BRYAN, Texas — During a recent emergency call, Sally Osth’s patient began to suffer a seizure. Fortunately, the Blinn College District graduate had been trained for this moment.
“It was intense but because I knew what to do, I wasn’t nervous,” she said. “You realize that you can help somebody.”
Now an emergency medical technician (EMT) in Roberston County, Osth’s path to emergency medicine was not a straight line. After earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas A&M University, the North Zulch native realized her initial focus on becoming a therapist wasn’t the right fit. With stints on a ranch in Wyoming and as a personal trainer in San Marcos, Osth eventually returned to her roots and sought a career where she could make a direct impact helping others.
“I really feel like I want to do meaningful work in my life. I want to feel like I’m making a difference,” she said.
Osth chose Blinn’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program to help her with her goals by first becoming an EMT and then earning her Paramedic Technology Certificate.
“I knew Blinn had a really good program. I wanted to get a comprehensive experience because if I’m going to do something, I want to do it right,” she said. “The program is more intensive, but it’s worth it because your patients are worth it. If you want to be a good medic, you come to Blinn.”
Based at the RELLIS Academic Alliance Complex at Texas A&M-RELLIS in Bryan, Blinn’s EMS Program offers both EMT and paramedic training to equip students with the tools to tackle real-life emergency situations. Students utilize the facility’s 16,000-square-foot simulation laboratories and clinical rotations to hone their skills.
“I have worked harder than I ever thought I could,” said Osth. “It’s been really exciting to learn that about myself and know I’m capable.”
Blinn’s Paramedic Program includes basic and clinical emergency medical technician training, emergency pharmacology, clinical emergency medical services, trauma management, cardiology, medical emergencies, and EMS operations. Graduates can earn their paramedic technology certificate or Associate of Applied Science in Emergency Medical Services, which qualifies them for entry-level paramedic positions and can be applied toward a bachelor’s degree. Program graduates are prepared for certification or licensure by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) and the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Students who complete the program have numerous employment opportunities and options to continue their education.
“EMS opens so many doors in the healthcare field and also beyond,” Osth said.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, paramedics earn a median salary of $49,090 and Texas has the highest employment level for paramedics in the United States. Graduates who pass their certification and licensure exams are eligible to work in the ambulance service industry, local governments, outpatient care centers, and hospitals.
Now that she has completed the Paramedic Technology Program, Osth plans to relocate to North Carolina to join her fiancé, who is in the Marines. The adaptability of the profession is another benefit Osth sees in becoming a paramedic.
“Once you have your paramedic certificate, you have so many opportunities. My fiancé is in the military so we’ll be moving around a lot and it gives me peace of mind that I can work no matter where we move,” Osth said.
Although leaving the close relationships she formed with her classmates is bittersweet, Osth is ready for her next adventure utilizing the skills she gained at Blinn to save lives.
“It’s exciting when you feel like you’re actually helping somebody in a really acute, upfront way,” she said. “That’s what gets me coming back every time.”
For more information about Blinn’s EMS Program, visit www.blinn.edu/emergency-medical-services.
