(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Samuel Orozco, an Emergency Medical Services student at Texas State Technical College, recalled when his older brother experienced a seizure and an EMS team responded to the call for help.
“My sister called 911,” he said. “I was in awe when I saw the EMS team place my brother on a stretcher and into an ambulance. They did a great job of comforting us. I knew that’s what I wanted to do for my career.”
Orozco’s curiosity about his brother’s medical condition increased.
“(He) first experienced seizures at an early age, and they returned when he was a teenager,” Orozco said. “I wanted to learn why the seizures happened. I wanted to know why they caused a delayed learning reaction for him. It inspired me to pursue a medical career that our community could rely on.”
Orozco is studying for an Emergency Medical Services – EMT certificate of completion at TSTC’s Harlingen campus.
“Recently I completed my first semester of studies,” he said. “I was focused when I participated in the hands-on assignments and clinicals because I’m a hands-on learner.”
Ede Flores is one of Orozco’s instructors.
“Samuel demonstrates self-discipline, showing what it takes to be a skilled EMT,” Flores said. “He effectively applies skills such as splinting, bandaging and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.”
Orozco said the instructors make training exercises as realistic as possible.
“We learned not only how to put a medical manikin on a backboard, but how to secure them,” he said of a recent lab session. “Then we learned how to give a patient oxygen and how to treat them. Hopefully one day I can apply the skills I’ve learned to help my older brother.”
Besides the certificate of completion in Emergency Medical Services – EMT, TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Paramedic, as well as certificates of completion in Emergency Medical Services – Advanced EMT AEMT and Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic at the Abilene, Brownwood and Harlingen campuses.
Registration continues for the spring semester at TSTC. To learn more, go to tstc.edu.
