Brandon Pruitt - Advanced EMT
- searcylivingads
- Sep 2
- 4 min read
By Brandi Crossen
In the heart of every community, there are behind-the-scenes heroes who stand ready to answer the call in times of crisis. One such hero is a long-time EMT from Antioch, Arkansas, who has dedicated decades of his life to serving others, Brandon Pruitt. With a background rooted in dairy farming, Brandon found his calling not in the fields, but out in the community, responding to emergencies and delivering critical support to those in need.
Growing up in Antioch, he lived the quintessential life of a farm kid. In Brandon’s early twenties, a cousin and friend of his talked him into joining the local fire department. While working at the fire department, they began offering a class to train first responders. Brandon took the first step into his EMT career by signing up to take the class. Upon completion of this class, Brandon began running first responder calls for the fire department. In 1997 the fire department offered a class in training EMT’s (Emergency Medical Technician), and Brandon jumped at the opportunity. Once the class was finished, Brandon had to take a national exam to certify him as an EMT, and he passed. This was when Brandon’s career as an EMT took off.
Brandon worked as an EMT first responder in Antioch for ten years while also working in a factory. Brandon finally decided to take the leap and put in an application with NorthStar EMS and was hired. He worked a little over two years at NorthStar as a part-time EMT before deciding to make it a full-time career. Brandon has now worked at NorthStar EMS here in Searcy for nearly two decades. Within those two decades, Brandon decided to further his knowledge by passing the test to become an Advanced EMT, which he has done for the last ten years. Brandon is also the lead field-training officer, Captain of NorthStar EMS’s honor guard, and a CPR instructor.
Outside of his demanding role as an Advanced EMT, Brandon enjoys spending time outdoors, whether it’s fishing, hunting, or tending to his yard. At the heart of Brandon’s life is his family-wife, Kristen; his three sons, Brody, Eric, and Shane; his two bonus daughters, Ava and Alivia; and his six grandchildren, father, and mother and father-in-law.
“It can be hard. With this job, you miss a lot of family moments most people get to experience. We miss a lot of holidays, birthdays, trips, and other things that most families get to enjoy. In this business, you have to have a family that understands what you do for a living and who are willing to adjust to life in EMS.”
- Brandon Pruitt, Advanced EMT, Northstar EMS
While Brandon has his family at home who are missed greatly when on shift, he also has a family at NorthStar EMS amongst his coworkers. For Brandon, one of the most rewarding aspects of being an EMT is the deep sense of camaraderie that comes with being part of the EMS family. “It truly is like having another family.” Whether it’s a routine call or critical emergency, the bond amongst EMTs is unwavering.
“In this line of work, we always have each other’s back. If you have a good call or bad, there is always someone you can talk to and discuss what’s on your mind. We see things that normal people don’t, and it’s nice to have people who really understand what you do and see.”
- Brandon Pruitt, Advanced EMT, Northstar EMS
There were two things that Brandon wished everyone knew about to make EMTs’ lives a bit easier. The first was that when you see first responders coming (EMS, Fire Dept, Police, etc.), move over and let them by. Brandon went on further and explained the importance of not stopping on top of a hill due to the danger it opens up for everyone involved when they can’t see if anyone is coming from the other way. The second thing Brandon recommended was for the public to carry or have a list of medications, allergies, and medical history with you. In the event you need EMS services, having this information on scene allows them to help you in a more efficient and timely manner. “The quicker we can get any information on the patient and treatment started, is imperative,” Brandon emphasized.
For those considering a career as an EMT, his advice is straightforward yet impactful; “If you are looking to get rich, this is not the job for you. People in EMS do not do it for the money. We do it because we want to be able to help someone in their time of need. You have to be a special person to work in EMS, and it’s not for everyone. It can be the best job you will ever have, but it can also be the worst. You see people in times of joy and times of pain.”
Behind the sirens and flashing lights, there is love, sacrifice, pain, grief, loss, joy, hope, faith, tears, hurt, and fear, but most importantly, there are the people who are experiencing it alongside you. Thank you Brandon, for being one of the special people who wake up daily and choose to experience it with us.
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