For Bhoumic Raval, volunteering with Montgomery EMS grew from a simple desire to give back into a meaningful commitment to his community.
Raval said the moment that inspired him came shortly after he moved to Montgomery in late 2020. When the remnants of Hurricane Ida struck the area, he saw firsthand how quickly neighbors could find themselves in need. As a new homeowner with a wife and two young children, he remembers watching the flooding unfold and realizing how important it is to have people ready to help in difficult moments.
“That became a turning point for me,” Raval said. “I would have loved to volunteer. This would be the time that I would have actually been able to help a fellow neighbor out.”
“If you can bring relief to one patient or save one patient and do the right thing for them at the right time, that one experience can fulfill all the effort and all the hard work.”
He joined Montgomery EMS as a driver and soon decided to continue his training and become an EMT. Like many volunteers, he did not come in with a medical background, but through the squad’s training and support, he gained the skills and confidence needed to serve patients in the field.
“It took a lot of studying hours,” he said. “But I was able to achieve that end goal, which was essentially to help out patients in any way.”
Balancing EMT classes with work and family life was the hardest part, Raval said. With a full-time job, a busy household, and two young children, the training period required a major commitment from the whole family. Raval is very thankful for the support and sacrifice from the whole family. Raval said, “This would not have been possible without them.” Now that he is through the classwork and on a regular shift schedule, volunteering is much easier to plan for and manage.
He also credits Montgomery EMS itself. Raval said the squad’s supportive culture has made a lasting impression, with fellow members always willing to answer questions, share their experience, and help one another grow.
For him, the rewards make the effort worthwhile.
“If you can bring relief to one patient or save one patient and do the right thing for them at the right time,” he said, “that one experience can fulfill all the effort and all the hard work.”
