Bristol Swann

"I first became interested in working in emergency services as a child. My stepfather was a law enforcement officer and volunteer firefighter, and every once in a while he’d let me go on calls with him. I loved the idea of fighting fires and helping people.

When I turned 18, I joined our local volunteer fire department. My plan was to get my emergency medical technician (EMT) license so I could become a full-time firefighter. While taking the EMT classes, I did an emergency medical services (EMS) ride along. I enjoyed working on an ambulance so much that I decided to work in EMS instead.

I’m currently working part time at Riley County EMS in Manhattan, and full time at American Medical Response, which is the ambulance service for Shawnee County. My job as an EMT is to go to 911 medical calls and assist my paramedic partner in caring for and transporting the patient to the hospital. I like that no call is ever the same, which keeps things interesting. And because I work the night shift, I get the opportunity to respond to some unusual calls, which can be exciting at times!

For this position, I took the EMT class at Highland Community College during my senior year at Wamego High School. This ensured the cost of the course was covered and I could start applying for jobs right after graduation. The math classes in high school were important too, because we sometimes have to do quick calculations to determine medication dosages. My goal is to become a paramedic, so I’m currently taking that program’s prerequisite classes online through Barton Community College.

If you’re thinking about a career in the medical field, starting out as an EMT would be a great opportunity to get some experience working with patients and learning the basics of medicine. It’s also a great place to start if you’re interested in advancing further into the medical field, because the course is fairly short and you can start working and gaining experience quickly. My advice to those taking EMT classes is to learn as much as you can about the field and become comfortable with your skills —the more you know, the more confident you’ll feel on the job."