Bryce Neeley and Hailey Hays's career paths were transformed by the Lampasas High School’s Career and Technical Education Emergency Medical Technician course.
Last Thursday, the pair successfully acquired their EMT test to make themselves eligible to serve in the field. Both Neeley and Hays never anticipated a career path working as an EMT.
“Originally I wanted to go into law enforcement, because one of the teachers at the high school, I formed a close connection with him,” Neeley said. “His best friend was right next door, and it was the EMT class. Senior year, I had no other law enforcement classes and thought I might as well just take the EMT class.”
Like Neeley, Hays was also not seeking to become an EMT.
“Ever since I was a kid I wanted to be a part of the first responders,” Hays said. “I didn’t originally think about EMT, I was thinking more police or firefighters. I realized when I worked with the EMTs, I could help people more than with the police or fire fighting.”
The pair each got involved in LHS’s law enforcement teams during their sophomore years. LHS has two law and public services pathways, which include the law enforcement and emergency services pathway.
Typically, the cost to acquire an EMT certification is $2,000. Since Neeley and Hays took advantage of the offerings at LHS, the pair were able to seek an EMT certification for free. Part of the requirements for obtaining the EMT certification includes 48 hours working alongside EMTs and 24 hours working in the emergency room.
Hays says she garnered useful experience while working alongside Hamilton EMS.
“I’ve seen car accidents. While I was in the emergency room I got to see an intubation. We had a few stroke patients, but most of them were health calls – ‘I’m sick, throwing up, please help me,’” Hays said.
Hays emphasizes it was the ride-alongs with Hamilton EMS that ultimately persuaded her to to seek a career as an EMT.
“My favorite part was going on the ride-outs with the paramedics from Hamilton. We still text every so often,” Hays said. “They pretty much like treat us as our kids. They make you feel like you are involved and in the right place.”
Neeley also witnessed his fair share of events while working in the field alongside professional EMTs.
“On my first ride, I had to perform CPR on a patient who was coincidentally in a room right next to a two-month-old in cardiac arrest. Half the ER was in both rooms, which was very stressful,” Neeley said. “ I got to see some intubations, one that I remember specifically was from an inmate from the local jail. He was pretty roughed up, and it was a well-oiled machine where everything was working together and I was just standing there doing what they were telling me.”
While Hays’ favorite moments were working alongside Hamilton EMS paramedics, Neeley’s favorite moment on his EMT journey was a tasty Thanksgiving lunch with classmates at school.
“Our teacher made us some brisket and mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving right before Thanksgiving break,” Neeley said. “We were just hanging out watching different moves and going over the medical side of the. I forgot the movie, but it was set in World War II, and we analyze all these injuries and how we would try to help.”
Currently, the pair are awaiting their EMT license to start applying for roles in the field. Hays is planning for a career as an EMT, while Neeley is awaiting classes to start at Texas Tech University. He plans to work as an EMT while studying to become a nurse.
Both admit they are nervous to get out in the field as a certified EMT, but are aware others will be present to have their back.
“I’m very nervous,” Nelley said, whose sentiments are shared with Hays. “As a new EMT, they will understand I will mess up and have someone who has been for a while here just overshadowing me. It is still nervewracking because you are there to save people’s lives on their worst day.”
