Many teenagers have jobs at the mall or in a restaurant, but most teens don’t have the job I have. I am an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). There are many levels in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) world, starting with Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) and ending with actual paramedics. I see everything that a paramedic sees because I am just one level below them. I started my training two summers ago, beginning as an EMR, and spent most of my time at Greenwich EMS.

The worst experience I have had as an EMT was while being on the crime scene of a shooting. We weren’t allowed to step inside the house until the scene was safe. We were forced to stand back until we got the “all clear.” Even though we were waiting inside the ambulance, we still didn’t feel safe because you never know who else is going to try to “invade” the scene to help the criminals. We didn’t know what the night would bring us.

As a first responder, I see everything; nothing is impossible, and nothing is “gross,” including everything from births to amputations of body parts. I have also witnessed many deaths, but one that has really gotten to me, to this day, was when I was on the scene of a car accident. The car had rolled over with a male in the driver’s seat and a female child, about 6 years old, in the back. After many hours using the Jaws of Life, we learned that the little girl had passed away on the way to the hospital. The reason why this makes me so upset is because I had to enter the car, through the window, to try and help the little girl. I whispered in her ear that everything was going to be ok.

We EMS members are trained to not get emotionally attached to the patients because we see many upsetting things on this job. I couldn’t help my feelings towards this little girl, though, because I still feel like I could’ve done better. Our job is to do the best we can to help each person that calls 911. We are first responders, and I am proud to call myself one.