Emergency medical services are provided everywhere in the world.
Pafford Coahoma County EMS Operations Manager/Chief Paramedic Randy Murry told Coahoma County Jr./Sr. High School students just that when speaking with school resource officer Stephen James’ freshman law enforcement and safety class last month.
Students had the opportunity to learn about how things work when Pafford EMS ambulances and helicopters arrive in emergency situations.
Murry and NR paramedic Jaleesa Coleman spoke to the students in the classroom and then showed students an ambulance. Certified flight nurse Kody Cannady, certified flight paramedic Kimberly Becklehimer and pilot Kyle Rodgers showed a helicopter that landed on the grass in front of the school.
“There is not one place in the world that doesn’t have emergency services,” Murry said. “There is not one place in the world that does not have an ambulance service. So we provide free hospital services.”
The ambulance takes the sick to the emergency room.
“The little statement I like to use is we bring the ER to the patient,” Murry said. “We are the first line of defense when you or somebody you know or somebody in the community is sick or injured. We kick off that emergency process.”
Murry broke down the different careers for students.
He said emergency medical responders’ duties are to get to and from locations safely. He added that requires minimal training, but there is ambulance training and the pay is $30,000 to $35,000 a year.
Murry said an EMT basic is also a driver, but the person has life support experience. It requires going to school for one semester, passed the course and the state test. The pay is $40,000 to $45,000 a year.
He said an advanced EMT is a step above EMT basic. It is between an EMT basic and paramedic. It also requires a semester of school, but with additional courses. The pay is $45,000 to $48,000 a year.
He said an EMT paramedic is an 18-month to two-year program and the pay is usually $65,000 to $77,000 a year.
“You need to get yourself in something that’s going to be reliable and something that isn’t going anywhere,” Murry said.
Murry said being a paramedic means having a stable career and job security. He is a then-Coahoma Agricultural High School graduate and will be in his eighth year as a paramedic in July.
“I was 18,” Murry said. “I knew I didn’t like school. I hated the classroom, the sitting there. You know how some people say they’re going to go off and be lawyers and doctors and all that stuff. I just laughed at them.”
Murry set his sights high and attained his goal. He urged kids to do the same.
