CHC’s Alexandra Jabr is Molding the Next Generation of First Responders
Publish Date: Aug. 3, 2021
Crafton Hills College alumna Alexandra Jabr wants to help first responders build more compassion and empathy while working in the field.
She recently published an article in EMS World Magazine exploring the subject and talking about how real- life experiences shaped her career.
“My greatest lessons in this area did not come from graduate school,” she writes in the publication’s March 2021 edition.“We will never overcome being uncomfortable with death notification skill as long as we ignore a need for it.”
Jabr explained that she felt the need to explore the subject further while reading a Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS) instruction manual. One topic stood out the most: A chapter titled, Coping with Death (Optional). “Why don’t we ever teach this subject,” she asked an instructor. He replied, “The class did not have time to cover it.”
This response did not satisfy Jabr. She credits her friend for advice in such circumstances:“See a need, fill a need.” “At the time I wrote the article,” she said,“I didn’t think anyone felt the same way as I did, until I put it out there. I felt like, here’s something we don’t talk about because we don’t get taught this. I recognized that there’s a flaw in this system.”
To help, Jabr created a series of classes on the subject through Emergency Resilience, an online platform she founded to help people in the medical field navigate tough subjects - like addressing death. Her course work is available for a small fee and intends to “shift our culture into becoming more proactive and resilient to the challenges and adversities our vocation inevitability experiences,” Jabr said.
“Empathy,” Jabr explained,“is one of those things that can’t always be taught, but that does not mean we can’t try. I wanted to create an introduction to awareness of the subject and prepare first responders to better handle ‘real life’.”
While Jabr is dedicated to a career in the EMS field and education, her path to get where she is today was not easy. She began attending Crafton Hills College in 2004 but wouldn’t graduate until 2014.
At the time she began attending CHC, Jabr said she was too indecisive to focus on one career and she did not think she needed a degree to become an EMT or a firefighter.
“My mom died at 18. My dad was overseas. And my sister was the only person to go to,” Jabr said.“I was running around feral trying to figure it all out because I did not have a solid idea of what I wanted to do. I just panicked.”
In 2012, Jabr decided to pursue a higher education “aggressively” and soon found herself succeeding beyond her expectations. In addition to the quality EMS programs at Crafton, Jabr also credits the College’s faculty and sense of community for her success.
“It felt natural coming back because it’s home,” she said.
In addition to her small business, Jabr teaches at Victor Valley College, where she enjoys molding the next generation of first responders. She also works alongside fellow Crafton alumni, which she calls an extension of her Crafton experience.
She knows that while there were many bumps in the road, her success is due to grit and determination, which is something she hopes inspires others to keep going. She encourages students in this line of work to continue their education beyond the certificate program to finish their degrees.A back injury changed her career path from being a front line EMT to teaching EMTs, and she says that her education and teaching gave her a purpose to keep going.
“Those who can’t do teach – that is a positive spin I put on the situation,” Jabr said. “Had I not had a degree that allowed me to teach, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” Currently, Jabr is working to obtain her doctorate in grief counseling.
To learn more about Jabr’s work or to purchase her course, visit www.emergencyresilience.com
