His Job: Saving Lives

    It was springtime, 2008. Sony Jean-Philippe was riding his motorcycle in beautiful Upstate New York when . . . screech! He hit a patch of gravel while coming around a corner. Before Sony knew it, he was on the ground. His motorcycle was on top of him.

    Someone called 911, and soon a crew of EMTs (emergency medical technicians) was on the scene. Doctors later said Sony could have been paralyzed or killed. He believes the EMTs saved his life that day. And he knew that he wanted to do the same thing for other people. Today, Sony’s been an EMT for 12 years. We talked to him about his heroic work.

What do EMTs do?

    EMTs are the people who come when you have an emergency. We have to know how to do a whole lot: treat someone who’s not breathing, bandage a wound, and more. It’s our job to get a hurt or sick person to a hospital so they can be cared for.

Sounds like a stressful job! How do you stay calm? 

    A lot of the time, it’s a show. Even if you’re freaking out on the inside, you have to stay calm on the outside. It’s important to not even look worried. That could really scare the patient.

What kind of training does a person need to become an EMT? 

    There are many different kinds of EMTs, and all require different levels of training. For my training, I took a college course. Then I had to ride with trained EMTs a certain number of times before I could answer calls on my own. 

How has your job changed during the Covid-19 pandemic?

    It’s been scary. I’ve definitely been worried about bringing the virus home to my family.

What do you love most about being an EMT?

    I’m often the person you see on your worst day, so I feel proud to be able to help people through that. Sometimes people will come up to me in public and say, “You saved my life” or “You saved my mom’s life.” Those moments are incredible. 

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned in your 12 years as an EMT?

    Yes! I see a lot of teens in accidents that can be prevented. Take it from me: Don’t text and drive, and always wear a helmet on your bike or skateboard.