Telephone pole on fire.  The fire department responded, and Jon became passionate  about E.M.S. & Fire services.  Robert Holland, (a fireman for decades) told Jon, “when you're 16 and have your driver’s license, come join the department as a cadet fire fighter”.

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Three days after Jon turned 16 years old, Jon became a Cadet Fireman, by law not allowed to fight fires, but allowed to take every training class offered, Jon did so…Classes for Firefighting, Arson Level 3, Hazardous materials, CPR, First Aid, High angle rescue, HIBV, Chemical, Nuclear, Biological threats, Interior Attack, Water Rescue and many more.  Achieving permission from the Governor of Ohio, and the local school district, to take a Basic EMT course prior to 18 years old, and prior to graduating High School.   Jon became a Basic EMT 3 days after he turned 18 years old, and three months before he Graduated High School as a Commencement Speaker.

 

In 1989, at 19 years old, Jon was a Lieutenant Training Officer for the Fire Department, a Nationally Registered Paramedic, an Ohio State Licensed Paramedic, and Michigan State Licensed Paramedic.  Jon moved to Detroit to expand his experience.  There Jon held two full time jobs in E.M.S. on 911 response units, neonatal transport, life flight, and tactical response units, until the age of 25, buying his first house in Detroit in 1992 at 22 years old. 

 

By 1995, Jon had nearly ten years’ experience in E.M.S & Fire, with 6 of those years working two full time jobs within E.M.S. essentially creating 15+ years of experience by the age of 25.  Coworkers encouraged Jon to open a Paramedic School, and born in the streets of Detroit was the idea that became:

 

South Eastern Michigan Emergency Medical Services Academy

AKA: EMS Academy or S.E.M.E.M.S.A

 

A place whereby students would graduate ready for the Field, not just ready to take a State Test, at that time it was the only School in Michigan that trained to the National Registry E.M.S. Standards.  The school carried a 97% 1st time pass rate on the National Registry Paramedic Exam, and a 100% 1st time pass rate on the State of Michigan Paramedic Exam. 

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In the year 2000, Jon’s father fell ill to cancer and passed away.  In that year Jon closed the school to tend to his father and family, after training over 250+ people to the level of Paramedic.  In 2001 all of the E.M.S Academy’s classroom, school equipment, and memorabilia was stolen, only remnants were ever found.

 

If all 250+ students only saved one life a year, and helped properly train only one E.M.S Partner, the net result of the E.M.S. Academy over 25 years is 6,000 strangers lives saved, and another 6,000 people became better Paramedics.  In the end the true value of the school and everyone’s effort and time is truly immeasurable. 

 

Thank you all for all the work you have done to improve E.M.S. in the State of Michigan!!

 

So, if you have pictures, videos, or swag, please submit them, so we may post them for everyone to walk down memory lane.  

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A message from Jon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2TYH_qTGv8

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