For Haz-Tac Paramedic Sobiev, Working in EMS is a Calling

B eing a Haz-Tac Paramedic is not an easy job, especially since our ‘Medics’ help to serve the largest city in the country seven days a week and 24 hours a day. However, Ervin Sobiev noted that he can’t see himself working in any other career in the world.

“If you want to have this as a career, ask yourself if you have the patience to deal with people and their health challenges and all that comes with that,” said Sobiev, who serves at Station 43 in Brooklyn. “I was born in Belarus in Eastern Europe and I’ve dreamt of working on an ambulance since I was twelve years old. It’s like I was chosen do this job and this really has been a calling for me. No one calls 911 to say they’re doing great. They are calling for help, so working for FDNY EMS you have to be ready. I recently had a patient that initially couldn’t speak because she was in respiratory distress, but by the end of the job, she was smiling, shaking my hand and saying how much she appreciated the work we do. The best feeling for a ‘Medic’ is when we see an improvement in our patient’s condition.”

Learn more about the eligibility requirements to join our EMS career here.