2 years I figured there had to be something wrong with fireman as they run into burning buildings when they tell everyone else to get out and stay out. I then started to run with Mifflinburg Community ambulance as a driver. Several months after joining them I heard a call at my Grandma's residence for a cardiac arrest. Responding to the scene I found myself arriving at the same time as a local EMT. Upon arrival at the patient we found my grandma in cardiac arrest. The EMT looked at me and asked if I knew CPR, at that time I had not taken a class yet. From that day I promised my dead grandma and my family that it would never happen to me again. About 2 months after that, I enrolled in an EMT class. After passing my EMT I then started running with the Union County West End Ambulance Association which was the closest service to my home. I have ran with the West End service for the past 20 years. About 15 of those years have also been as one of the officers of the Association. For the past 10 years I have served as the Captain of the Association. I have always felt good serving my community. I have thought several times of retiring but the good feelings of serving my community are still there. One day once I get old, maybe I will retire.
Joe Richard
Age 50
Millmont
Union County West End Ambulance stationed in Glen Iron, Pa
At the age of about 12 I knew I wanted to be a paramedic. Unfortunately, I couldn't become involved with the EmergyCare Explorer Program until I turned 14. The week of my 14th birthday I showed up for my first Explorer Program meeting and took advantage of the opportunity to ride along nearly every week. I became an EMT when I was 17 and started a paramedic class at 18. I completed and became a Nationally Registered paramedic at 19 and have been working as a paramedic ever since. I believe that the Explorer Program held the most influence over my career choice. The opportunity to actually ride along with a busy service gave me an educational head start and also allowed me to experience the profession for several years prior to making the decision to enter the field. I knew EMS was for me because it fit my personality. I enjoy how every day is different and how quickly you can sometimes make an impact on someone's life. I'm still involved in the profession because I can honestly say it is my passion. I hope to be part of elevating this young industry to a more respected and recognized profession over the course of my career.
Nicole, 24,
Erie, PA
Career
I got involved in EMS when I joined our local fire company 3 weeks after my 18th birthday. I had always gotten a rush when I heard the fire siren blow or seen a fire truck or ambulance drive by. I thought it would be neat to be one of those guys hanging on the back of the fire truck or driving the ambulance. When I joined the fire company they asked me if I would be interested in running on the ambulance and I said sure, not even knowing what that meant. From the first ambulance call I took I was hooked. I loved the excitement of it and having the ability to help people in need. As I moved around, at college and later when I moved for new jobs, I would join the local ambulance service. I've run with a Quick Response Service (QRS), a funeral home service, the service in my home town, as a paid EMT in a nearby town, and now as an EMS administrator. As I got older the rush of the sirens and the red lights has faded, but the satisfaction of being able to help those in need has grown more significant. Every day when I wake up I know that what I do makes a difference.Steve Webb
57 years old
Parkesburg, PA
It was 1979 and I was a product of the ‘Emergency generation. I had just graduated from high school and was working as a home medical equipment delivery driver when I attended a mandatory CPR class given by my employer. The instructor was a firefighter / paramedic named Chip Miller who answered all of my questions about EMS and even gave me a recommendation to a local volunteer fire company who ran two ambulances. I submitted an application to the Holmes Fire Company and was hooked for life. Since then I’ve progressed through the ranks, on both the fire and EMS sides. I’ve been in different fire companies over the years as I’ve moved around and had both the volunteer and career experiences. One common thread throughout my career is that EMS has given me the opportunity to both be there to help those in need and to feed that ‘ adrenaline junkie’ inside of me. I truly feel that I make a difference in people’s lives. I remember the character Doc, a senior paramedic on the television show Third Watch say that; “we see people at the worst moment of their lives”. This is absolutely true. It is the actions that we take and the compassion that we show on that day that will forever be remembered by those people and their families. When people ask me what I do for a living, I proudly reply; “I’m a medic!”
Timothy G. Quinn, Sr.
Age 47
Springfield (Delco)
EMS Chief (career)
It all started, while I was with my first volunteer fire department, Station 70 in Washington County, PA, where there was only (1) one additional person, who was an EMT. In order for me to better assist on the Motor vehicle accidents, I obtained my certification as a First Responder, but I felt I could do more, than what I was limited to as a First Responder. I took an EMT class and became an EMT. Just having the ability & knowledge to assist those in need, is a way for me to give back to the community in which I serve and reside.
Jeff Spinneweber
Age 36
Eighty Four, PA
Volunteer
Bentelyville Station 11, Washington County, PA
My name is Connie I am 34 years old and a career paramedic for West Shore. In 1998 I went to a bingo night at the Mont Alto Fire dept. started to talk with the guys and ended up joining the service. As time went, I became an EMT and after a few years went to college at HACC and became a paramedic. I still volunteer for Mont Alto occasionally and Shippensburg Area EMS as the training officer.
Volunteering gives me a self satisfaction that can't be replaced. I'm a paramedic not because of the pay check, but because this is my drive in life. I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing but helping people when they really need me, whether it's saving a life or just holding the hand of someone scared. I need the immediate satisfaction and the adrenaline addiction is fulfilling! I encourage people to just give EMS a try; the 'bug' might get you too. This is a career that you continue to learn every day.
Connie
Age 34
Career
Paramedic
West Shore EMS
Like most EMS providers who are around my age, my earliest exposure to Emergency Medical Services was in the early-to-mid 1970s. Every day after school I would race into the house and click on the TV to watch two Los Angeles County Fire Fighter Paramedics race to the scene of emergency after emergency during the series “Emergency!”. Even then as a kid I was enthralled with the excitement and... Click Here to read the rest of Scott's testimonial.
Scott C. Sherry, FP-C, NREMT-P, CMTE
Clinical Manager & Flight Paramedic
The Center for Emergency Medicine of Western PA
STAT MedEvac
I have been involved in Emergency Services for 28 years and counting. I am a certified EMT-P with an Associate’s Degree in EMS. I am still active in EMS/ Rescue/ Special Ops/firefighting. I started in EMS as a 16 year old that lived nearby the community hospital and every time an ambulance would pull in to the ER doors the neighborhood kids would run down to check out the action. Click Here to read the rest of Jeff's testimonial.
Jeff Cruciani, EMT
Blakely Boro Community Ambulance Association
Lackawanna County PA
How did I get started in EMS?
Tom Whitfield, EMT-B
Age 56, Volunteer
Carlisle, PA
