I knew from an early age that working as a first responder to support my community was what I wanted to do with my life. As a high school student, I signed up for the Boynton Beach Fire Rescue Explorers class to get a head start on my emergency response knowledge. I tapped into these newly learned skills weeks after graduating from the program when a former student wondered onto my school campus on the last day of school and opened fire. I vividly remember jumping off my bus with a first aid kit in hand to apply pressure to the wound of a classmate shot in the back.
In February of 2015 while serving as a SWAT medic for Winter Haven, I was shot while responding to a threat in the middle of downtown Lakeland. The two events have more than 25+ years between them, but were defining moments of my life. The first confirmed my desire to do this work, while the second left an emotional mark on me that I have never been able to shake.
My own need for emotional support from experiences in the line of duty started on that school day when I was 15 years old, but they won’t end when I eventually retire from this field. I have carried a burden with me every day since February 2015, and I know many of my peers have their own defining moments within their careers. Thankfully, my experience has brought me to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay where there are endless resources at my fingertips. However, many others in this field struggle to secure the support they need when they need it. I only hope that they remember that someone is ready and waiting to help them when they dial 1-866-4FL-HERO.
John Mikula, PMD, Community Paramedicine Manager
