LAPLACE — Growing up in Colombia, Andrea Perea jumped at every opportunity to take charge of first aid in her elementary school classroom, even if it mostly meant sticking Band-Aids over cuts and scrapes.

Compassion for others and experience volunteering with Red Cross stuck with her through the years, guiding her toward a critical care paramedic career with Acadian Ambulance Service.

Perea’s journey wasn’t a clear-cut path. After moving to the United States 10 years ago, she struggled to acclimate to American culture and become fluent in a language she’d never been exposed to.

While taking English as a Second Language courses, Perea landed a job working for a successful chemical plant. Yet, deep down, she knew she wasn’t where she needed to be.

“I think working in EMS was always in my blood,” Perea said. “After I moved to the U.S., I worked at chemical plants for a while and made more money there, but my heart wasn’t in it.”

Perea, who today lives in LaPlace, used money from her plant work to fund her education at National EMS Academy, a division of Acadian Ambulance Service operating in partnership

with South Louisiana Community College.

Perea was an active participant, hungry to learn the steps to take in any scenario, according to instructor Jonathan Dees.

He said she passed the course easily despite having the added challenge of memorizing medical terms as a non-native English speaker.

Perea started at Acadian Ambulance Service three years ago as a paramedic and advanced to a critical care position in six months, a feat Dees said typically takes a year.

Critical care involves transferring patients who are attached to a ventilator or on a lot of medications from one hospital to another. Dees said the position requires precision and sensitivity.

“Andrea goes beyond the standard and takes the time to talk to patients and give them that personal connection,” Dees said.

“She’s very sensitive to other people’s feelings. There’s not a lot of genuinely nice people out there, but she’s one of them.”

Perea’s daily work covers LaPlace to Lutcher and the West Bank of the River Parishes, stretching toward New Orleans.

It’s not uncommon to receive six to eight calls per shift, according to Perea.

The profession is difficult at times, she said, especially when it involves managing children or delivering bad news to families.

Yet, Perea wouldn’t change her job for the world.

“Not many people can say they love their job and enjoy coming to work,” Perea said. “I have the blessing to say it. Honestly, I don’t see myself doing anything else. I do it because it comes from my heart.”

Perea’s ultimate goal is to work in Air Med helicopter transportation.