For George F. Baker senior Jimi Reedy, saving lives doesn’t feel like work.
In eighth grade, Jimi joined the Tuxedo Volunteer Ambulance Youth Corps as a way to accrue community service hours for his National Junior Honor Society requirement. He quickly found that it was more than a pastime. “Helping people made me feel good - it gave me a purpose”, Jimi explained. He says being in the Youth Corps also gave him the opportunity to meet people that he might not have otherwise.
Jimi enrolled in a three-month course this past summer to become a Certified EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) in order to further his knowledge and increase his involvement at the TVAC. “Class didn't feel mundane so it almost feels wrong to call it class,” he says. Studying for the practical exam found him practicing how to splint arms and legs, administer CPR, and provide oxygen therapy, all with people he now calls lifelong friends.
Jimi received his NYS EMT certification on September 23, 2023, and now that it's official, he is excited to be the person in charge when a call comes in to Tuxedo EMS. As an EMT, he will now be the lead when a patient requires CPR, needs their blood glucose level tested, or has an injury that needs splinting.
During a recent game of football, Reedy’s friend collapsed from a sudden impact. He quickly jumped into EMT mode. ““Once I saw him hit the ground, I knew something wasn’t right.” His training had prepared him for a moment like this. He performed a pulse, motor, sensory (PMS) assessment and determined the issue was isolated in the knee, which had suffered a previous injury. While he didn’t drive him via ambulance, Jimi insisted his friend seek follow-up medical care.
School Counselor Chris Oliva says that Jimi is an impressive young man, whose school and community involvement is remarkable. “It is always heartening to see young people taking an active role in bettering their community. Jimi should be proud of himself for taking on this challenge and successfully completing the rigorous training required to become a certified EMT. Not only has he gained valuable skills and knowledge, but he has also shown a deep desire to make a positive impact in his community and beyond.”
Jimi plans to major in biology in college, with the intent of attending medical school. But he insists you don’t need to be interested in the medical field to find being an EMT fulfilling. “You meet very good people, and there are great lessons to be learned. Regardless if you are going into medicine, lifesaving skills are valuable skills to have”.