Paramedics Camden Ryder and Zachary Ayala came to Pantex with several years of experience serving Texas communities. Photo by Michael Schumacher.
When a life-threatening medical event happens, you need help fast. That’s where the Pantex Fire Department (PXFD) emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics come in. Over the past year, emergency responders have provided aid for chest pains, strokes, obstetrical emergencies, and motor vehicle crashes among many other urgent situations.
“There is a high amount of critical thinking and split-second problem solving involved in response,” Firefighter Paramedic Camden Ryder said. “Especially for decisions that must be made in seconds that potentially have critical consequences. When on scene, the adrenaline dump takes over, and you revert to whatever training you have, which highlights why we train so much — we have to be able to perform tasks like they are second nature to us.”
Emergency Medical Services Week is celebrated the third week in May, honoring the professionals who dedicate their lives to helping others like Ryder and Firefighter Paramedic Zachary Ayala.
“I don’t feel like it’s the heroic calls or the adrenaline-fueled ones that make the difference,” Ayala said. “In my experience, just being nice to the person you’re helping makes all the difference. The majority of the time that’s going to leave a lasting impression with the patient. It gets them to realize we are there to help them because we want to be.”
Pantex operates state-licensed ambulance services 24/7/365. All firefighters are basic EMTs, advanced EMTs, or paramedics. They are on call for immediate response to medical emergencies, fire alarms, or other emergent needs. It’s essential the team is prepared to respond to any emergency at any time.
“We are constantly going back to school, training, and taking classes,” Ayala said. “The ‘schooling’ to become a firefighter paramedic never stops.”
Both Ryder and Ayala came to Pantex with several years of experience serving Texas communities as first responders, bringing a significant amount of knowledge and prior hands-on training from previous jobs. This allowed them to quickly adapt to Pantex and hit the ground running providing coverage for the site.
“I got into this line of work accidentally,” Ryder said. “My fire career started as a summer job — nothing more. I had friends that were on the wildland crew.
They convinced me to apply; within a month, my career plans changed. I transferred out of the University of Washington to the Portland Fire Academy in Spring 2020. I have been in the fire service for seven years and EMS for five years.”
“I started my career at Baptist St. Anthony’s Health System,” Ayala said. “I have 15 years of EMS service. I volunteered for Randall County Fire Department and then went to The Colony, Texas and became a firefighter paramedic in 2017 before going to Canyon and now Pantex.”
While Ryder and Ayala have different backgrounds, they’re both now part of the nuclear family at Pantex, always prepared and ready to respond to urgent medical calls and providing care to Pantexans.