4. The Paramedic

The 26-year-old firefighter/paramedic says caring for people in the rural area of Brady, Texas comes with its own set of challenges. If Kylie Harmon's team needs to transport a critical COVID-19 patient, the nearest trauma center is around 45 minutes away. Harmon, whose boyfriend is also a firefighter/paramedic, comes from a family of paramedics - including her father and aunt - and says she's prepared to put herself at risk to help others. Through audio journals shared with ABC News, Harmon talks about what life used to be like in her small town of 5,500 people and how, living alone, she copes after a tough 48-hour shift seeing not only coronavirus patients, but also those who are struggling in isolation, resulting in calls due to overdoses and suicide attempts. "The Essentials: Inside the Curve" is a special series from ABC Audio, makers of the daily ABC News podcast "Start Here," the chart-topping series "The Dropout," and more: http://www.abcaudio.com/podcasts

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