When
When Caitlyn Stasny isn’t giving presentations or writing papers for class, she’s saving lives as an EMT. Read on to learn all about what it takes to be a real-life superhero.
What are you majoring in at Chatham? How did you choose it?
I am currently majoring in Criminology and in Social Services Administration. I have always wanted to help people and ensure justice is served.
What do you love most about attending Chatham?
I love the faculty and the opportunity that Chatham presents. They have special facilities dedicated to women, great travel abroad programs, and [they’re] always trying new things to expand.
When did you decide that you wanted to be an EMT?
I decided I wanted to be an EMT at 16. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to become a doctor. I decided though that I did not want to spend 20 years in school behind a desk so rather I wanted the best of both worlds, which I got from EMS.
What did the training process involve?
The training process involves about a year of school, which includes lectures, practical clinical, and emergency driving. (EVOC)
How long have you been working as an EMT?
I have been working in EMS for over 3 years now.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging part of my job is learning to let go. It is a very difficult job to not bring home. I have saved many lives, and even though I have lost few, the image still sticks in my mind and I sometimes contemplate if I could have done anything better. If you take the job home, it will eat you alive.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is the ability to save a life, make the patient smile, and provide excellent patient care as well as emotional support. EMTs see people on their worst day, and we have the ability to make it better.Â
Being an EMT must be unbelievably stressful. How do you cope with that?
Being an EMT is a very emotionally, psychically and psychologically taxing job. I cope with stress by talking with co-workers about calls, reaching out for extra emotional support, and trying to take the time for myself when I am not working or in class to do the things I love.
What type of person excels as an EMT? Are there characteristics (ex. quick-thinking) that make someone a particularly good candidate?
EMS is definitely not for everyone. Being an efficient EMT requires expert skill, organization, hand-eye coordination, the ability to think on your toes, and also the ability to lift 400lbs between you and your partner. You will not be a good EMT if you are a person that overanalyzes situations, has a mental block when viewing death, cannot properly lift (HUGE) because you have to be able to get the patient up off the ground and in the stretcher or down up to 10 flights of stairs while carrying them in a stair chair.
What advice do you have for a student who is considering becoming an EMT?
If you want to become an EMT, I would suggest a strong medical background prior to class. This could mean getting a first aid, CPR certification (You will need this upon completion of program), AED training, or simply going to Barnes & Noble and picking up an EMT book before registering for classes. As a straight-A student in high school, I struggled through some of the rigorous elements of the class.
What do you do for fun? What are your hobbies?
For fun I love going to the movies, writing, listening to music, going bowling, traveling, and finding new places to eat and make new friends. I also love skating.
What do you hope to do after graduation?
After graduation I will immediately being going into my Master’s program, more than likely for SWK or forensic science. After my Master’s I would like to begin teaching college while going for my doctorate (PhD) in Criminology or related major to become a college professor.
How has being an EMT changed your life?
EMS has changed my life in many ways I never thought possible. At the time of wanting to register for classes, I received no support even from my parents and other peers knowing what the job entails.  I did contemplate the notion at first but came to realize after being in the field that that was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. I have had the opportunity to make new friends, save lives, meet exceptional patients, and most importantly to make a difference. If I could go back and do it again, the only thing I’d change is to do it sooner.