THE EMERGENCY Medical Service (EMS) personnel are a special breed. You could say that they are adrenaline junkies of sorts; however, it requires much more than just adrenaline. Their job requires spur-of-the-moment precision where every decision matters.
Their day ends as it began: with readiness. Each call is a high-stakes puzzle: assess the scene, stabilize the patient, and transport them safely while staying calm under pressure. Calls can range from car accidents and heart attacks to childbirth or even helping someone who’s fallen at their home.
EMS workers are often the first friendly face or helpful hand someone encounters after an accident or incident. It’s their job to prepare and calm the patient for the medical journey that awaits them.
Their job is multifaceted — between emergencies, paperwork stacks, and gear getting restocked. While the days are long, the satisfaction of helping others makes the chaos worth it. It’s not just a job; it’s a lifeline wrapped in dedication.
Since childhood, Ila Hose knew her place was in the medical field. With first responders as parents, the Fayetteville native wanted to pursue a profession that would find her helping those in need.
At just 18 years old, Hose works full time for Lincoln County EMS.
“I have loved EMS since I was little, and I knew I wanted to do something in health care,” she stated. “I also knew I didn’t want an office job that was the same every day. EMS changes every day. I love getting to meet new people, but I also love getting to make people’s worst days better so that they can have a better outcome.”
After graduating from Lincoln County High School in 2024, Hose started pursuing her career as an EMT at Motlow College at just 17 years old. Since then, she has obtained basic and advanced EMT degrees.
Known as an EMT-B, an EMT-Basic Technician provides more advanced medical care than an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), including patient assessment and transportation. Skills include medication administration, airway management, and treatments for specific medical emergencies.
Training for an EMT-basic includes 120-150 hours, with additional clinical hours in hospital and ambulance settings. Certification is gained by passing a certification exam.
An Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) provides advanced life support (ALS) beyond the EMT-B level. Their skillset includes all EMT-B skills plus advanced airway management, IV therapy, and administering additional medications. Training includes 200-300 hours, with further clinical hours in hospital and ambulance settings. Just as an EMT-basic, an AEMT requires passing a certification exam.
Hose said that her time in the classroom was rewarding, even though she was the youngest in the group.
“I was the youngest, and the oldest was 43, so there was a big age gap between me and that person,” she added. “Everyone in class welcomed me. I was pretty much the person in class who got everybody excited about coming, and I just carried everybody like we were a team. I was kind of a team leader.”
It’s also important to point out that Hose’s love for helping others and appreciation for first responders runs in the family.
Her mother, Paige Hose, is also an EMT. Hose gives a lot of credit to her mother and refers to her as her “hero.”
“My mom has always been a go-getter,” explained Ila. “She’s had many different jobs, whether it be working in a little office or owning her own party business. Now she’s an EMT and owns an ice cream truck. My mom encouraged me to get into this field. She said it was a different kind of work, but it was also something that was fun and something that changed every day. I call her my hero. She definitely makes me happy, and she told me that even if those who get burnt out are kind of dragging, always be the one who’s going to be happy and nice to the patient.”
Her father is Eric Hose, also a first responder who works for the Lincoln County Sheriff ’s Department. Ila added that her father is also an inspiration.
“He’s shown me that you have to treat everybody with kindness,” she said. “Getting to see him on calls or being and knowing he’s keeping our county safe is inspiring. He’s also keeping me safe while I’m in the ambulance.”
She added that it is vastly rewarding to work alongside two people she admires who take pride in protecting and helping their community.
As Ila begins to construct her legacy of helping her community, she said it’s always the right time to make an impact and to be kind to others.
“Even at a young age, you can still impact,” she said. “Remember to be kind to everybody that you meet because you never know what’s going on in their life. You never know what’s going to happen after you talk to them, and just being kind can do so much. The main thing is to always show up with a smile, even if it is the worst day.” GN
