BACKGROUND: Lara has been an EMT with the Killingworth Ambulance Association the past 18 years,. She joined shortly after marrying in 2000 and moving to Killingworth with her husband Todd, who’s an EMR with the KAA and Killingworth Volunteer Fire Company. The two have two children, a daughter who’s a freshman at Haddam-Killingworth High School and a son in first grade.

Q: You’re raising two children. What made this job attractive to you?

HAJEK: Volunteering, firemen and EMS run in my family. So, that kind of got me into it. Plus, I’ve always wanted to do something to help the community and help the public. Killingworth is a small, unique community where everybody knows your name whether you’re at the schools, at other functions or the restaurants in town. So it’s kind of nice to see familiar faces, especially when you go to people’s houses. I think that gives them a little bit of comfort having a familiar face there to comfort them.

Q: You’ve been doing this a long time. Any memorable experiences?

HAJEK: I have a couple. My very first one, riding as a third, was a 16-year-old who hit a tree (with his vehicle). We ended up having to LIFE STAR him. LIFE STAR (which is a critical-care helicopter service) landed in Sheldon Park, and I saw the father come in, saw the father very upset and I saw the son take off in the helicopter. And I was like: “I can’t do this. This is too emotional for me.” But I was told, “You’re only human. Situations like this are going to be emotional.” Fortunately, he was OK and came through the injuries. The second was actually a gunshot in town, and I was very nervous getting there. Because you don’t know what you’re going to see. But it wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected. Those are the types of memorable things that stick with you, as well as the elderly folks who tend to grab your heart. There’s quite a bit that you remember.

Q: Would you recommend this to others?

HAJEK: I would. If you’re someone who likes to pay it forward and do things for the community … do nice things for people … it’s definitely very rewarding. Extremely rewarding. Because it’s not a day-to-day job. You do it because you want to.

Q: A leading question, but … do you consider yourself better because of it?

HAJEK: I think so because I look at things differently.

Q: You’re active with the KAA, and your husband is an EMR with the KAA and KVFC. With two children at home, can’t that create some logistical problems when the two of you get calls?

HAJEK: At one time my husband and I had to keep swapping (responding to calls) because they (the children) couldn’t stay by themselves. But now my daughter is old enough to baby sit, so we’re partners together. He drives, which is great. Because, to me, it’s showing them volunteerism and helping the community. So I feel like I’m teaching them a lesson.

Q: Did anyone convince you to do this?

HAJEK: My dad and my brother. My brother-in-law. My husband. Actually, my mother-in-law was a volunteer here for many years. They didn’t convince me, but it piqued my interest. And I’m very glad it did.

BACKGROUND: Stephanie, 23, has lived in Killingworth her entire life. She attended Haddam-Killingworth High School, graduated from there in 2014 and gained her degree in allied health science from the University of Connecticut after spending one semester of her freshman year at Florida Gulf Coast University. She has been accepted into UConn’s accelerated nursing school and will begin classes in January, 2020.

Q: Why did you decide on becoming on EMT?

NIXON: I wanted go to PA (Physician’s Assistant) school, so that’s what got me into EMT. You need a lot of experience to get into PA school. I decided that I love emergency medicine, and I’ve always wanted to work in the ER. So I figured becoming an EMT would be the best stepping stone … and I knew a number of people who were doing that. So I took my classes at Middlesex (Community College), and I really, really loved them. One of our classmates was diabetic, and she collapsed in the class. So we actually were first responders at the beginning. Basically, from that moment on I knew this is what I wanted to do.

Q: But you’re headed off to UConn next year?

NIXON: In this journey I actually  decided that nursing was a better position for me so I got accepted into UConn’s accelerated nursing school, starting in January. So that’s going to be a year, but I’ll get my second bachelor’s (degree), and it will be in nursing.

Q: So they’re going to lose you here?

NIXON: For a little bit. But after that I’ll be coming back. I want to continue to do it.

Q:: What’s the best part of being an EMT?

NIXON: Just being there for people in their scariest moments. I’ve always worked with customers. I was in retail, and I always liked being helpful. But it never felt like it was enough. Whereas here in people’s most vulnerable moments, you’re there to help them, offer some comfort and do the best work you can for people in their most important moments.

Q: And the most challenging part?

NIXON: Sometimes the overnights are hard because it’s hard to get up. But once you’re up you’re ready to go.

Q: Would you recommend it to others?

NIXON: Definitely. It’s great experience if you want to go into the medical field. You get first-hand experience, and, honestly, you help change lives for the better.

Q: Is there anything unique about the KAA that drew you here?

NIXON: The school system is what gave me my strong academics and my love for medicine. I remember my anatomy class is what made me fall in love with the human body and how it works. And we are such a small town. Everybody knows each other. So it feels good that I can help give back to a community that helped raise me.

BACKGROUND: Jordan, 20, recently became an EMT after taking a break from her studies at the University of Connecticut where she is majoring in animal science. She grew up in Deep River, attended Valley Regional High School and is one of two girls in her family. She has a younger sister currently going to Valley.

Q: You’re from Deep River, yet you’re working with the Killingworth Ambulance Association. Why?

WHITE: I’ve known Mike and Marguerite (Haaga, members of the KAA board of directors and EMT instructors) for awhile, and there’s a young woman who used to work here who brought me here. She’s part of the reason why I’m doing this. Plus, it’s pretty convenient. It’s close to where I live.

Q: Why did you want to become an EMT?

WHITE: Basically just to help people. I’ve always looked up to people who are emergency responders and put other people first.

Q: Was there an incident or first-hand experience that influenced you?

WHITE: A couple of years ago my Mom passed out at her house, and we had no idea why. She ended up having a heart issue, and the EMTs that came were actually people we knew. They were very quick. They were very fast to respond. And they got her to the hospital as quickly as they could. That’s the reason.

Q: Any advice for persons interested in becoming EMTs?

WHITE: Study hard. The course is long, but if it’s something you think you want to do it’s worth it to go through the classes. There are a lot of great people here.

Q: Is this something you envision doing indefinitely?

WHITE: I think so, yeah. I obviously haven’t had a ton of experience yet, but once I get out there I feel I’m definitely going to love it.

BACKGROUND: Lisa grew up in Madison, where she raised her two children, now 37 and 36 years of age. She attended Daniel Hand High School and Post College in Waterbury and, after serving as a legal assistant, recently was named Clinton’s assistant town clerk. Lisa is one of four EMTs who recently joined the KAA after passing exams this winter.

Q: What made you decide to be an EMT at this stage of your life?

BARBOUR: I’ve always wanted to learn the EMT skills. My kids are grown, and now I want to be able to give back to the community. For instance, I’ve volunteered in hospice. I just like it. I really love helping people, and If I can help somebody get out of bad situation or just be there to assist people in everyday life. That was my main goal.

Q: But you were raised in Madison. So why Killingworth?

BARBOUR: One, they were offering a class. And, two, I heard this class is a very good one and that the instructors were very well versed.

Q: The latest class of EMTs here is all female … of a variety of ages … and of a variety of backgrounds. That’s a little bit unusual.

BARBOUR: It was kind of unique that it was all females. Normally, when you think of EMTs, and you see the shows on TV, it’s mostly male. Because they figure females can’t, maybe, lift as much or can’t function as well physically as a male.

Q: But you made it after months of instruction and a challenging exam.

BARBOUR: It was definitely challenging. I called my kids and told them I was taking the class. And some nights I would call them and say, ‘Why am I doing this again?’ Just because I’ve been out of school so long and that coming back and doing this was difficult. It’s like you’re learning all over again after being out of school.