When an incident happens in the middle of a NASCAR race, AMR paramedics are there to help. That includes Jordan Shultz.
“It’s a big adrenaline rush, because you know things are still going when an incident," said Shultz, a Syracuse-based paramedic. "During a caution, the cars aren’t stopped. They’re still going around the track. You have a lot going through your head. Not only is the driver OK, but am I safety going to be able to get to the incident.”
This is Shultz's second season as a NASCAR chase medic.
“Ours are usually making sure the driver's ok, get him to the care center and get the race back going," said Shultz. "Thankfully, we haven’t had anything too significant.”
When he goes to work, he puts on a special suit — not unlike the drivers.
“Everything’s fire resistant so it’d be as safe as possible on the track,” said Shultz.
Shultz has been an EMT with AMR in Syracuse for three years.
“Well, my grandma was an EMT at 9/11, and you could say I always had it in the back of my mind," said Shultz.
But his NASCAR roots came from someone else.
“You know when I was a kid, I remember watching it with my grandpa,” said Shultz.
Working on the streets in the Salt City has prepared him for road trips. The equipment at the race tracks is consistent with the ambulances at home. He brings a small bag of trauma equipment in the truck.
“We carry an AED, but there's multiple ambulances there so if we needed something else we’d quickly have it,” said Shultz.
NASCAR and AMR teamed up after drivers requested consistent care from track to track, according to Shultz.