Emergency Medical Technician Tishana Douglas had a different career goal in mind when she completed secondary school. Though she is now doing a job she loves, she said it was ordained for her, rather than something she chose.
Douglas began her journey in 2017 with the Guyana Fire Service (GFS). After she graduated secondary school, her dad asked her if she would follow in the footsteps of her older sister and become a nurse. She instead expressed interest in pursuing a career as an immigration officer saying “I like the way they dress, very neatly and put together”. With encouragement from her family she did the immigration officer test and passed. However, she was not offered a placement after the examination.
Feeling down and out, Douglas moved on to the Georgetown Technical Institute (GTI) where she pursued Mechanical Engineering. She is the holder of a heavy-duty operating license and motor repair certificate. She also excelled in sports like cricket during her time in school.
During her time at GTI, she was offered work study and her placement of choice was the GFS. Although she received some push back from her colleagues, this did not deter her efforts and she was eventually picked to pursue studies in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and firefighting.
“EMS wasn’t something to bounce back on, but rather a gift to me,” Douglas said when asked what inspired her to join. “EMS has taught me a lot: to be compassionate, empathetic and the most valuable thing for me in this profession is about saving lives. Saving lives is my thing.”
Now 28 years old, Douglas said her biggest joy is when families of past patients see her and share their appreciation for her help in saving their relatives’ lives. “Sometimes I don’t even remember who they’re talking about, because we would see so many patients,” she said. “But it makes me happy to know that they remembered me.”
She expressed that there were times where she lost patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital. “There are times where you would cry and not want to do it anymore,” she said.
“This field has shown me nothing but love and I can clearly say that EMS is something that I will be in for the rest of my life.”
Douglas said that being an Emergency Medical Technician is not about the money for her. “I got into it head on; did not have a clue about what I’m about to do but eventually as time progressed I developed a love for this job”.
She did admit that at times it was difficult working a 24-hour schedule and managing a personal life.
Scholarship
On September 13, 2022, she was notified by Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham that he received an email requesting permission for her to be part of a selective tuition-free scholarship for a paramedic programme. “I was ecstatic and surprised all at once due to the fact no such scholarship was ever offered to a Guyanese student,” she said. This scholarship will allow her to spearhead the growth and development of the EMS in Guyana and create new ventures for her colleagues.
“Being in this field and programme also currently in Trinidad will give me a better chance of learning how to save lives and get stuff changed within Guyana’s EMS… It would allow for me to teach my fellow EMTs new stuff thereby giving them a better chance at saving lives in the prehospital setting,” she said. “I believe a country’s greatest investment is its people.”
Her scholarship took effect in January 2023 she has since been learning new techniques and procedures to enhance her EMT skills. She plans to return to Guyana and help her fellow colleagues build their skill sets in relation to the job as well.
“Other EMTs have already started reaching out to find out how they too can be part of the programme… I know I won’t be the only EMT to leave and further my studies in relation to this field,” she said.
Douglas shared that some EMTs aren’t even aware of the opportunities out there that are available for them. Just like she was at one point.
She said that taking on the scholarship has taken a lot from her; it has shown her that it will make her uncomfortable before she is comfortable. Douglas worked with the GFS for six years, and taking up the opportunity required her to resign from her post.
Her decision to pursue the scholarship fully was made easy with the realization that it will not only enhance and uplift her but also her fellow EMTs.
Regardless of the challenges she faces being away from home, she said she is determined to fight assiduously for her place and prove herself
