Kevin Smith

Working in emergency medical services (EMS) since 2007, Kevin Smith has seen it all. What drove him to this line of work, though, even he doesn’t know. It is this unexpected twist of fate that makes his commitment to the cause and overall story much more inspiring.

“I live in Pocahontas, Arkansas. I wanted to be a game warden growing up, and yet I have ended up in EMS. At the end of the day, I believe this is where The Good Lord wanted me, and I have been blessed with the best.”

Yes, it was a spiritual calling that placed Kevin on this lifelong path. He unabashedly craved and consumed every bit of information about EMS as he moved up the ranks. Eventually, he would experience all it has to offer too.

Over his eighteen-year career, Kevin has been an EMT, a paramedic, and then—finally—he took the skies in February 2014 with an advanced FP-C. He even piloted both fixed- and rotor-wing aircraft with Air Evac 24 before he eventually settled on being a flight paramedic for only the latter.

Such a great capacity and desire for learning allowed Kevin to gain many hands-on skills; skills that aid him in providing unparalleled treatment, communicating effectively and ultimately helping the people who need it most. Continuing to adapt and work on these skills, however, is what allows him to improve in his role(s) day after day.

“If you’re interested in the field of EMS, please shadow and make sure this is something you want to do. It’s not a job but a commitment. It requires a lot of time and continuation of learning; this never stops.”

While Kevin stresses the impact an education has on being a successful EMS professional, there is one expectation that he’s found goes unspoken but is far more important: working on interpersonal relationships among your community, teammates and patients.

“I have had many pivotal moments that shaped my passion for EMS, and they all stem from the fact that I can gain the trust of a patient and their family, provide them with the best care possible, and give them comfort when I’m a stranger—someone they don’t even know—that's amazing.”

In the end, it is clear to us that Kevin is exactly where he’s meant to be, and that’s alongside his Air Evac crew members, ready to be a light for anyone in their darkest time, at a moment’s notice.