Sid is a dedicated and passionate Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Cadet that has been serving his community for the past two years. Helping others in the medical field is not new to Sid’s family, as his grandfather, an Anesthesiologist, and close family are contributing members. Inspired by his dad’s initiative to join and serve for MEMS as a driver, Sid decided he also wanted to help the Montgomery community in whatever way he could. Therefore, as soon as Sid turned 16, he applied and joined the MEMS cadet program. Within a few months, he began the EMT certification process, and by the following summer, he was enrolled at the Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy. After completing the rigorous 210-hour EMT certification course and passing all of the national, written, and skills exams, Sid was given the title of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
With the certification in hand, he began picking up whatever shifts were available and learned as much as he could through the skilled and experienced members of the squad. Sid says, “Some of the things that I have learned as an EMT-Cadet is that patient care extends beyond just proper medical treatment, as emotional support and empathy are just as important as tending to one’s physical complications. Likewise, I have also learned that clear communication is critical while working in an ever-changing and spontaneous emergency medicine environment, as it can nearly make up 70% of a call.” Ultimately, these lessons and many others have solidified Sid’s passion for pursuing a future within the medical field, and he hopes to use these lessons to develop as a better EMT and person.
“Emotional support and empathy are just as important as tending to one’s physical complications.”
Over the course of his time at Montgomery EMS, Sid has responded to nearly 100 calls and has volunteered over 600 hours. Through MEMS, he has formed a deeper connection to Montgomery in a way he had never imagined. Whether assisting the boy scouts with obtaining their emergency badges, helping out at the food pantry, doing standbys at the football games, or setting up for blood drives, Montgomery EMS has shown him the importance of volunteerism and the positive impact it can have within a community.
When Sid is not on shift, he dedicates his time to developing and building his AED-Equipped Drone, a project for his iSTEM investigation class at Montgomery High School. His goal is to decrease the time it takes for a person to receive an AED while undergoing a cardiac arrest. Through the knowledge and experiences gained as an EMT, Sid hopes to successfully finish his project and implement it to advance the field of emergency medicine.
Sid is currently in his senior year of high school and will graduate this coming spring. He hopes to continue his EMS endeavors at the college he attends next fall. Overall, joining this organization has done so much for him these past two years that he encourages anyone seeking to volunteer to join their local EMS squad, as it is an “enriching experience which provides many opportunities for personal and professional growth.”
