Anais Kuss and Laura Hagerman are pretty sure they played together as toddlers at Bridgehampton Fire Department events. They recall meeting again in the fire department juniors program a few years ago, becoming instant friends. They finish each other’s sentences and are pretty typical teenagers in a lot of ways.
Except that Ms. Kuss and Ms. Hagerman, at 18 years old, are two of the youngest volunteer emergency medical technicians to ever become certified in Bridgehampton.
Ms. Kuss, who just graduated from Pierson High School, and Ms. Hagerman, who just graduated from Bridgehampton High School, both said they had multiple reasons for becoming E.M.T.s, the primary ones being their desire to give back to their community and the tradition of service to the department in their families. And they both agree that while becoming an E.M.T. has been a challenge — the only thing that’s ever been easy is “showing up,” Ms. Hagerman says — it’s worthwhile.
“It gets to your heart, seeing someone in distress and knowing you have the skills to help them,” Ms. Hagerman said.
They first got a taste for the experience in Bridgehampton’s juniors program. Then, after deciding they wanted to get more involved, they signed up for a 10-month E.M.T. course at night. It made their high school studies and college applications even tougher than they would normally have been.
“It was hours and hours of studying. Sleep was not a thing for a while,” Ms. Kuss said. “We knew what we were getting ourselves into.”
“It was hard, but it wasn’t something we couldn’t do,” Ms. Hagerman said.
Asked what it’s like to be an E.M.T., they both answered almost simultaneously that “it’s an adrenaline rush.”
“The call will go off and you get an immediate rush, but as soon as you drop off the patient, you’re exhausted,” Ms. Kuss said.
In April, they learned they had passed their E.M.T. exams — a written test and a practical skills test.
Not once were they intimidated by the task at hand.
“We were excited. It was annoying how excited we were,” Ms. Kuss said.
Ms. Hagerman recalled being 17 years old still, sitting at the Bridgehampton Firehouse so they could be on hand for calls that would come in. They were too young to have blue first-responder lights installed on their cars, so they’d sit and study together while they waited.
Ms. Kuss acknowledged that people are impressed when they learn she and Ms. Hagerman are certified E.M.T.s.
“People say ‘overachiever,’ “ Ms. Kuss said. “But they’re over the moon about younger people getting involved in their community. There isn’t much of that.”
Ms. Kuss has already decided this type of volunteer service is something she is going to “make my kids do someday,” and Ms. Hagerman — who recently coordinated a blood drive at the Bridgehampton School — has actually been inspired to go into the medical field as a profession. She will attend the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in the fall, where she will study to become a physician assistant. Ms. Kuss will attend the University of Edinburgh in Scotland to study corporate law.
On Sunday, Ms. Hagerman received the Ned Carter Memorial Scholarship from the Association of Fire Districts of New York State and also the Bridgehampton Lions Club’s Community Service Award.
Taylor K. Vecsey, the captain of the Bridgehampton Fire Department E.M.S. Company and The Star’s deputy managing editor, called the two 18-year-old E.M.T.s “great additions.”
“It’s great to have young, enthusiastic members join the ranks,” Ms. Vecsey said. “They kept up with their schoolwork during senior year while attending E.M.T. class at night. On calls, they work professionally with fellow members and patients. I hope they inspire other high school students.”
Ms. Vecsey pointed out that New York State recently changed its law to allow 17-year-olds to take the E.M.T. exam. It allows more students to get involved with emergency medical services, “which can open doors for them as they go on to college or professional work,” Ms. Vecsey said.
Ms. Kuss and Ms. Hagerman both recommend volunteering to their peers and younger teens. It doesn’t necessarily have to be as an E.M.T. or firefighter, they say — there are lots of roles for which volunteers are needed.
“It gives you a whole new perspective,” Ms. Hagerman said. “Volunteers are literally the backbone of your community.”