Several of the youngest members of Warren County Ambulance District’s staff got their start with their district before they ever went through a hiring interview.In fact, they put down roots with the district before they even got their high school diplomas. These recruits are graduates of the EMS Explorers Academy, a program for high school students to learn about the life and work of emergency medical staff.The 6-year-old program is part education and part career shadowing. It’s open to any high school-age student.The “explorers” learn many basic skills for responding to a medical emergency, and ride with emergency responders on actual medical calls, said instructor Tanya Sinclair.It’s an opportunity for interested students to find out if emergency medicine is the career field for them. The educational program coincides with the normal school year, Sinclair said. Enrollment can vary widely depending on the year and how many students stick around until the end.The program also gives the ambulance district a first look at potential recruits. With an average employment length of 14 years, officials with the district said they hope for recruits who want to make a long-term commitment to the community.At least three explorers graduates have already fit the bill and been hired on to work for the district.Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Eli Tobias was hired in February in the district’s most recent round of recruiting. At 18 years old, Tobias is working part-time for the ambulance district while continuing his medical education.After joining the explorers program two years ago, Tobias said he knew for sure this is what he wanted to do with his life. He got his EMT certification over the summer between his junior and senior year in high school, and graduated a semester early in winter 2017. He joined the ambulance district about a month later.“EMT school was way easier because of the explorers program,” Tobias said. “There were still some things that were new to learn, but all of the basic elements I had there to build off of, because of this program.”He first became interested in becoming an EMT for very personal reasons.“We had to call an ambulance one night for my grandfather . . . He was having some problems with his heart,” Tobias recalled. “They helped not only my grandfather, but they were very understanding with my grandmother, and I thought that was cool. And I said ‘I should probably look into that.’ ”Tobias and other recent explorers graduates now help to teach current explorers program students.The Explorers Academy got its start in 2012. Ambulance District CEO Ralph Hellebusch said he also works with regional vocational programs for possible recruitment, but that the explorers program provides a more local opportunity. He said there is a benefit to hiring recruits who have roots in Warren County.“You build a rapport so much easier when you know the people. That’s the good part about it, people automatically trust you,” Hellebusch said. He added that there are a few negative exceptions, but that having a staff member or their family be known to patients usually improves relations.This year’s Explorers Academy graduated two students. One of them, Robyn Walker, also just graduated from Wright City High School. She said the look into the world of emergency medicine can be a little intimidating, but she learned a lot, and plans to continue her education in the field.There are even some elements of the program one might not expect, such as learning how to interview patients.“They taught us a lot of what you would do as an EMT, and it just helps us understand if we want to go into being a paramedic, or go into different branch in the medical field.”The classes involve both lecture and hands-on learning, including getting to practice some skills on manikins or assistant instructors, Walker explained. After completing the program, she said she plans to continue her education and get her own EMT certification.

Warren County Ambulance District Administrator Ralph Hellebusch, left, stands with 18-year-old Eli Tobias, one of the district's newest recruits. Tobias is one of several professionals with the district who got their start in the high school-level EMS Explorers program run by ambulance district staff. 

Record photo/Adam Rollins

Freshman Josie Schnarr, left, and senior Robyn Walker, center, both of Wright City, display certificates they earned May 22 for completing the yearlong EMS Explorers program run by Warren County Ambulance District. Both plan to pursue medical careers. With them is Explorers instructor Tanya Sinclair at the Warren County Ambulance base on Bell Road in Wright City. 

Record photo/Adam Rollins