You’ve heard the saying, “every second counts.”  Two EMT students at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College made seconds count recently and helped save a life.  Dana Brown and Kayla Goble started the EMT program Fall Semester last August and after completing nine semester hours of class were ready to start clinicals.  On the first day of clinicals both students were involved in a Prehospital Life Save. A  Prehospital life save award signifies that the actions of Emergency Responders resulted in the successful resuscitation of a patient who was in cardiac arrest and clinically deceased prior to that patients arrival to the Emergency Department.  Mark Ponder EMT Instructor shared, “Some professionals go years in their careers and not have a Prehospital Life Save, and these students had one on their first day of clinicals.  That’s a big deal.”    Dana’s original plans were to go into the RN program at Wiregrass, but when she found herself on the waiting list, she went into the EMT program and realized she has a passion for this field.  In fact, when she was offered to start the RN program she turned it down to stay in the EMT program.  “It’s an honor to be recognized for this save, shared Brown. “It really solidified this is where I need to be in life.  I feel like I found my calling.”  She also credits this save as a team effort between paramedics, and EMT’s Kayla and herself.  Brown’s Prehospital Life Save was on her first call and first day of clinicals.  When she graduates from the EMT program, she wants to continue and get her AEMT and Pararmedic, and work toward her RN degree with hopes of becoming a flight medic.
 
Kayla Goble has always been interested in working in the medical field, but wasn’t sure what direction to go.  After realizing the difference EMT’s make in others’ lives, she knew she wanted to be part of that.  “Having a Prehospital Life Save as my second call on my first day of clincials confirmed to me that I was on track and was meant to this with my life,” said Goble.  When she graduates, she plans to continue her education and enroll in the Paramedic program at Wiregrass.