High school students in Pflugerville, Texas, are getting a head start on emergency medical careers with hands-on EMT and firefighter training through a unique partnership, FOX 7 Austin reports. Pflugerville ISD's initiative, backed by the Pflugerville Community Development Corporation and the Texas Workforce Commission, equips students with critical skills that go beyond CPR basics.
At Hendrickson High School's health science program, students don't just learn about first response, they engage in emergency drills that prepare them for real-world crises and they get to know the inside of an ambulance, how to manage equipment—and the kind of details that build confidence in high-pressure situations. "This lab is to let them learn all about the ambulance, what goes in it, how to get in and out of it, it's the silly things that make you feel very, not very confident when you go into these situations," Shay Haude, an EMT instructor at Pflugerville ISD, told FOX 7 Austin.
Moreover, the program is not a solitary endeavor, as experienced Travis County ESD medics also contribute to the educational process. Ava Roberts, a health science student, emphasized the benefits of learning from professionals, saying, "They can step in because they also know that it can help us learn new skills, and then it's easier because you're not all throwing questions at one person," in an interview with FOX 7 Austin.
Students who complete this training emerge from high school not only with knowledge but with their EMT certification in hand, ready to join the workforce—as exemplified by Hannah Remus, now an AMR employee, who shared her experience saying, "Usually, they say I make them feel old because I'm only 18 and starting out fresh in the workforce, straight out of high school, most people start at like 20 because they have to go get their certification after high school, a lot of them are just like they wish they had that in my high school," according to FOX 7 Austin. Additionally, financial barriers are minimized, as Haude mentioned, the only cost to students is their boots; the school covers certification and uniform expenses.
For those interested in joining the health science pathway and getting a jump on a medical services career, Pflugerville ISD encourages students to consult their counselors. This program serves to not only carve early careers for young individuals but also to strengthen community emergency services by fostering new talent, as depicted in coverage on The Australian.
