web1_AP_17306048441166_ne20188412340950.jpg

Linebacker Manny Bowen reinstated to Nittany Lions

TTL080418E.indd

Badge of Honor

<p>For Elyse Holter, it was observant advice from a mentor that led her to her current position in emergency medical services.</p><p>The 28-year-old Laflin resident has been employed in EMS since 2015, working first as an emergency medical technician in the Commonwealth Health System and, more recently, as a paramedic at Pennsylvania Ambulance in Scranton.</p><p>But before Holter was serving her community in its most urgent moments, she held a clerical job at Geisinger&#8217;s Community Medical Center in Scranton and was searching for her place along the spectrum of medical professions.</p><p>&#8220;I worked at CMC for five years and had, more or less, a desk job there as their patient logistics coordinator,&#8221; Holter said. &#8220;I was always so quick to run with the nursing supervisor to see more exciting calls in the hospital. I had just signed up for the nursing program at (Luzerne County Community College), and the supervisor said, &#8216;I think you&#8217;d be better off working in the field. You have that kind of personality, type A. You want to take control.&#8217;&#8221;</p><p>So Holter enrolled in and completed her EMT class and followed up by becoming a certified paramedic.</p><p>&#8220;An EMT works in advanced first aid, splinting techniques, basic use of oxygen and how to assist a paramedic in more invasive procedures, like administering an IV, cardiac monitoring and medication,&#8221; Holter said. &#8220;You have to learn to crawl before you walk.&#8221;</p><p>Holter said the often-intense work brings her gratification.</p><p>&#8220;I think the most fulfilling (calls) are the cardiac arrests I&#8217;ve had success with, bringing back pulses,&#8221; Holter said. &#8220;They are now home and well and given a second chance at life.&#8221;</p><p>Other scenarios, she said, can be eye-opening.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m knocking on the door of 30 and thinking about having kids, and I had a woman who was in labor at 25 weeks and she was breach,&#8221; Holter said. &#8220;It was her third child and she was very aware of the possible outcome, but that was the first time I delivered a baby that was non-sustainable. It touches you on a personal level.&#8221;</p><p>Recently, Holter was awarded a certificate for her involvement in treating a woman who was having a heart attack.</p><p>&#8220;She walked a card to the ambulance building, thanking everyone that helped her and saved her life,&#8221; Holter said of the recovered and grateful patient.</p><p>And beyond helping individuals, Holter has experienced larger-scale emergencies that affect a group of people or a whole community.</p><p>&#8220;As far as mass casualty situations, like every other job, there&#8217;s drama; everybody is in everybody else&#8217;s business, but when there&#8217;s a big event, all of that gets pushed aside,&#8221; Holter said. &#8220;It doens&#8217;t matter if I hate you and you hate me; we all get along. The job, to be honest, doesn&#8217;t pay well. You do it because you love the job. It&#8217;s in your nature to help people. We&#8217;re always ready.&#8221;</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_TTL08xx18FirstResponders-Holter_1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Pennsylvania Ambulance paramedic Elyse Holter said her passion for the job comes from an innate desire to help people and a having a &#8216;type A&#8217; personality. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_TTL08xx18FirstResponders-Holter_1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Pennsylvania Ambulance paramedic Elyse Holter said her passion for the job comes from an innate desire to help people and a having a &#8216;type A&#8217; personality. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_TTL08xx18FirstResponders-Holter_2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Paramedic Elyse Holter was recently presented with a certificate for her role in reviving a patient who was suffering from a heart attack. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_TTL08xx18FirstResponders-Holter_2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Paramedic Elyse Holter was recently presented with a certificate for her role in reviving a patient who was suffering from a heart attack. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Matt Mattei</p><p>mmattei@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p>Elyse Holter</p><p>Age: 28</p><p>Hometown: Laflin</p><p>Quote: &#8220;I think the most fulfilling (calls) are the cardiac arrests I&#8217;ve had success with, bringing back pulses,&#8221; Holter said. &#8220;They are now home and well and given a second chance at life.&#8221;</p></factboxMeta></div>

Badge of Honor: Elyse Holter