Holden Kidd dreams of being a firefighter

Your worst day is when Holden Kidd shines. He has always dreamed of being a firefighter and because of Prosser School of Technology, he holds certifications in fire science, and is an EMT. “I love to see people’s faces when they have come through one of the worse moments of their lives,” he said. According to Kidd there is no better feeling than being able to help someone in their time of need.
The 2022 Salem High School and Prosser graduate proved he has chosen the right path for his career after competing on a national level in the SkillsUSA competition.

Like the state competition, Kidd and his teammate Bella Castro, were tested on skills found on the Indiana and national registry skill sheet. At the state level, they were asked about long-bone stabilization and CPR. At nationals, they were required to go one step further. They were given a scenario and they had to choose what skill(s) to use. In Atlanta, they were given another opportunity to show what they knew about performing CPR, but this time it advanced into a respiratory emergency where the patient stopped breathing. During the competitions, they also had to perform a medical assessment of a heart attack and were put into a trauma situation like what emergency personnel face during an auto accident.

They finished in fourth place.

While Kidd is waiting to turn 21, the minimum age to be a firefighter, he will be working as an EMT, voluteering at Prosser to help with the firefighter/EMT classes and attending classes himself at Ivy Tech.

Read Holden's complete story in The Salem Leader, Aug. 2 edition.