Retired Olivet instructor begins new occupation as EMT at Sparrow Eaton
Michael Flood used to be the “grandpa of the gang” when he enrolled in an emergency clinical technician program at Lansing Group School.
Flood had simply retired from a 25-year occupation in schooling at Olivet faculties. He retired in 2019 however discovered he ignored being surrounded by way of other people all day.
Flood, now 54, had spent his complete lifestyles serving the group — from his time within the army to being a instructor and fundamental for 25 years — and he wasn’t content material enjoyable at house. So he enrolled in a six-month EMT route at LCC, which ended up being most commonly digital as a result of COVID-19.
“I didn’t ever image this,” Flood stated. “I assumed if I may get a task operating an afternoon or two every week, I would be at liberty. However that isn’t my character. I need to be out and energetic. I need to be out doing one thing.”
A 12 months and a part after beginning paintings at Eaton House EMS, Flood is the chief of the carrier. Flood began on the Sparrow Eaton Medical institution EMS carrier in February 2021, in the middle of the pandemic. COVID made it a troublesome task, however that used to be the one global he knew as an EMT. Now, he appears again and sees COVID helped him grow to be a greater EMT.
Along with Eaton House EMS, he additionally works as a clinical responder on the Olivet Hearth Division, which permits him to get out into his group. He taught in Olivet for 15 years, used to be a fundamental for 4 years, then moved again to instructing after he met his spouse.
He misses his scholars, however now he will get to peer them in a unique position, whether or not it’s at soccer video games or out locally. It is been eye-opening happening tough calls and seeing other people he is aware of injured or unwell.
“Seeking to assist group individuals is a troublesome enjoy however it is rewarding on the identical time,” Flood stated. “I believe it is a sense of convenience to understand (the individual) using them to the health center or using in again with them,” Flood stated.
Joe Clayton works with Flood at Eaton House EMS. He stated Flood is affected person, logical and a professional and whilst he is new to the arena of pre-hospital care, he has the commonsense to be excellent on the task.
A part of what Flood stated he loves about being an EMT is the quick tempo. He is a self-described adrenaline junkie and enjoys mountain hiking and is a qualified bicycle owner.
“I nonetheless get excited when the telephones pass off, I nonetheless get excited to head on calls and be round other people,” Flood stated. “I in point of fact love my task now. … The push I am getting operating as an EMT and volunteer fireman is so much like the only I am getting when I am rock hiking.”
He does not see a 2d retirement coming anytime quickly, although his spouse Suzie Flood, stated she hopes “possibly one day” her husband will relax for a calming retirement.
“It is simply in him to need to be busy,” Suzie stated. “I believe he likes the adrenaline that comes at the side of being a primary responder.”
She wasn’t shocked when Michael went again to paintings. Even prior to he retired, he’d spend his lunch breaks at paintings researching how you can grow to be an EMT, she stated.
Suzie used to be a instructor in Olivet when Michael used to be the fundamental and he or she stated the workforce cherished that he used to be all the time the primary one on-scene if there used to be an emergency. He dropped the whole thing to get there to peer how he may assist, whether or not that be thru comforting scholars and fogeys or drawback fixing.
“Below drive he is nice at drawback fixing,” Suzie stated. “He idea it used to be his accountability to verify everyone seems to be OK. … Any place he senses somebody that wishes assist, he’s proper there.”
Touch reporter Kara Berg at 517-377-1113 or kberg@lsj.com. Observe her on Twitter @karaberg95.