“911 — What’s your emergency?” Every day, paramedics respond to calls from people in life-or-death situations. These highly-specialized technicians must be able to administer emergency medical care under high-stress conditions – and their services are in high demand. The field is growing rapidly in Wake County, and so is Wake Tech’s Emergency Medical Science (EMS) program. Courses cover everything from basic emergency care to advanced trauma and include scenario-based instruction and hands-on learning experiences. Using state-of-the-art equipment, students master the technical and critical thinking skills first responders must have to help in emergencies. Graduates of the two-year program are qualified to take the state licensing exam to become paramedics.
Jazmin Hooper
“This program is hard-core,” says student Jazmin Hooper, “but it’s great! The professors allow us to make mistakes now, so that we’re proficient when we’re out in the real world. That really boosts our confidence.”
Jazmin chose emergency medical science because she likes helping people – and the excitement of responding to emergencies. Professor Lee Wittman says that’s exactly what it takes: “I always ask students if they want to help people or want an adrenaline rush. Those best suited for this work have a combination of the two.”
Employment prospects for Wake Tech EMS students are good – in fact, many have job offers before they graduate. Wake County’s EMS system plans to hire 70-80 paramedics each year for the next three years just to keep up with population growth. “Wake County is growing by 67 people per day,” says Jeffrey Hammerstein, Assistant Chief with Wake County EMS. “Our EMS call volume has increased by nearly 13% over the past few years, and that growth fuels the need for more paramedics.”
Demand for the program is so great that it’s now being offered to high school students at the new North Wake College and Career Academy. Students there can earn an Emergency Medical Science certificate while they complete their high school coursework – and graduate with 17 credit hours towards an Associate in Applied Science degree at Wake Tech.
The importance of top-notch training cannot be overstated, according to Addison Newman, a 2016 graduate. “Wake Tech’s EMS program prepared me for what I may face on any given day,” he says. Newman and another Wake County paramedic, Linton Wilder, were first on the scene when 17-year old Jonathan Rodriguez was hit by a car in September of 2017. They recently met Jonathan’s father, Edgar, who says their efforts saved his son’s life: “I can’t thank them enough.”
If you have a desire to help others, and can work well under pressure, consider a career in Emergency Medical Science. Visit ems.waketech.edu.
