Captain Safety Gets Certified or, make your dreams a reality

While this may be hard for some of you to believe, in the early ’90s I had visions of being a police officer. In fact, I even took a two-year community college course with that goal in mind. No, really, I actually thought I’d enjoy being a cop! Part way through the course, however, I realized it just wasn’t for me. Although I finished the course, I left behind the idea of policing while I drifted from job to job to job.

What I never really let go of–though certainly ignored for many years–were the motivations behind my desire to join the thin blue line. I wanted to affect real, positive change in people’s lives. I wanted a job in a highly stimulating environment where I could be in the middle of the shit. Nearly twenty years later, I’ve finally returned to that quest. I have found my calling; emergency pre-hospital care.

Several years ago, my friend Alison casually asked if I’d like to take a Wilderness Advanced First Aid class with her. Considering how much and where I ride, I figured it would be a good idea. That decision changed my life. I instantly discovered a passion–and knack–for emergency health care.

Since that initial first aid course, I’ve pursued more training as well as volunteering with St John Ambulance in Burlington, ON and Terlingua Fire & EMS(TFEMS) here in Big Bend, TX. This time last year I was challenged by my TFEMS colleagues to enrol in an Emergency Medical Technician(EMT) course being offered locally; basically, an entry-level paramedic position.

The course was a lot of hard work and the National Registry exam demoralizingly tough, but early last summer I became a US nationally certified EMT. Just one final hurdle stood before me: I needed to get my Texas Department of State Health Services EMT certification before I could actually practice in Texas. While it should have been just a paperwork formality, as a Canadian trying to volunteer in the United States, the bureaucracy was nearly insurmountable.

I say nearly because after trips to Austin, El Paso and Alpine, after all sorts of paperwork and e-mails, after help from many kind people, I can proudly say that as of yesterday I am a US and Texas State certified Emergency Medical Technician! I even ran a call yesterday evening, just to set it in stone.
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Now, you may be saying to yourself “Alex, none of this has anything to do with cycling.” I would argue it has everything to do with cycling.(it’s also my blog, so I can do what I want)

My becoming an EMT really is about chasing life-long(though often ignored or forgotten) goals. It’s about working hard and suffering. It’s also about self-discovery. Cycling has taken me to places I’ve always wanted to see and many more I never knew existed. Cycling has brought so many wonderful people in to my life. Most importantly, cycling has given my life renewed purpose….just like being an EMT.

So, I challenge you dear friend…to challenge yourself. Take a class, climb a mountain, enter a race, change careers, learn an instrument, ask out that cute person you see on the bus every morning. Whatever it might be, just don’t wait till tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come. Then again, it’s never too late to chase your dreams…