About the blogger
My name is Zak and I am a paramedic/firefighter from Pennsylvania. I first became involved with the Emergency Services when I was 19 years old and living in New Hampshire as a sophomore in college. I was a Graphic Communication major with a concentration in photography. In the beginning it was pure curiosity that led me toward firefighting. I didn't come from a family of firefighters, volunteer or career, and I had only recently met 1 or 2 people who had any experience in it at all. Unlike many of my compatriots, I had never been around it whatsoever. So I signed up for our college's volunteer fire department, one of the only completely student-run departments in the country. Soon after, I was hooked, so much so that I decided to further my knowledge by pursuing an EMT-Basic certification.
After college, I worked a short stint as a photographer/digital lab technician for a local portrait studio. It was a great job but wasn't really stimulating me as much as I had hoped. At the same time, I was also moonlighting as an EMT-B for a local private ambulance company. Eventually, I realized what my true calling was and I bid a fond farewell to photography and took my first full time job in EMS.
After college, I worked a short stint as a photographer/digital lab technician for a local portrait studio. It was a great job but wasn't really stimulating me as much as I had hoped. At the same time, I was also moonlighting as an EMT-B for a local private ambulance company. Eventually, I realized what my true calling was and I bid a fond farewell to photography and took my first full time job in EMS.
Eventually, I decided to take my career one step further and after getting married, I enrolled in Paramedic School and earned my Paramedic certification, which led to me taking the civil service exam for the City of Reading, Pennsylvania. After a 5 month academy I am now a member of the Reading Fire Department as a paramedic/firefighter assigned to Medic 1 on the B platoon. This is truly a dream job and I am honored to be a member of such an amazing brotherhood of individuals.
I started Doing It Medic Style to share some of my experiences as an urban paramedic working for the 3rd busiest ambulance service in Pennsylvania in one of the most impoverished cities in the country. The stories I share are true as I remember them, however, in compliance with HIPPA laws, all identifying patient information will remain confidential. The stories, opinions, & views expressed on Doing It Medic Style are from me and do not in anyway reflect the views or opinions of the Reading Fire Department or IAFF Local 1803.
I started Doing It Medic Style to share some of my experiences as an urban paramedic working for the 3rd busiest ambulance service in Pennsylvania in one of the most impoverished cities in the country. The stories I share are true as I remember them, however, in compliance with HIPPA laws, all identifying patient information will remain confidential. The stories, opinions, & views expressed on Doing It Medic Style are from me and do not in anyway reflect the views or opinions of the Reading Fire Department or IAFF Local 1803.