“I fundamentally believe in a commitment to a cause greater than your own, whether it’s serving your country, doing community service, working for a charity — giving back,” he said. “It’s an honor to serve my country.”
Kane will leave for a year-long tour in Afghanistan sometime after Jan. 1.
“I am not sure what my job will be per say, but it will involve taking care of the health and wellbeing of our nation’s best young men and women,” he said.
When Kane first enlisted in the Navy, he was assigned to a job as an aircraft firefighter. After 10 years of active duty, he left the military to pursue a career as a private sector fire fighter and Emergency Medical Technician. Gravitating toward full-time paramedic work, Kane discovered his passion, and has worked as both an emergency responder and an EMS instructor ever since.
At West Chester Hospital, paramedics are used in a “cutting edge” capacity in the emergency room, he said. They manage care, conduct assessments, treat wounds, bandage patients and administer intravenous lines.
During his service the past 19 years with the Navy Reserves, Kane said he has been able to use the knowledge gained from both his experiences in the medical field at home and those on the front lines to make him a well-rounded paramedic.
“We are very proud and fully support the men and women who dedicate their lives to serving the United States military,” hospital spokesman Grant Wenzel said. “It is very gratifying to know that, through employees like Curtis, the most advanced medical technologies, practices and procedures that are used within our hospital are being shared to treat sick and or wounded soldiers overseas. We are very grateful for the service that Curtis provides — to not only West Chester Hospital, but to our country — and look forward to his safe return from active duty.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5067 or lhilty@coxohio.com.
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