Meet the students Monday: Andrew Bradley
by Vicki Heisser |
We recently caught up with dual credit student and Valdez High School senior Andrew Bradley to talk about his dual credit courses at PWSC, his hobbies and interests, and his plans for the future.
PWSC: Good Afternoon, Andrew. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your life in Valdez. What do you like about living in Valdez? What do you enjoy doing?
Andrew: I am always doing something active or outside. Nothing is better than the great beautiful outdoors. I love to go hiking, biking, camping, and going to the shooting range as well. I have lived in Valdez for six years, and it has been amazing. My father was a Navy Chaplain who also worked for the Coast Guard and Marine branches. We have lived all over the world including Kansas, California, Kodiak, Alaska, and even Japan. My family was all born in Oklahoma, so we lived there for a bit as well. Valdez is something special though. It has been my favorite place I’ve lived, and has become my home. The community is so friendly and compassionate towards others, always going above and beyond to help people.
PWSC: As a high school student here in Valdez, what motivated you to take CPR, ETT and EMT classes?
Andrew: A couple of years ago, I wanted to become an Alaska State Trooper for my future career. I thought that by getting my CPR, AED, First Aid and ETT certifications and training it would give me a head start. I worked for the Valdez Fire Department for two summers as a fire hoses and hydrant tester. During that time, I realized that Troopers wasn't my calling, but firefighting was. So my senior year, I have decided to take EMT to continue the building of my career. I will be attending UAF this July for the firefighter academy, as well the fire science program this fall.
PWSC: The courses you are taking have clear, real world application. Have you ever used your training in a real life event? If so, what did you do?
Andrew: I have used my basic first aid training to care for people. One time, my mother hurt her ankle very badly during a fall. I quickly rushed over to her, did a head to toe assessment check using DCAP-BTLS (Deformities, Contusions, Abrasion, Penetrations, Burn, Tenderness, Lacerations, Swelling) and OPQRST (Onset, Provocation, Quality, Region/relief, Severity, Time), determined that her ankle was hurt, and I went to get my fist aid kit. Nothing seemed broken, so I wrapped her ankle with an ACE bandage for stabilization and gave her an ice pack. That is just one way I used my training in the past few months.
PWSC: Now that you will be graduating soon, what are your plans for the future?
Andrew: I will be attending the two-month firefighter academy through UAF this coming summer. I have been accepted into UAF CTC for the fire science program starting the fall of 2020. During college, I hope to get an internship with the university fire department or a department near there. When I graduate from the program with my AAS degree, I'll see where life takes me from there. I might come back home to Valdez and start looking for departments to work for, or I might just stay and work in Fairbanks. I’ll be looking for a job that pays well to support myself and hopefully my future family. I have a plan that is set, but I will go wherever the Lord takes me.