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From YouTube: Boston EMS Graduation Ceremony 2018
Description
Boston EMT officers are at the front lines of medical emergencies in our community. On June 12, 2018, the newest class of EMT Academy graduates was sworn into service at Faneuil Hall. Current EMS officers also received promotions for their hard work and dedication to Boston EMS. Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Boston EMS Superintendent-in Chief Kevin Shea, Boston Public Health Commission Executive Director Monica Valdes Lupi, and others offered honorary remarks.
A
B
B
A
C
Let's
bow
our
heads
and
respects
to
all
faith
traditions,
father
God.
We
thank
you
for
allowing
us
to
be
here
on
today
and
we
pray
that
your
choice
is
blessings
be
upon
these
graduates.
The
live
graduated
from
the
EMT
Academy.
We
thank
you
for
all
the
trainers.
We
thank
you
for
all
of
the
activities
law
that
have
led
up
to
this
point.
We
thank
you
for
those
who
are
being
promoted.
We
ask
your
choices
blessing
to
be
upon
them
father.
C
We
pray
that
your
peace
will
be
upon
our
city
as
they
go
about
Lord
to
do
the
work
of
touching
and
saving
lives.
I
pray
thee
to
a
blessed
Lord
in
the
EMS,
the
work
that
they
do
from
day
to
day
father.
We
pray
your
blessings
upon
Lord
our
mayor.
We
pray
that
your
strengthen
him
from
day
to
day
blessed
chief
Uli
and
his
staff
bless
Lord
Monica
and
her
staff
and
I
pray
that
all
of
us
work
together.
C
That
we'll
find
a
lord
ways
to
accomplish
a
more
safer
Lord
environment
wherever
we
go,
whether
it's
through
our
Boston,
even
I,
even
on
the
outskirts,
as
we
share
and
show
for
peace,
we
pray
that
you
will
protect.
These
will
stand
in
here
to
receive
their
diplomas
today
to
receive
their
certificates
of
graduation.
We
pray
that
you
allow
your
spirit
to
be
with
us
and
bless
law
this
occasion
and
bless
the
work
of
the
EMS
services
that,
with
respect
to
all
faith
traditions
in
Jesus,
name,
Amen,
god
bless.
D
Thank
you
Kevin
well
good
morning,
everybody
and
welcome
to
Boston
EMS
Academy
graduation
for
class
2017
and
for
our
recognition
of
those
who
have
been
promoted
since
our
last
ceremony
here
so
good
morning.
Welcome
mayor,
Walsh,
council
McCarthy
is
our
chief
Brophy
from
the
mayor's
office.
Thank
you
for
joining
us
today.
D
I
see
representatives
from
the
mayor's
office
of
Workforce
Development
and
we've
we've
been
working
very
closely
with
them.
Thank
you
very
much
for
joining
us
as
well.
Today,
chief
Martinez,
executive
director,
Valdes
Lupi
Boston,
EMS
division,
vice-president
Sharon
Santo
low
and
probably
members
families
and
friends
on
behalf
of
all
the
men
and
women
of
Boston
EMS
I
want
to
thank
you
for
joining
us
here
today.
For
today's
graduates.
D
It's
been
a
long
road
to
get
to
this
point
before
you
even
applied
to
work
for
us
a
Boston
EMS,
you
had
first
become
certified
as
EMTs
by
the
state
from
there.
You
were
required
to
pass
both
a
written,
practically
exam,
as
well
as
an
oral
interview,
and
you
had
some
tough
competition
upon
hires
recruits.
You
were
again
tested
and
for
three
more
months
in
the
classroom.
D
Many
of
you
have
already
experienced
saving
a
life
and
others
have
already
I'm
sorry
and
many
sadly,
have
been
there
when
a
life
has
been
lost
throughout
the
process.
Members
of
our
training
academy
had
been
there
with
you
to
help
you
learn
from
each
experience
in
patient
encounter
class
17.
You
have
proven
that
you
are
now
ready
to
represent
the
department
with
pride
and
professionalism
and
to
treat
your
patients
with
kindness
and
compassion.
D
D
D
We
may
encounter
any
one
of
these
patients
on
hundreds
of
occasions,
and
you
never
know
when
that
one
call
will
be
the
day
when
they
finally
turn
it
around
I've
heard
so
many
people
who
have
made
it
to
long-term
recovery
or
who
have
gotten
into
permanent
housing
say
that
they
almost
gave
up
on
themselves
several
times.
But
the
fact
that
others
would
not
give
up
on
them
is
what
made
the
difference
while
a
career
in
public
safety
is
rewarding,
it
does
have
its
risk
of
exposure
in
danger.
D
E
Congratulations
to
the
class
of
2017
I
know
that
when
you
were
accepted
into
this
class
from
the
numerous
other
applicants
you
were
thrilled,
then
came
the
Academy
followed
by
the
immersion
round
in
the
90
trucks.
Through
it
all,
you
may
have
been
a
bit
scared,
overwhelmed,
frustrated
or
all
three,
but
you
have
made
it
through,
and
today
the
city
of
Boston
is
telling
you
that
she
is
entrusting
the
lives
of
her
citizens
to
you
tomorrow.
You
will
be
sent
out
with
a
shiny
new
badge
and
a
set
of
keys
to
the
place.
E
You'll
now
call
home
your
ambulance,
so
you'll
spend
hours
in
it
talking
eating
laughing,
studying,
getting
to
know
your
partner
all
while
we're
waiting
to
hear
your
call
sign
on
the
radio,
I
hope
it's
a
grand
experience
for
you
all
the
things
you
will
do
and
see,
and
the
people
you
will
work
with,
will
change
you,
hopefully
always
for
the
better
at
first
it
can
be
nerve-racking,
but
with
every
call
you
become
more
experienced
and
comfortable
with
the
job
you
have
chosen.
This
comfort
level
doesn't
come
overnight.
E
It
may
take
some
time,
but
while
you're
on
this
journey
here
are
a
few
tips
that
may
make
it
a
little
easier
for
you
number
one
be
empathetic.
Remember
that
people
have
called
us,
because
this
situation
has
gone
beyond
their
control.
This
situation
may
not
seem
dire
to
you,
but
to
them
it's
a
tragedy
to
treat
patients
as
if
they
were
your
family
members.
So
imagine
every
elderly
patient
as
your
grandparents,
every
child
is
your
own.
E
There
will
be
patients
that
won't
be
very
nice
to
you
and
they
may
remind
you
of
a
wayward
sibling
or
cousin,
but
always
remember
that
every
patient
is
loved
by
someone
treat
them
the
way.
You
would
want
your
loved
one
to
be
treated
number
three,
never
stop!
Learning
the
field
of
emergency
medicine
is
fast-paced
and
constantly
changing,
don't
be
afraid
to
ask
questions
open
a
book.
E
D
Thank
your
vice
presidents
and
told
him
when
Monica
Valdes
Lupi
returned
to
the
Boston
Public
Health
Commission
a
few
years
ago
become
our
latest
executive
director.
It
invited
her
return
to
the
Commission,
so
the
great
part
of
that
was
it
was
a
very
short
learning
curve
for
her
to
come
back
and
appreciate
what
Boston
EMS
was
all
about,
because
she
had
also
been
at
the
State
DPH.
So
she
and
then
her
our
office
of
some
national
prominence
gave
her.
D
Some
will
will
earned
insight
into
how
EMS
how
we
straddle
public
safety,
but
also
public
health
and
the
fact
that
the
many
partnerships
the
necessary
us
we
go
ahead
with
health
care
reform,
with
all
the
challenges
that
are
facing
medicine
and
public
health
she's
been
a
terrific
ally.
She
immediately
came
to
already
I,
like
I,
said:
Shirley
had
the
appreciation
of
what
it
is.
D
All
the
programs
in
the
city,
all
the
programs,
the
Commission
in
various
city
departments,
worked
so
much
better.
Now
with
the
team.
That's
been
nob
built
here
over
the
last
couple
of
years
with
City
Hall,
the
Commission
and
Health
and
Human
Services,
and
it's
going
to
make
for
a
a
safer
and
healthier
place
for
Boston.
So
I'd
like
to
introduce
to
our
executive
director,
Monica
Valdes
Lupi.
F
Thank
You,
Polly
and
good
morning,
everyone.
This
is
one
of
my
favorite
events,
so
thank
you
for
allowing
me
some
time
to
join
you
and
like
she
fully
want
to
echo
my
gratitude
mayor
for
your
leadership
and
ongoing
support
and
commitment
to
build
on
and
strengthen
the
work
and
and
all
the
important
services
that
EMS
delivers
throughout
the
city.
I
also
want
to
thank
chief
marty,
martinez,
chief
brophy,
Commissioner
Evans,
councillor
McCarthy
for
joining
us
and
vice
presidents
and
Tola
for
your
remarks.
F
On
this
really
great
occasion,
as
chief
and
others
have
already
mentioned,
public
health
services
and
access
to
quality
health
care
are
the
cornerstones
of
our
mission
at
the
Health
Department
and
each
day,
EMS
encounters
hundreds
of
people
in
need
of
Health
and
during
these
moments,
you're
going
to
see
people
at
their
most
vulnerable
stages
and
their
most
vulnerable
moments.
In
their
lives,
you're
on
the
front
lines
of
our
workforce,
as
providers,
listeners
and
sources
of
strength
and
I
wanted
to
share
a
little
story.
F
So,
just
two
weeks
ago,
a
good
friend
of
ours
was
riding
his
bike
in
the
south
end
when
he
was
struck
by
a
passenger's
door.
While
she
was
getting
out
of
her
Oberer
car,
the
force
from
the
door
was
strong
enough
to
knock
him
off
that
bicycle
and
onto
the
ground
and
his
he
laid
there
on
Washington
Street
waiting
and
having
flashbacks
of
his
daughter,
his
wife
and
and
family
overseas.
He
wasn't
quite
sure
what
was
going
on
if
he
had
any
broken
bones.
F
He
just
knew
that
he
was
in
a
lot
of
pain
and
in
a
really
bad
situation.
Our
friend
shared
how
relieved
he
felt
and
how
how
happy
he
was
when
EMS
showed
up
in
what
seemed
like
seconds
and
amidst
the
excruciating
pain
that
he
was
feeling
the
EMTs
even
got
him
to
laugh
when
they
asked
him
who
the
president
was-
and
he
said
it's
still
Trump
right.
F
Our
collaborative
efforts
forward
and
I
wanted
to
make
sure
I
highlighted
some
of
the
ways
in
which
we're
working
with
EMS
EMS
is
a
leader
both
locally
and
nationally
and
working
with
the
Health
Department
and
monitoring
trends
that
we're
seeing
around
substance
use
disorders
and
narcotic
related
illness.
You
are
part
of
a
network
of
first
responders,
along
with
Commissioner
Evans
and
his
team
in
our
Boston
neighborhood
trauma
response
and
recovery
services
program.
You
all
shared
data
on
asthma
related
transports
to
help
us
focus
care
management
and
prevention
efforts.
F
As
chief
highlighted,
you
coordinate,
really
critical
care
for
vulnerable
homeless
clients
through
the
high
utilizers
emergency
services.
Our
Hughes
and
importantly,
you
work
on
identifying
hotspots
for
friends
like
ours
who
are
hit
on
Washington,
Street
and
pedestrian
incidents.
To
help
colleagues
on
the
public,
health
and
transportation
side
take
steps
to
address
safety
and
try
to
prevent
these
terrible
accidents
for
many
of
the
patients.
You
care
for
your
their
first
touch
point
their
first
interaction
with
the
health
care
system
and
through
patient
care.
F
You
provide
information
that
gets
entered
into
the
electronic
patient
record
and
gets
shared
with
the
Commission
to
help
us
inform
all
of
the
ways
that
we
design
programs
to
respond
to
and
prevent
injuries.
I'm
always
humbled,
not
only
by
my
friends
stories,
but
the
remarkable
stories
that
our
constituents
and
residents
in
the
city
share
the
compassionate
care
that
they
receive
from
our
bustin
EMS.
It
makes
me
really
proud
when
I
meet
people
and
I
travel
around
to
brag
about
the
force.
F
This
fall
and
I
know
that
all
of
you
played
an
important
role
that
night-
and
this
is
just
one
of
the
many
stories
where
you
touch
and
have
the
ability
to
transform
lives
in
those
immediate
moments
where
you're
responding
for
those
of
you
who
are
being
recognized
today
for
your
recent
promotions,
you
continue
to
be
an
example
for
those
around
you
and
I
know
that
you'll
serve
as
ongoing
mentors
for
this
graduating
class.
Thank
you
for
your
commitment
to
serving
and
improving
the
health
for
all
of
the
residents.
F
D
Thank
your
executive
director
loopy
before
mayor,
elect
Martin
J
Walsh
took
office.
He
was
already
reaching
out
to
Boston
EMS.
He
was
invited
to
a
quick
meeting
down
and
as
transition
office
was
set
up
over
at
City.
Hall
talked
about
a
couple
of
different
issues
and
a
couple
of
things
just
my
first
chance
to
really
advocate
from
for
the
department
and
some
of
our
needs.
That
was
quickly
followed
by
his
transition
team,
which
included
like
a
full
person
team
coming
down
to
meet
with
us
at
headquarters.
D
Look
at
some
of
us
stats
look
at
some
of
our
needs.
It
was
open
to
hearing
about
some
of
our
staffing
issues
about
some
of
our
equipment.
Sadly
you
name
it.
They
listened
to
it
all.
They
took
real
data,
they
took
some
real
look,
they
went
back
and
shortly
after
that,
it
was
all
about
results.
You
know
I'm
I'm
thrilled
to
say
that
we've
been
getting
terrific
support
from
Mayor
Walsh
to
this
administration
and
everybody
on
his
team
over
the
last.
D
Since,
since
those
days
we've
been
able
to
add
well,
excuse
me,
after
you
all
graduate
the
second
week
of
July,
went
to
stat
an
extra
crew
class,
that's
coming
at
and,
as
we
were
proved
for
an
additional
20
FTEs
over
this
class.
And
so
what
that
translates
into
is
like,
since
Mayor
Walsh's
come
in.
That's
45,
more
additional
uniformed
positions
that
we've
been
able
to
get,
and
that
was
a.
D
And
that
was
a
real
shortly
arm
for
an
organization
that
was
really
starting
to
feel
the
strain.
Not
only
has
the
that
helped
us
to
staff
additional
ambulances
which
it
has
by
bringing
in
new
folks,
like
you
all
that
gave
us
the
ability
to
promote
people
like
those
you
see
sitting
in
the
front
row,
because
we
really
couldn't
promote
people
when
we
had
holes
behind
them.
D
And
we
also,
we
are
also
able
to
replace
a
bunch
of
aging
on
on
a
most
vehicle.
So
again,
the
overall
morale
has
been
terrific,
but
we've
had
assistance
with
getting
approval
to
staff
that
second
truck
in
East
Boston,
which
is
really
his
own
impact
truck.
That's
that's
helped
Charlestown,
that's
held
downtown.
This
really
gives
us
a
shot
in
the
am
and
that
he
really
had
to
address
some
response
time
issues,
but
also
you
know,
Massport
putting
a
second
garage
up.
D
We
owe
a
lot
of
gratitude
to
Mayor
Walsh
for
that
as
well.
There's
a
study
underway
and
some
funding
in
capital
for
going
ahead
with
a
an
EMS
Academy
and
things
have
just
been
looking
up
and
so
I
just
I
just
want
to
take
an
opportunity
front
of
everybody
to
say
that
to
make
sure
you
know
that
and
I
hope
you
all
appreciate
it.
So
at
this
point,
I
want
to
introduce
Mayor,
Mike,
J
Walsh.
G
Thank
You
chief
hooli,
and
thank
you
for
that
introduction,
Commissioner
Evans
over
there
writing
stuff
down,
saying!
Well
me:
the
police
department,
so
I
want
to
thank
you
for
that.
Yeah
I
just
heard
that
Commissioner
but
I
want
to
I
want
to.
Thank
you.
Chief
I
want
to
thank
the
leadership
who
do
an
incredible
job
in
our
city.
That
she's
talked
a
little
bit
about
replacing
ambulances
and
adding
staff,
and
it's
simple.
We
have
more
people
living
in
the
city
of
Boston
you're
working
with
old
equipment,
I
mean
honestly.
G
Our
administration,
along
with
council
McCarthy,
take
into
account
what
our
public
service
officers,
public
safety
officers,
do
every
day
and
I
think
if
I
a
Commissioner
could
standard
this
microphone
and
say
the
same
thing:
the
Commissioner
of
the
police
department.
When
we
came
in
as
mayor
of
the
city,
mr.
G
Evans
had
a
radio
system
that
we
could
no
longer
buy
new
pots
for,
and
you
had
to,
you
had
to
buy
old
equipment
to
fix
the
radio
system
and
we're
in
the
midst
of
a
52
million
dollar
renovation
with
with
the
radio
system
in
for
the
police
department.
So
it
is
important
to
make
sure
that
the
people
that
we
rely
on
the
most
when
an
emergency
happens.
They
have
the
best
equipment
and
the
best
trained.
So
I
want
to.
Thank
that's
that's
an
easy
one.
G
I
want
to
thank
your
chief
for
the
great
work
you're
doing.
I
also
want
to
thank
chief
mati,
Martinez
and
chief
pepper
OFI.
That's
here
with
us
today
for
the
great
work
that
they
do
in
the
city
of
Boston.
Monica
of
others
will
be
the
public
health
commissioner,
as
the
chief
or
he
talked
about
her
role
here
in
the
city
and
and
understanding
the
importance.
The
less
the
last
Public
Health
Commission
didn't
have
the
same
feel
for
this.
G
G
To
the
parents,
the
loved
ones,
the
spouses,
the
boyfriends
or
girlfriends,
whoever
you
are
I
want
to
say
you
should
have
a
good
smile
on
your
face
to
issued
proud
of
these
young
people
that
are
here
today
for
the
accomplishment
that
they
accomplished
to
all
the
people
being
promoted.
All
the
officers
being
promoted.
Congratulations
to
you
as
well!
It's
something
that
she
fully
came
to
me
very
early
on
in
the
administration
and
said
we
need
to
do
more.
Your
union
came
to
me.
Instead,
we
need
to
do
more
and
we're
doing
it
today.
G
So
congratulations
to
all
of
you,
we're
proud
to
have
people
like
here
for
our
city,
like
all
of
you,
your
talent,
your
professionalism,
your
compassion
speaks
to
who
you
are.
It
speaks
to
the
highest
standards
of
Boston's.
Ems
I
also
want
to
thank
the
training
captains,
captain
Sal
Sophie,
deputy
Graham,
deputy
Silva,
deputy
superintendent
Morley.
Thank
you
for
your
great
work
in
training,
the
best
trains
EMS,
the
EMTs
paramedics
in
the
United
States
of
America
right
here
in
the
city
of
Boston.
Congratulations.
G
It's
just
these
four
people,
I
mentioned,
have
over
100
years
of
experience
with
boss,
CMS
and
there's
so
many
other
people
that
I
could
mean.
I
can
mention
everyone
here
in
this
front
row,
both
sides
actually
in
behind
me,
but
I
want
to
thank
you
for
that.
Your
dedication
to
this
department
in
this
city
is
inspiring
and
I
know.
You'll
continue
to
do
great
things
for
EMS.
So
thank
you
for
that.
No
one's
being
honored
here
today
is
new
to
EMS.
Just
so.
People
in
this
room
know
what
that
means.
G
Many
of
you
have
worked
in
the
field
prior
to
applying
for
this
position,
but
all
of
you
have
undergone
extensive
periods
of
additional
training
to
get
here
today.
During
the
six-month
academy,
this
graduating
class
responds
over
3,000
clinical
issues.
You
cared
for
residents
of
all
ages.
As
the
chief
said,
you
helped
bring
people
life
into
this
world
and
you
at
the
end,
when
people
are
taking
their
last
breath,
you
spent
countless
hours
in
the
classroom,
learning
new
material
and
preparing
for
any
call
that
you
get.
G
You
have
also
trained
for
the
kind
of
incidents
we
hope
that
will
never
happen
in
our
city
or
ever
happen
again
in
our
city,
but
you
must
be
prepared
issues
like
urban
signs
or
urban
search-and-rescue
active
shooter
training.
There
is
no
other
EMS
in
the
country
that
invests
as
much
in
education
in
the
development
of
the
EMTs
and
paramedics
as
the
city
of
Boston.
G
We
become
a
national
model
for
the
last
four
days,
we've
hosted
the
US
Conference
of
Mayors,
where
we
have
over
250
minutes
from
all
across
United
States
America
here
in
Boston
hosting
a
meeting
and
I
can't
tell
you
the
amount
of
times
that
they've
said
to
me
in
praising
the
city
of
Boston
praising
our
public
safety
praising
our
city
praising
our
streets.
So
the
work
that
you
do
out
in
the
street
does
matter.
G
People
pay
attention
me
as
they're,
paying
a
little
more
attention
the
average
person,
but
just
because
somebody's
in
there
doesn't
matter
as
you
go
out
on
the
street,
it
doesn't
matter
where
they
come
from.
They
see
you
come.
They
know
that
you're
there
for
them
and
I
want
to.
Thank
you
for
that.
Right
now,
Boston
our
residents
will
cue
it's
heroes
and
role
models,
something
that
you
might
not
have
thought
about
when
you
sign
up
for
this
job,
but
they
do
the
uniform
matters
becoming
a
Boston.
Emt
is
an
enormous
responsibility.
G
You
are
exceptional
individuals
here
today
and
I
know
that
you
are
up
to
the
task
you
will
be
crucial.
Members
of
our
team
will
continue
to
fight
the
opioid
crisis
in
addiction
epidemic
that
our
country
is
facing
right
now
it
will
be
a
vital
resource,
as
we
connect
people
with
the
recovery
services
they
need
during
events
like
first
night.
Fourth
of
July,
the
marathon
in
many
championship,
parades
I,
hope,
I
mean
in
the
future.
Your
presence
will
reissue
our
people.
You
will
help
carry
on
the
tradition
that
makes
Boston
so
proud.
G
This
is
a
challenge
in
Korea,
but
you
have
chosen
to
embrace
it
through
the
desires
to
serve
others.
You
are
now
part
of
an
elite
group
of
public
safety
professionals
here
in
the
city
of
Boston,
I
want
to
say
congratulations
to
each
and
every
one
of
you,
it's
truly
an
honor
to
serve
as
your
man.
I
wish
you
the
best
in
your
career
and
the
best
of
our
CMS.
D
Thank
You
mayor
Walsh,
and
just
before
we
proceed
I,
just
I
promise.
I
admit
I
want
to
recognize
medical
director.
Dr.
Sofia
Dyer
was
with
us
today.
Who's
spent
plenty
of
hours
with
the
Moody's.
All
the
recruits
and
you'll
be
seen
her
a
lot
in
your
career
as
well,
and
we're
also
we
I
I
should
have
recognized
Commissioner
Dean.
F,
you
anka
from
transportation.
Who's
been
a
solid
partner
with
with
us
for
several
years
now
and
a
lot
of
the
ways
that
Monica
mentioned.
D
A
Okay,
those
who
will
be
accompanying
our
department
members
on
stage
can
join
them
as
they
stand
along
the
walkway
over
here
by
the
stairs.
Also
I
want
to
say
that
this
is
a
very
family
event.
So
if
you
want
to
come
up
here
on
this
side,
to
get
ready
for
some
pictures
of
this
group
come
on
up,
we
will
we'll
wait
for
you.
H
A
G
D
Thank
You
mayor
Walsh,
recruits
from
you
be
seated
and
I
would
now
like
to
invite
superintendent
PS
all
to
the
podium
to
assist
with
the
presentation
of
badges
when
superintendent
PSO
calls
your
name.
Please
join
us
on
stage.
I
would
also
like
to
ask
captain
SCARA
to
assist
with
the
presentation
of
certificates.
D
A
D
K
Very
exciting
day
the
former
recruits.
Now
our
newest
EMTs
were
asked
to
nominate
a
class
speaker
who
best
exemplifies
the
enthusiasm,
the
focus,
the
teamwork,
the
perseverance
and
what
it
takes
to
be
successful
in
this
Academy.
It's
my
privilege
to
introduce
one
of
our
newest
EMTs
member
Department.
They
selected
Kia,
Misha
quarrels.
L
That's
still
morning,
no
okay
good
afternoon,
I
would
like
to
start
off
by
acknowledging
mayor
Walsh,
esteemed
guests
and
friends
and
family
of
all
that
are
here
to
be
celebrated.
Today,
December
11th
was
day
one
of
the
Academy
and
at
the
time
June
11
seems
so
far
away.
But
here
we
are,
my
goal
was
to
earn
a
badge
somewhere
along
the
way.
I
earned
the
respect
of
my
classmates
and
I'm
honored
to
represent
them.
L
On
this
special
day,
I
have
lived
gone
to
school
and
worked
in
Boston
all
my
life
and
for
many
years
I
worked
as
a
vet
tech
at
a
family
and
only
clinic
it
was
there
that
I
first
learned
how
to
handle
difficult
patients
and
trust
me
I
have
the
scars
to
prove
it.
I
was
ready
for
a
change
in
one
suggestion
that
came
from
a
friend
was
becoming
an
EMT.
She
had
seen
the
Boston
EMS,
show
and
thought
it
would
be
a
good
fit.
L
So
I
did
some
recent
research
on
the
city
of
Boston
website
and
found
information
about
the
basic
EMT
course
facilitated
by
Boston
EMS.
It
turns
out
that
a
new
class
was
scheduled
to
begin
soon.
My
new
space
was
limited,
so
I
quickly
registered
in
hopes
that
I
would
get
one
of
the
coveted
spots
in
the
class.
Well,
I
got
a
spot
in
the
first
day
of
class
was
January
17th
2017
and
from
the
very
first
class
with
cap,
discarnate
I
was
hooked
and
that's
where
my
EMS
journey
began.
L
Anyone
that
has
had
the
opportunity
to
learn
from
captain
garner
who
knows
how
passionate
he
is
about
EMS
his
teaching
style
in
the
way
he
delivers
information
is
phenomenal
and
it's
hard
not
to
get
sucked
in
throughout
the
Academy.
The
moment
you
heard,
thank
god,
you're
here,
thank
god
you're
here
and
saw
him
grabbing
a
chair
to
slide
next
to
his
next
unsuspecting
victim
to
expertly
act
out
a
scenario,
your
heart
rate
immediately
skyrocketed.
L
You
then
begin
to
think
to
yourself:
please
don't
let
it
be
me
followed
by
either
phew
I'm
safe
when
he
slides
the
chair
past
you
to
some
other
poor
soul.
Oh
no!
It's
me
when
the
chair
comes
to
a
screeching
halt
beside
you.
Its
experiences
like
these
that
meet
captain
karna
and
the
academy
so
memorable
and
really
shows
how
dedicated
he
is
to
his
craft.
L
L
Several
factors
played
a
role
in
my
survival
and
getting
through
the
Academy
first
would
be
support
from
my
family
and
friends,
especially
their
brothers,
who
I
had
to
frantically
call
on
several
occasions,
because
I
forgot
some
part
of
my
uniform
and
needed
one
of
them
to
race
it
down
to
headquarters
before
7:30
you
can.
We
had
to
fall
in
the
most
memorable,
probably
being
when
I
forgot,
my
sneakers
or
PT
and
I
didn't
want
to
be
the
girl
who
had
to
workout
in
purple.
L
Uggs
sorry,
ltle,
Anderson
I
knew
you
were
looking
forward
to
watching
how
ridiculous
that
would
have
looked
if
my
sneakers
didn't
get
there
on
time,
I
think
by
about
week,
eight
I
finally
got
my
act
together
and
was
able
to
make
it
to
the
Academy
with
everything.
I
needed
second
would
be
daily
lunches
in
the
BMC
CAF,
with
Maria
Milton.
They
provided
so
much
comic
relief
last,
but
certainly
not
least,
my
Delta
Squad
mates,
Angelina
Paige,
Mike,
Kate
and
Adriana,
and
our
wonderful
squad
leader,
LF
Co
Remus.
L
L
Throughout
our
field
internship,
better
known
as
90
rounds,
we
were
able
to
work
with
and
learn
from
other
FTOs
badge
members
and
paramedics.
Looking
back,
I
know
that
I
was
lucky
enough,
my
first
round
to
have
FTO
Hickey,
as
my
preceptor,
when
I
first
met
her
I,
was
scared
to
death.
I
had
no
prior
experience
as
an
EMT,
and
she
has
this
no-nonsense
demeanor
and
demands
that
you
do
your
best
and
learn
from
your
mistakes,
the
foundation
that
she
laid
and
next
patient
expectations
is
standard.
L
She
set
for
my
partner,
Ryan
and
I
to
gain
clinical
experience
was
invaluable.
She
took
the
time
to
talk
to
us
after
each
call,
so
let
us
know
what
went
well
and
what
could
have
gone
better.
She
also
never
let
us
use
GPS
so
from
day
one.
She
had
her
showing
maps
at
different
parts
of
the
city
and
using
the
street
guide
to
learn
how
to
navigate
to
calls
thanks
to
her.
L
If,
for
some
reason,
this
doesn't
work
out,
maybe
I
can
put
my
map
drawing
skills
to
use
and
become
a
cartographer
I
carried
with
me.
What
she
taught
us
and
applied
it
to
every
round
thereafter
and
I
can't
thank
her
enough
for
her
guidance
and
the
confidence
she
instilled
in
me
to
my
classmates.
Never
stop!
Learning
and
improving,
and
always
remember
why
we
are
here.
Our
class
model
is
many
minds.
One
mission
committed
to
our
city
and
I
would
like
for
us
to
show
our
commitment
by
showing
compassion
and
kindness
every
patient
we
encounter.
L
It
cost
us
nothing
to
treat
each
and
every
person
with
kindness
and
respect
no
matter
their
situation.
I
have
no
doubt
that
we
will
have
days
when
we
feel
like
we've
run
out
of
energy
and
the
well
is
dry
and
when
it
comes
to
the
patient,
that
requires
us
to
dig
a
little
deeper
for
that
compassion
and
kindness.
L
Our
care,
each
patient
is
the
loved
one
of
someone
out
there
and
just
like
we
would
expect
and
want
our
family
members
to
be
treated
well.
Who
must
do
the
same
for
others
20
17-2?
We
did
it
and
I
couldn't
have
asked
for
a
better
group
of
individuals
to
share
this
experience
with
from
all
of
us,
I
would
like
to
say
thank
you
to
the
training,
captains,
Academy
staff,
friends,
family
and
other
support
systems
that
helped
us
to
be
successful
in
this
chapter
of
our
lives.