A day in the life of a Fox Security paramedic

The day in the life of Fox Security paramedic, Esmarie Kruger, is unpredictable, since she never knows what to expect.

She experiences quiet and busy days in her industry and comes across a lot of miracle moments.

There are even times when she is part of those miracle stories.

The Alberton Record visited her to ask her about her career and why she was so passionate about her job.

Making a difference

Esmarie wanted to become a paramedic, not just to save lives but also to make a difference. In 2015, she qualified as a BSL and in 2017 as an ILS medic.

“I knew my job would not be easy, but that did not keep me back, as I feel I am doing this for a purpose.”

A miracle story that stands out among the list of miracles she has seen is the one of a two-year-old who nearly drowned. “In EMS, it is about time and in this story, our quick response saved the life of the toddler.

“At the end of the day, we are all humans and we get a lot of questions on how do we not get emotionally involved. This is something I, as a paramedic, cannot describe because while attending to a patient, all your focus is on that patient and you have to stay focused because you are there to save lives.”

Staying focused and motivated as a paramedic is sometimes a challenge for her. “I face the reality of life and death and keep reminding myself why I wanted to do this in the first place.

“I am part of something bigger and it is more than just saving lives. It is a passion to be there for others in their time of need.”

Esmarie has been part of the Fox Security team for the last four years. “I am known as the Fox medic and enjoy working for a company where everyone is part of a family.”

Something not many knows about her industry is that even though you are sometimes on your own or attending an incident on your own, EMS is about teamwork no matter for which company you work.

“The end goal for all of us is the same – saving lives. With every emergency, we put our lives in danger to help people we don’t even know.”

She is proud of being part of the Fox Security team and the community.

“You just get that feeling of this is my home, this is where I belong and that is very rewarding.”

Enjoying the little things in life

Esmarie was born and bred in Pretoria, where she grew up with her older brother and sister. She has been a resident of Alberton since 2010 and before she started her career as a paramedic; she used to work at the Meyers Farm.

She is also engaged to her best friend and is a big animal lover. “I help out part-time in animal rescue where I will often foster for the Animal Protection Network when needed.

“If I had to choose another career, I think it would be something the line with animal medicine.”

The little joys in life inspire her. “In this day and age, there is so much trying to break down instead of looking for hope or spreading hope,” she said.

Something many don’t know about her is she tends to have a very dark sense of humour, given the time and the situation is right.

Her biggest strength is she will never quit. ”With everything going on in life, I have learned to just keep going.”
She would like to share the following message, “Life can be difficult and no one knows exactly what strangers around you are going through, so we should always be kind to everyone.”