08/25/2026
🚨Read about our First Responder of the Month, Jasmin Patel! 🚨
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For years, Jasmin Patel saw Montgomery EMS as a familiar presence in the community. She noticed its ambulances and first responder vehicles around town and saw members providing support at local events. A first responder vehicle was also regularly parked outside the home of her neighbor, Montgomery EMS member Prasad Potluri. As Patel grew older, that familiarity developed into curiosity—and eventually a desire to serve. “I wanted to be part of something that mattered,” Patel said. “I liked how community-oriented Montgomery EMS was. When someone was having a difficult day, I wanted to be part of the team that could help.”
Patel joined the Montgomery EMS cadet program as a high school sophomore. She recently graduated and will attend Rutgers University this fall. Balancing school, EMS shifts, training, meetings and patient-care reports required discipline. Patel said the experience helped her become much more organized and taught her to complete assignments before reporting for a shift. She also found a strong support system within the squad. “Everyone was always willing to help,” Patel said. “It wasn’t only help with schoolwork. People gave me advice about life in general. Some of that advice has stayed with me, and I still use it today.
Patel said the cadets formed an especially close bond. They attended EMT classes together, participated in drills and shared the experience of responding to calls. “When you go through something like EMT class together and then begin riding on the ambulance, you become very close,” she said. “The cadets became another group of friends and a second family.
One patient interaction remains particularly meaningful. Patel was helping care for a frightened pediatric patient when she learned that the child loved fairies. During the ambulance ride, the two talked about fairies, helping the child become calmer. Seeing her daughter relax also helped reassure the child’s mother. Months later, the mother sent Montgomery EMS a thank-you note. Patel still remembers it vividly. “The medical care was important, but what stayed with the family was that someone took the time to talk with her and comfort her,” Patel said. “Receiving that note meant so much to me. It reminds me why we do this and motivates me to keep helping people.
Patel believes empathy is one of the most important skills she gained. “People often meet us during one of the worst moments of their lives,” she said. “Sometimes they need someone who will simply listen and be there for them. Her enthusiasm also inspired another volunteer. After hearing Patel describe how enriching and rewarding her Montgomery EMS experience had been, her father became increasingly curious about the organization. He began asking about the different ways he could contribute and ultimately joined the squad himself.
Although Patel is leaving for Rutgers, she does not plan to leave Montgomery EMS behind. She hopes to volunteer during school breaks and whenever she returns home on weekends. “I can’t imagine Montgomery EMS not being part of my life,” she said. “It has become a second home.”
