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Quick Clip: Can high school students handle the stress of EMS?

Hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss whether teenagers are psychologically and emotionally equipped to work as EMTs

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In this week’s Inside EMS podcast quick clip, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss whether high school students are psychologically and emotionally able to handle the stress of being an EMT.

“Are we dipping too deep into the well, all the way down to the high school age, to get people into our profession?” Grayson asked.

As part of a “put Arizona to work,” mission, students enrolled in the state’s only certified EMS high school program complete the training tuition-free.

Cebellero, who started his EMS career at age 20 in the military, said you have to ask yourself when it is you would have felt comfortable doing the job, and think about whether 16-and-17-year-olds can handle it.

“I think, depending on that individual, the answer is yes,” Cebollero said.

Grayson agreed.

I think a highschooler can successfully complete an EMT course and move on to a career in emergency medical services,” Grayson said. “But not just any teenager.”

The Inside EMS podcast is a regular expert discussion of hot topics, clinical issues, operational and leadership lessons for EMTs, paramedics and chiefs
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