Brenda Herron’s life looks different than it would have had circumstances been different in 1997. That was the year she was was hit head on by a driver who was both drunk and high.
At the time, she was a nursing student who was working on the trauma and surgery floor at Greenville Memorial Hospital in South Carolina. While she survived the impact, her injuries were extensive, and Herron discovered her life couldn’t be the one she had planned.
“After a few years of being mad at the world, I realized that God had spared my life for a reason,” Herron says, “and that this accident had given me a perspective and appreciation for life that most people don’t have.”
Since then, Herron has looked for ways to help others however she can. She has continued to work in the medical field in some capacity, and in 2020, she completed training for an EMT-B license. She is also one of the newest members of the Lowell Area Fire Department, having joined the force 10 months ago.
Bringing Medical Expertise to LAFD
The 51-year-old married mother of three works as an EMT for Rockford Ambulance as her day job, and that comes in handy when responding to calls made to the fire department. “Over half of our calls are medical in nature,” she explains.
Still, to become a firefighter, Herron needed to go beyond her medical training. “We have to be ready for every scenario,” she says. “It is a profession that requires constant training and practice.”
As someone who is very structured by nature, Herron says it was a bit of an adjustment to know she’d have to jump into action at a moment’s notice. However, she has found the work rewarding and has enjoyed the opportunity to meet people in the community.
She also has nothing but good things to say about her colleagues at the fire station. “They are some of the most decent humans I have known,” Herron says. “I am blessed to be part of [the department].”
Focus on Serving the Community
Twenty-four years ago, in the wake of that horrible accident, Herron probably could imagine she would one day become an emergency medical services provider and firefighter. However, she has turned tragic circumstances into a life focused on giving back to others.
“I would like to encourage people to think about EMS,” Herron says. “Explore the possibility of this career and see if it is a good fit for [you].”
Even those who aren’t looking for a career change can benefit from making a visit to the fire station. The department often runs programs that benefit the community, such as a current initiative to install free smoke detectors.
For Herron, becoming a member of the Lowell Area Fire Department means having the chance to make a difference in the lives of others. She sums it up by saying, “We are here for you and we are proud to serve our community.”
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