HERO PROFILE: AVFD's EMT Crystal Richmond

Crystal Richmond not only wants to save lives but wants YOU to save lives as well. Richmond, who is a EMS volunteer, is planning to teach local residents how to save lives this fall. She will be teaching CPR, AED, Choking and Child/Infant CPR at the Crofton Branch Library.

The University of Maryland student volunteers with the AVFD but learned her skills in upstate New York before moving to the Crofton area two years ago. “My goal is to be able to help progress EMS systems nationwide,” said Richmond. 

To accomplish her goals she is studying for a Bachelor Degree in Emergency Health Services-Paramedic.

“I will be attending graduate school next fall to pursue an MS degree at UMBC as well as in Emergency Health Services-Administration, Planning and Policy,” she added.

“I think that community education and outreach is a big part of EMS.  In areas out west, such as outside of Seattle, survival rates of sudden cardiac arrests are the highest in the nation. This is partially due to bystanders who are trained in CPR and AED usage and can provide resuscitation efforts until EMS providers arrive and transport the patient to the hospital,” she explained.

According to the American Red Cross sudden cardiac arrest claims the lives of more than 166,000 people in this country every year. This means that 94-percent of people who suffer sudden cardiac arrest die before reaching a hospital. If ordinary people act immediately with CPR and use an AED, instead of waiting for help to arrive, it is estimated that many thousands of lives can be saved every year.

When asked about the best part of being a volunteer she responded “I love what I do. The best part is being able to help people in a time of need. I also enjoy being able to educate the public on EMS. The worst part of the job is treating a patient to the best of your ability, but due to the circumstances of the incident or their illness they still do not make it. It is difficult on these days, but it helps to make you stronger as a provider.”

She continued “I heard AVFD was a very volunteer-friendly station. It was also close to where I live. It really is a big family. I enjoy how everyone at the station works together to serve the community. People make you feel at home, and they help each other when one another are in need,” she says.

The class is free and will be held in the community rooms at the Crofton Public Library. For information and registration email avfdcpr@gmail.com  Below are the dates/times:

Saturday 11/12/2011  1-4 p.m.

Saturday 11/19/2011  1-4 p.m.

Wednesday  1/11/2012  5:30-8:30 p.m.

Saturday  1/21/2012  1:30-4:30 p.m.

Wednesday  2/8/2012  5:30-8:30 p.m.

Saturday  2/18/2012  1-5 p.m.