By Patrick Buchnowski
The Tribune-Democrat
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. 鈥� When dozens of kids filled the pool at Greater Johnstown Community YMCA for a water safety and drowning prevention event, Rachel Brady was there.
Brady, 26, is a paramedic with Jackson Township and a member of the Cambria County Swift Water Rescue Team and the Jackson-East Taylor Dive Team. She also is a MedStar flight nurse at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown.
Brady returned from her honeymoon in time to join the May 18 event, called 鈥淵 Drown? Keep Your Head Above Water.鈥� She is committed to helping families stay safe, she said.
鈥淲e had the rescue boat out, educating kids on what we would do if somebody fell into the water,鈥� she said. 鈥淭eaching kids to be comfortable with wearing a life jacket and being in the water was a great experience.鈥�
Brady graduated from Central Cambria High School in Ebensburg. She attended St. Francis University in Loretto, where she studied nursing. She is married to Richland Township firefighter Timothy Meyers.
It鈥檚 hard to find people to work in emergency medical services, said Rickey Price, head of the Cambria County Swift Water Rescue Team, who considers himself fortunate to have Brady on the team.
鈥淥n the water rescue side, police, fire, nobody wants to do this job,鈥� he said. 鈥淔inding someone like her, having as much caring and drive as she does, is amazing.鈥�
For Brady, helping the community is in her DNA. Her father, Bill Brady, is a nurse anesthetist at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center. Her mother, Theresa Brady, is a nurse in the United School District in the Armagh area of Indiana County. She has a grandmother who is a retired nurse in Ebensburg.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a whole line of nurses,鈥� Rachel Brady said. 鈥淕rowing up, my dad would bring me around the fire department, and I loved all the people. They became my family and best friends.鈥�
Helping a hurting community is what emergency services is all about, she said. Whether it鈥檚 cardiac incidents, car wrecks on the highway, water rescues, or rushing to house fires, emergency responders are there.
鈥淵ou have to want to help people, " she said. 鈥淵ou have to be willing to do it. Not everybody wants that.鈥�
Brady has been a flight nurse since January. MedStar is part of Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center鈥檚 Level 1 Regional Resource Trauma Center.
When flying a patient from Johnstown to Pittsburgh, time is critical.
鈥淲e can take off from Conemaugh and be at ( UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh ) in 20 minutes,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t can get crazy some days, but it鈥檚 neat going in the back of a helicopter.鈥�
Jackson Township fire Chief Scott Emerson has worked closely with Brady. He called her knowledgeable and professional.
鈥淪he鈥檚 always happy,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he brings a calming effect to any situation. She鈥檚 one of a kind, that鈥檚 for sure.鈥�
(c)2024 The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.)
Visit The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.) at www.tribune-democrat.com
Distributed by