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NAME: Renee C. Polak EMAIL: rcpemt@rocketmail.com OCCUPATION: EMS BIO: Imagine yourself in a situation where you are less than two minutes away from your patient, and surrounded by 5,000-30,000 people, sound interesting?? Then let me describe a little bit about myself and what I do. My name is Renee C. Polak I am 31 years old, and an EMT-Specialist (intermediate) in Michigan, where I was born and raised. I wear many different hats, and sometimes more than two at a time at the same time. My day job is your typical corporate "professional" 8a-4p Monday through Friday daily grind as a network analyst. I help build large computer networks. I got into the EMS field totally by accident (no pun intended). I have a few very good friends in the field who encouraged me to join them on the job, once I stopped passing out at the sight of blood or other body fluids. By the way, I do not do that anymore. When I was in Basic EMT class, the book and the lecture part came easy to me, the lab work and the practicals were difficult at first, then became easier as the class progressed. While attending college, I finally got around to reading the fine print in the student handbook that stated "If you have a State of Michigan license as an EMT, EMT-S, or EMT-P. Credits can be deducted from your course load." I took the school up on the fine print and I finally have my Bachelors in Business Administration in Health Services Administration in June of 97. This allowed me to graduate 1 years sooner than my former degree path in computer science. My second job is in a different, yet special area of EMS - EVENTS SERVICES is the best way I can describe it. I also sometimes have to double as security person. You may or may not see us, at a sporting event or a concert, but we are always there to help when needed. I do this type of work on a steady basis, and I get to experience some of the major events and happenings in the Detroit area. I work at Joe Louis Arena (where the Red Wings play), Tiger Stadium (home of the Detroit Tigers, and I am usually up in the bleacher creature section), plus the Fox Theatre (a neat place that you can catch a Broadway show or a concert), and 2 other venues. My third job is for a private ambulance company in the suburban metro Detroit area. I am required to pull 2 - 24 hr shifts a month, and I pick up other shifts schedule permitting. On my vacations, I choose to work the road full-time. I also teach CPR and First Aid for corporate clients, help out in EMT classes, and proctor state exams. I found out after my very first clinical that I was bitten by the EMS bug. I was hooked , BIG TIME. My first call on my first clinical was for a 9 yo asthmatic who went into respiratory arrest. Up here in Michigan, basic EMT students can ride on an ALS unit. Despite all measures, Tommy died. Later that morning, we were dispatched to a CPR in progress: this patient survived. I will always remember the feeling of being able to make a difference. I woke up the next morning wanting to more to help. Even today, I still have that feeling whether I work a nasty trauma, a simple nursing home transfer, or even drawing tiger stripes on a sobbing childs Band-Aid at the stadium. My worlds have collided more than once, and I have had to use my EMT skills more than I thought possible in the corporate world. I have even done CPR in a dress and heels at my day job on a co-worker. The experiences that I have gained through my participation as a member of the EMS system has been invaluable. It gave me courage, pride, a more definitive sense of self worth, and helped perfect my people skills which carry over into whatever hat I choose to wear.