Other worlds, other lives: Student on call for emergency medical runs; remains poised during school hours
"One thing that always sticks with you is your first full-out cardiac arrest"
Liz Klimas
Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: Focus
Adrenaline pumped as he pulled onto the work site, with a paramedic in the ambulance beside him.
The call came from Litchfield, Mich., where a man injured himself during winter 2007. By the time junior Noah Bernhardson arrived on the scene, the man's leg lay broken from the steel beam.
Since age 17, Bernhardson has worked as an emergency medical technician and full-time student.
"At first I thought, 'Oh cool, I get to play with lights and sirens,'" he said. "As I got more and more into it, I began to understand and appreciate why we are doing what we are doing. It is why I want to become a doctor: to help other people."
Bernhardson recently completed his training as an intermediate level EMT and can perform in certain emergencies without supervision.
"I am not nervous to respond [to an emergency call] by myself," said Bernhardson. "I have been trained in many worst case scenarios. I know I can make decisions in critical situations and live with them."
He participates in situations many of his medical school bound peers only dream of experiencing, he said.
"One thing that always sticks with you is your first full-out cardiac arrest," which happened while he worked in an EMT shadowing program in Wichita, Kan., Bernhardson said. "I was surprised when I got to the scene I was calm and able to do what I had to do."
Bernhardson's father Paul Bernhardson is a pediatrician and said he is proud to see his son serving others.
"As a father, having my kid find something he is interested in and pursue it is great," Bernhardson said. "He has seen others serve and he wants to do that himself. I am proud he is gaining experience in the field he is interested in."
He helps patients with everything from toothaches to gun-shot wounds, he said.
Bernhardson anticipates calls all hours of the day, including school hours, but has not been called out of class yet. The hours vary from week to week, and sometimes calls don't come
at all, he said.
In addition to his EMT service, Bernhardson studies biology and history, serves as the head lifeguard, belongs to Sigma Chi fraternity, plays viola in the orchestra, and works as secretary of Student Federation.
"I don't think every second of my day is filled up and I do take time to hang out and relax," he said. "I am involved in a lot but I think I am living college life to the fullest. I thrive on more work than not, but a personal day doesn't hurt."
"You need to understand there is only so much you can do and at the end of the day you have to go on with your life," he said.
"Otherwise you get burned out and can't be as good of a provider next time," he said. "If you make a big mistake, learn big from your mistake."
The call came from Litchfield, Mich., where a man injured himself during winter 2007. By the time junior Noah Bernhardson arrived on the scene, the man's leg lay broken from the steel beam.
Since age 17, Bernhardson has worked as an emergency medical technician and full-time student.
"At first I thought, 'Oh cool, I get to play with lights and sirens,'" he said. "As I got more and more into it, I began to understand and appreciate why we are doing what we are doing. It is why I want to become a doctor: to help other people."
Bernhardson recently completed his training as an intermediate level EMT and can perform in certain emergencies without supervision.
"I am not nervous to respond [to an emergency call] by myself," said Bernhardson. "I have been trained in many worst case scenarios. I know I can make decisions in critical situations and live with them."
He participates in situations many of his medical school bound peers only dream of experiencing, he said.
"One thing that always sticks with you is your first full-out cardiac arrest," which happened while he worked in an EMT shadowing program in Wichita, Kan., Bernhardson said. "I was surprised when I got to the scene I was calm and able to do what I had to do."
Bernhardson's father Paul Bernhardson is a pediatrician and said he is proud to see his son serving others.
"As a father, having my kid find something he is interested in and pursue it is great," Bernhardson said. "He has seen others serve and he wants to do that himself. I am proud he is gaining experience in the field he is interested in."
He helps patients with everything from toothaches to gun-shot wounds, he said.
Bernhardson anticipates calls all hours of the day, including school hours, but has not been called out of class yet. The hours vary from week to week, and sometimes calls don't come
at all, he said.
In addition to his EMT service, Bernhardson studies biology and history, serves as the head lifeguard, belongs to Sigma Chi fraternity, plays viola in the orchestra, and works as secretary of Student Federation.
"I don't think every second of my day is filled up and I do take time to hang out and relax," he said. "I am involved in a lot but I think I am living college life to the fullest. I thrive on more work than not, but a personal day doesn't hurt."
"You need to understand there is only so much you can do and at the end of the day you have to go on with your life," he said.
"Otherwise you get burned out and can't be as good of a provider next time," he said. "If you make a big mistake, learn big from your mistake."
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