{"id":11584,"date":"2023-08-24T13:24:36","date_gmt":"2023-08-24T18:24:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bestofswla.com\/?p=11584"},"modified":"2023-08-25T12:08:34","modified_gmt":"2023-08-25T17:08:34","slug":"being-the-only-women-in-the-room","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestofswla.com\/2023\/08\/24\/being-the-only-women-in-the-room\/","title":{"rendered":"Being The Only Women In The Room"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although women continue to make strides in the modern workforce, there are still many male-dominated careers. Currently, the number of female emergency responders is still below 40 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The bureau also reports that women born between 1980 and 1984 were more likely to have earned a bachelor\u2019s by age 31 than their male counterparts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Obviously, education is a key factor in a female\u2019s opportunity to gain access into traditional male jobs. Female first responders can be found in law enforcement, firefighting and paramedic units, in the public health profession and in the public utilities field.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Education may be how women get their foot in the door initially, but keeping that door open requires support through empowerment, networking and mentoring.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For Heather Savoy, operations supervisor for Acadian Ambulance in Lake Charles, being the only woman in the room is something she\u2019s always taken in stride. \u201cI know I work in a field that has a lot of men, but I get along with men the same way as I do women. We are all human, regardless of our sex. I have a good sense of humor and don\u2019t get offended or feel awkward when I\u2019m surrounded by men.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Sgt. Judith Wall<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Savoy says she was inspired by her father, who was a firefighter and EMT. She says his example drove her initial interest in health care and helping people. \u201cThere were times we would be riding in the car, and he would see a wreck and stop to give aid until the ambulance arrived,\u201d she says. \u201cOnce I graduated high school, I began college at McNeese in pursuit of a nursing degree. After two years, while sitting out a semester, my dad suggested that I become an EMT until I could finish college. I completed EMT school, was hired on at Acadian in 2010, and fell in love with being a medic. I never looked back at nursing school. I went on to Paramedic school; shortly after, I became a critical care paramedic. To me, being a paramedic is a rewarding job. Sometimes it\u2019s stressful, sometimes it\u2019s hard, but it\u2019s also sometimes fun. Every day brings something different. Every day you get the satisfaction of knowing you made a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laina Vincent, Acadian Air Med Flight Paramedic, also felt that call to make a difference.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had a passion for taking care of others from a young age,\u201d she says. \u201cMy own personal life has had many twists and turns. Everyone has their own obstacles; sometimes it\u2019s an experience that is so challenging it takes us into a career path. I had to overcome a hard battle with addiction and have been successful for many years now. I truly feel that my best self is with a career that is made for those who are strong and carry a servant\u2019s heart. I am proud and thankful for each day that I get to put on a flight suit and be of service to others in their time of most need.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Vincent, who\u2019s also worked as a paramedic for Acadian Ambulance, as well as a remote paramedic on an offshore platform, knows only too well what it feels like to be the only woman on a job. \u201cSure, it can be intimidating at times, but God has blessed me with a gift that I am never hesitant about sharing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sgt. Judith Wall of the Lake Charles Police Dept. says she never really thought about becoming a law enforcement officer as she was growing up. Veterinary medicine was her first dream, but she attended Sowela to study architecture. \u201cWho knew there would be so much math?\u201d she says. \u201cI soon followed my brother\u2019s footsteps and joined the military in 1995.\u201d When a recruiter told Wall she could be an MP, she knew she\u2019d found her calling. Five years later, she joined the LCPD.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLaw enforcement can be very demanding and dangerous, but that\u2019s what we train for. You need to be mentally and physically fit to succeed in this profession. Often, men have asked me if I was by myself, or if they were sending anyone else. I have had to let them know I was alone, but that I could handle the job, whatever it was. Being able to physically handle things is helpful, certainly, but being able to talk to people is just as important. Women bring compassion and caring to the table, which some men are not very good with. Rape and sexual assault victims prefer to speak to female officers, for obvious reasons.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen female recruits start in law enforcement, I often tell them they will need to prove themselves to their peers, to show them they can do the job just as well as male officers. Just because females are generally smaller and perhaps not as strong as men, this does not mean females should not be accepted in law enforcement. Law enforcement needs females who can do this job.\u201d<\/p>\n

For retired Sulphur firefighter Tammy Ryan, it was another \u201cwoman in the\u00a0<\/span>room\u201d who inspired her passion for her career. She was working in the computer field in Florida after receiving her associate\u2019s. \u201cMy friend\u2019s mother, June Geide, was a Broward County fire medic,\u201d she says. \u201cI used to listen to her scanner and waited to hear about her calls. My first mentor in firefighting was a strong female.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Ryan was in Houston for her brothers\u2019 wedding, she realized it was a pivotal moment \u2014 her career plans were about to change. \u201cWe were at a party in an apartment community center where my brother lived. I was about to leave when a very physical domestic fight happened between a guy and girl. The guy was hit by a picture frame as he chased the girl in the parking lot. The thin glass severed his brachial artery under his armpit bicep area, spurting a large amount of blood. I was not trained in the emergency field yet, but I acted quickly and called 911, and I stopped the bleed by putting my hand on the wound. The guy remembered I said this to him while he was unconscious: \u2018I hope you don\u2019t have any diseases because I\u2019m covered in your blood.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Post-surgery, the injured man asked to speak to the girl that helped him. \u201cI went to meet him. Bandaged up, he hugged me and gave me a card that said he didn\u2019t have any infectious diseases. His doctor told him that my quick actions saved his life. When I returned to Florida, I couldn\u2019t wait to share my story with mom and June. They were excited, and June saw the passion I had. That\u2019s when I started hanging around her at the fire department. At 29, I decided to change careers because I wanted to be a firefighter paramedic, and nothing was stopping me. I did not realize what the male to female ratio would be because, while in Florida, I\u2019d met so many strong firefighters that were female. I did see the physical ability challenges and the 24\/48-type shift work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Heather Savoy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Savoy sees both the nurturing and the physical aspects as essential in this work. \u201cIn my job, the goal is to get ourselves and our partner home safely, after every shift. Being in EMS, you do have to be strong physically and mentally. In intense situations, you are going to be the calm in the storm. You\u2019re answering calls for people who are experiencing the worst day of their lives. You must come in confidently, knowing you are going to do what you were taught to do, and do your best to make the situation better. There are times where things don\u2019t work out and you can\u2019t save a person, but you always give it your all. You must learn to accept when there\u2019s nothing more you can do. Physical strength is important because in our line of work we are picking people up, pulling people out of vehicles, loading people into the ambulance on the stretcher, and carrying heavy gear. Physical strength prevents personal injuries.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vincent is motivated by the opportunity to show that women can be powerful and successful in any field they choose. \u201cBeing a first responder requires many attributes such as strength, vigilance and drive, but over the years I have learned that this job requires much more. Traits such as empathy, optimism, trust, compassion and many other \u2018delicate\u2019 attributes are also necessary for anyone who works in this field.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Savoy concurs. \u201cIt is necessary to truly care for every patient. Look at them as if they were one of your own family members, because they are someone\u2019s parent, someone\u2019s child. How would I want a stranger to treat my family? How would I want this stranger coming to my aid to help me?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRemember, we are responding to people in their time of need. Regardless of how big or small the problem, they feel they need help and we are there to provide it. People remember their bad times, so I want them to also remember the kind, caring and confident paramedic that came to their aid or helped their loved one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wall says these same personal feelings are part of her daily tasks. \u201cSure, my career is very exciting; I\u2019m always dealing with different people from all walks of life, for all types of reasons, from a kid playing on the phone calling 911 to shots-fired calls and, yes, even homicides.\u00a0 <\/span>You never know what the next call will bring. It can be frustrating and challenging. You are often dealing with people having the worst day of their life, so you must be able to get those people to trust that you are truly there for them, to assure them that you want to help them. This is not always the easiest thing to do. It\u2019s not always easy to put your personal feelings aside when handling calls.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSeveral years ago, we were working a drowning at North Beach, a three-year old. At the time my kids were 3 and 5. When the officer found the little boy, his grandmother came running to me wanting to see the little boy. My heart was hurting for that family, but I had to stay strong. I often still think about that little boy. This is just one example. I have been to so many calls that are challenging, mentally and physically.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryan says being a mother brings additional challenges to the job.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI realized I would need a support team as a single mother of a 3-year-old. I returned to Sulphur to pursue my dream. This is where I noticed an absence of women in the fire service. At the time I applied, in 1994, there were no females employed at a career fire department in Calcasieu Parish. But I was going to be a Sulphur Firefighter, and nothing was stopping me.\u201d Ryan worked as an EMT at West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital in 1995, received her Paramedic certification from SOWELA in 1997, and got the job in Sulphur in 1999.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cAs I worked my way into a leadership role, I noticed the prejudice against women again. I had to be smarter, more fit and more focused, and prove myself\u00a0<\/span>constantly. The few bad situations I had were solved by male colleagues, though, men who had my back, stood up for me, and did the right thing. Those are the colleagues I will always remember, the ones who saw my ability and respected me as an equal.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Savoy has been on multiple deployments in her paramedic career, to areas affected by hurricanes, floods and the pandemic. Evacuations, rescues and 911 responses are part of her daily routine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Covid started, I was sent to New Orleans for a month, working with New Orleans EMS, assisting in 911 responses. That was a hard and trying time, but being able to assist during that difficult time was also rewarding. I am also one of the Region 5 EMS designated regional coordinators. As a DRC, I work with the Office of Public Health and the Office of Emergency Preparedness. Together we formulate plans and actions before, during and after disasters in SWLA. I became a DRC a few days prior to Hurricane Laura\u2019s arrival in SWLA. That was truly a trial by fire. But I learned so much during that event.\u201d<\/p>\n

The educational component for first responders is always challenging. Often, they are working while attending classes. Sometimes there are clinical assignments, as well. \u201c(Education and training) consumed my life for a year and a half,\u201d recalls Savoy. \u201cKnowing that I had chosen a career in EMS, I wanted to take it as far as I could. After I did that with my certifications, I decided to further my career and move into management. In 2017, I applied for the paramedic field supervisor position and got the job.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt the time, there had never been a female supervisor in the Lake Area. My acceptance changed that. After five years as a PFS, I applied to move up into an operation supervisor position. In October of 2022, I was promoted to operation supervisor. To me it was a huge accomplishment not only because I was promoted, but also because I was the first female operation supervisor in SWLA for Acadian.\u201d<\/p>\n

In that role, Savoy has earned numerous awards, including meritorious service awards, the President\u2019s Performance Award and the Acadian Pride Award. \u201cI take pride in my accomplishments and hope to show other females that it can be done. I truly enjoy being a female paramedic. I have found my true calling in life and wouldn\u2019t change a thing. Being a paramedic isn\u2019t for everyone, but it\u2019s definitely the right job for me!\u201d<\/p>\n

As a senior Sergeant at LCPD, currently assigned to A-shift, Wall has been a police officer for almost 23 years, as well as an MP for five years before that. She still loves her job. \u201cWhen you join law enforcement you become part of a large family,\u201d she says. \u201cI have two sons, 14 and 16. When I started out, I did sometimes feel that some of the male officers did not accept females as officers, mainly the older guys.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, I haven\u2019t felt that way in a long time; females seem to be more accepted now. I did feel that I had to prove myself when I got hired, which is why I tell new females to do the same. The sooner they show their peers they can do the job, the sooner they will be accepted into the flock. Just because I am a female does not mean that I should not be given the same opportunity as a male officer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vincent advises young girls to never give up on their dreams for any career. \u201cWhen asked, I tell any female to go for it, always set your goals high and never stop succeeding,\u201d she says. \u201cI am surrounded by family, friends and coworkers who believe in me and support who I am. I currently work for Acadian Air Med, a company that thrives on treating people equally, and for that I am so thankful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryan notes that even now, less than 5 percent of female career firefighters in Calcasieu Parish. She would like to see this change.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI am excited to hear about a program that the Southwest Louisiana Firefighter Association is trying to bring here, it\u2019s called Camp Fury, a Girl Scouts\u2019 program,\u201d she says. \u201cThe camp\u2019s focus is\u00a0for young ladies to work alongside some elite female firefighters, law enforcement officers and paramedics,\u00a0 <\/span>to be exposed to various emergency service entities as career choices. This program will let young ladies know that the physical side is a lot of fun, but that the mental challenge is where women really excel. This could help recruit more women into emergency services.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ryan recently retired from the SFD after 20 years. She continues to work part time as a paramedic with Cameron Parish Ambulance District 2, as a reserve marshal for Ward 3 Marshal\u2019s office, and as a training tech for Calcasieu Emergency Response Training Center.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy passion will always be firefighting as I am still a member of Ward 7 Volunteer Fire District 1,\u201d she says. \u201cI know it may sound clich\u00e9, but being there for someone having their worst day is an amazing feeling. It\u2019s more amazing with a great team to achieve the best outcome for the person and community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Savoy agrees, saying she counsels young girls to keep dreaming big. \u201cBeing a female should not hold you back from what you truly want to do or who you want to become. I personally strive to be the female that other females in the EMS field look at and say: \u2018I want to be like her.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Katie Black<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Who You Gonna Call?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Ultimate Emergency Responder ~ By Madelaine B. Landry<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The ultimate female \u201cemergency responder,\u201d in a man\u2019s profession might just be a female minister.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 17.6 percent of clergy are women. Many religious sects do not ordain women. Katie Black, a 2013 McNeese graduate, served as a pastor in Lake Charles from 2015 to 2021. On July 1, she stepped into the pulpit at Houma First United Methodist Church.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cI firmly believe that all of us have a calling,\u201d she says, \u201cand the question isn\u2019t whether we are called, but \u2018to where\u2019 or \u2018to whom\u2019 we are called.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI heard a whisper from God to become a minister in the United Methodist Church when I was in college at McNeese State University and working at my home church, Henning Memorial United Methodist Church in Sulphur. That whisper slowly grew to become something I couldn\u2019t ignore.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThere are many needs that a person has: physical, emotional, and spiritual. Through this calling, I could meet a spiritual need, but also other needs. Things intertwine in ways that we don\u2019t fully understand. I felt a call to be in the church, and specifically I felt a call to meet needs within the United Methodist Church.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cI was blessed enough to grow up in a denomination that ordained women. They\u2019ve been ordaining women for longer than I\u2019ve been alive. I\u2019d witnessed the incredibly faithful men and women in the pulpit for decades. So when I felt the call, it was a very natural thing to step into ministering to others. The only problem was learning to trust that God doesn\u2019t just call men and women \u2018out there somewhere.\u2019 God calls me and you, too, to serve and meet people where they are.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThough I\u2019d never considered myself to be an emergency responder in the same way that many other first responders are, we all have a call to do our part and help out where we can \u2014 to use the gifts and talents we possess. I hope to be able to use mine in this world to make a positive impact. And I hope to help others do the same with their gifts. We can all use our skill sets to meet needs and create change in this world, which is often starved of kindness, compassion and love. In this way, we can all be emergency responders, when we commit to see and sincerely care for the people around us. It can make a world of difference.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Although women continue to make strides in the modern workforce, there are still many male-dominated careers. Currently, the number of female emergency responders is still below 40 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The bureau also reports that women born between 1980 and 1984 were more likely to have earned a [&hellip<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11590,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[4],"yoast_head":"\nBeing The Only Women In The Room - BestOfSwla<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bestofswla.com\/2023\/08\/24\/being-the-only-women-in-the-room\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Being The Only Women In The Room - BestOfSwla\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Although women continue to make strides in the modern workforce, there are still many male-dominated careers. 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