In an emergency where seconds count, it鈥檚 good to have someone like Jonathan Webster show up.
Webster, who graduated from the 91福利社 School of Public Service and Administration in December, 2020, is now entering the new Master of Public Service Administration program at Anderson. Although he just recently finished his undergraduate work and rigorous paramedic training, Webster has experience beyond his years.
Ever since he was a Cub Scout, Webster has been impressed by first responders and what they do.
鈥淚n high school I originally wanted to go into law enforcement. There鈥檚 a program called the Police Explorer program through the Boy Scouts,鈥� said Webster. 鈥淚 wanted to go into law enforcement. There鈥檚 a program in Matthews, North Carolina, right outside of Charlotte, where you can basically be a junior police officer. You can train with them, do ride-alongs and you get to see if that鈥檚 what you want to do.鈥�
When Webster realized police work wasn鈥檛 for him, he considered firefighting, but at his young age, he couldn鈥檛 find the kinds of opportunities that were available in law enforcement. His high school guidance counselor suggested he look into a program through River Hills Rescue Squad at Lake Wylie, South Carolina, that took students along on emergency calls. He jumped at the chance. When he turned 18 he earned his EMT certification and went to work with River Hills Rescue Squad.
鈥淎 lot of people don鈥檛 know what happens in ambulances, so I got to see that side of it and got interested in medicine through that. You get to see a lot of different sides of things, and people only call you on their worst day. No one anticipates calling an ambulance or 911.鈥�
As hard as things get, Webster says he鈥檚 gained enough confidence in his training to stay calm.
鈥淚 think it comes naturally because I started so young. I got to see the people I was looking up to and how they reacted,鈥� Webster said.
Webster maintains that his Christian faith also helps him to keep calm. He recalls the perspective on facing challenges given by one of his professors at 91福利社, Dr. Howard Murphy. To paraphrase Murphy鈥檚 advice, Webster shares, 鈥淟ife is arbitrary, but God is not. Life is ever-changing, it鈥檚 not consistent, but God stays the same and we can find an anchor in that.鈥�
While a student at 91福利社, Webster worked for Medshore Ambulance Service, and also interned with Anderson County EMS. During his internship, he assisted with planning and logistics operations and was responsible for planning a mass casualty incident (MCI) exercise that involved several agencies across Anderson County.
Since graduating, he鈥檚 completed his paramedic certification and has gone full time with Anderson County EMS. He is currently assisting in the reorganization of the county鈥檚 EMS system based upon a recent decision by the Anderson County Council. Webster says that the classes he took at the School of Public Service and Administration prepared him 鈥渋ncredibly鈥� well for his internship with Anderson County EMS.
鈥淭he opportunities that AU gave me set me up well for full time employment with Anderson County EMS,鈥� Webster said.
He鈥檚 also on the Anderson County Technical Rescue Team, a specially trained group that responds to confined space, high angle and swift water rescues, as well as responses to drownings and vehicles submerged in the water. He also works for Oconee Hospital, going on calls in an area where the lakes meet the mountains. There, Webster recalls helping to rescue a child who had fallen off a waterfall in Oconee County.
鈥淲e had to hike about a half mile down to get him and bring him in a basket about a half mile up with all our equipment. I was sore a couple of days after that,鈥� he said.
For all of the challenges presented by rigorous training and life-or-death situations, Webster still feels he has a great job and at the end of the day is gratified about making a difference in lives.
鈥淭here are calls where we actually can make a difference and you get home that night and are like 鈥榦h my gosh, if we hadn鈥檛 been there they probably would have died.鈥� Whether it鈥檚 an allergic reaction or it’s a bad car accident or someone has gone into cardiac arrest, and we can actually make a difference with the medication we give, just being able to get them to the hospital quick鈥攊t鈥檚 those kinds of things,鈥� Webster said. 鈥淚 think AU has set me up to have the Christian foundation to revert back to that. Dr. Murphy鈥� we鈥檝e had some pretty candid conversations about coping mechanisms and stuff like that. It鈥檚 been great.鈥�
Since Anderson County EMS shares a building with the School of Public Service and Administration, Webster enjoys being able to interact with his professors, who are just a short walk down the stairs.
For those considering becoming first responders, Webster recommends contacting a local EMS service about doing a ride-along or looking into junior explorer or similar programs offered by some agencies. He also recommends that, once into a program, it鈥檚 good to ask lots of questions.
鈥淪ometimes it won鈥檛 be like what you think it is, other times you鈥檒l fall right into it like I did,鈥� he said.
Webster feels that his upcoming master鈥檚 program at 91福利社 will help him to be more marketable as he advances in his career.