USD Student Gives Back to Vermillion Community as EMT, Firefighter
“To me, this award helps me see what difference my co-workers and I are able to make in the community and how we can make it a better place," said McNaughton, who received the award in December 2023.
Growing up, McNaughton, a criminal justice major, said influences in her life inspired her to become involved with a local fire and EMS department. She also took an emergency medical technician (EMT) course her senior year of high school and discovered it was something she was passionate about.
“Throughout the course I decided that I really enjoyed it and would like to continue it as a job, so when I came to college, I decided to apply to the Vermillion Fire EMS Department,” McNaughton said. “Here, I met and have the opportunity to work with people who are patient and willing to help me learn, which further encourages me to become more involved with the organization.”
“Being a part of this organization has been a positive experience for me,” said McNaughton. “We are a close-knit family who takes care of each other and strives to make the community a better place.”
We asked the USD student about her role as an EMT and how it’s preparing her for a career in law enforcement, and this is what she had to say.
Can you tell us about your responsibilities as a volunteer for the Vermillion Fire EMS Department?
Some of my EMS responsibilities include responding to emergencies, providing care and treatments for patients and safely transporting them to the hospital. As a firefighter, I also respond to a number of fire calls. Responsibilities that come with this include both fire and rescue calls. Fire calls can include fire alarms, car fires, structure fires and signs of smoke.
We also respond to rescue calls, which can include a variety of experiences such as structural collapses, vehicle crashes, hazmat responses, and trench and grain bin rescues, just to name a few.
Why is it important for you to give back to your community as an EMT/firefighter?
It’s important to give back to the community because we have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of others and set an example for those trying to follow in our footsteps. The community can also give back to you when you are in a time of need.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from your experience with the Vermillion Fire EMS Department?
The biggest lessons I can take away from working at the fire department would be to be patient, calm and kind. We often work in high-stress situations where we need to be cool, calm and collected to try and lower the level of stress for everyone involved. We also need to be patient as only a few things can happen simultaneously, many times where there is a process. This includes talking to patients and coworkers, EMS treatments, and techniques and equipment used by firefighters for both fires and rescues. We also need to be kind to everyone around us because there are often things happening that we are unaware of.
How has your time at USD prepared you to get involved in the community?
My time at USD has encouraged me to become involved by allowing me to meet and get to know others who are also involved with the community. Knowing and joining them with these activities inspired me to become involved.
After you graduate, what’s next?
My future plans include finding a job in law enforcement, along with keeping my current fire and EMT certifications up to date. My community involvement and experiences at USD are helping me reach my goals by giving me real-life experience, information needed for these jobs and connections with people I would otherwise not have.
