海角直播

Publish Date: Aug. 3, 2021

海角直播 alumna Alexandra Jabr wants to help first responders build more compassion and empathy while working in the field.

She recently published an article in EMS World Magazine exploring the subject and talking about how real- life experiences shaped her career.

鈥淢y greatest lessons in this area did not come from graduate school,鈥� she writes in the publication鈥檚 March 2021 edition.鈥淲e will never overcome being uncomfortable with death notification skill as long as we ignore a need for it.鈥�

Jabr explained that she felt the need to explore the subject further while reading a Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS) instruction manual. One topic stood out the most: A chapter titled, Coping with Death (Optional). 鈥淲hy don鈥檛 we ever teach this subject,鈥� she asked an instructor. He replied, 鈥淭he class did not have time to cover it.鈥�

This response did not satisfy Jabr. She credits her friend for advice in such circumstances:鈥淪ee a need, fill a need.鈥� 鈥淎t the time I wrote the article,鈥� she said,鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think anyone felt the same way as I did, until I put it out there. I felt like, here鈥檚 something we don鈥檛 talk about because we don鈥檛 get taught this. I recognized that there鈥檚 a flaw in this system.鈥�

To help, Jabr created a series of classes on the subject through Emergency Resilience, an online platform she founded to help people in the medical field navigate tough subjects - like addressing death. Her course work is available for a small fee and intends to 鈥渟hift our culture into becoming more proactive and resilient to the challenges and adversities our vocation inevitability experiences,鈥� Jabr said.

鈥淓mpathy,鈥� Jabr explained,鈥渋s one of those things that can鈥檛 always be taught, but that does not mean we can鈥檛 try. I wanted to create an introduction to awareness of the subject and prepare first responders to better handle 鈥榬eal life鈥�.鈥�

While Jabr is dedicated to a career in the EMS field and education, her path to get where she is today was not easy. She began attending 海角直播 in 2004 but wouldn鈥檛 graduate until 2014.

At the time she began attending CHC, Jabr said she was too indecisive to focus on one career and she did not think she needed a degree to become an EMT or a firefighter.

鈥淢y mom died at 18. My dad was overseas. And my sister was the only person to go to,鈥� Jabr said.鈥淚 was running around feral trying to figure it all out because I did not have a solid idea of what I wanted to do. I just panicked.鈥�

In 2012, Jabr decided to pursue a higher education 鈥渁ggressively鈥� and soon found herself succeeding beyond her expectations. In addition to the quality EMS programs at 海角直播, Jabr also credits the College鈥檚 faculty and sense of community for her success.

鈥淚t felt natural coming back because it鈥檚 home,鈥� she said.

In addition to her small business, Jabr teaches at Victor Valley College, where she enjoys molding the next generation of first responders. She also works alongside fellow 海角直播 alumni, which she calls an extension of her 海角直播 experience.

She knows that while there were many bumps in the road, her success is due to grit and determination, which is something she hopes inspires others to keep going. She encourages students in this line of work to continue their education beyond the certificate program to finish their degrees.A back injury changed her career path from being a front line EMT to teaching EMTs, and she says that her education and teaching gave her a purpose to keep going.

鈥淭hose who can鈥檛 do teach 鈥� that is a positive spin I put on the situation,鈥� Jabr said. 鈥淗ad I not had a degree that allowed me to teach, I wouldn鈥檛 be where I am today.鈥� Currently, Jabr is working to obtain her doctorate in grief counseling.

To learn more about Jabr鈥檚 work or to purchase her course, visit www.emergencyresilience.com