They belong to the whole landscape which is painted before kick-off on Friday night. As fans file into the stadium and the bands begin to play their warm-ups, and the kids are throwing footballs around behind the end zone, an ambulance is usually seen backing up near a seldom- used gate. 

It is a precautionary measure, to have an ambulance on hand should it be needed. It is actually not a University Interscholastic League (UIL) requirement. The UIL recognizes that requiring an ambulance on hand may be beyond the resources of many schools, especially small, rural schools. 

In football-crazy East Texas, however, it is the norm. In mid-September at Meredith Memorial Stadium, parked between the visiting stands and the fieldhouse, was an ambulance and crew from UT Health.  

Emergency medical technician (EMT) Jazmyne Kinney and paramedic Briana Von Bargen took in the game between the Yellowjackets and the North Lamar Panthers from that position. The two had volunteered to cover this specific game out of their Tyler substation. 

Like most folks, they departed for the game an hour before kick-off. Their pre-game activity, however, involved signing out a fully-equipped ambulance from the substation, drawing the pharmaceuticals which they would carry with them and inspecting the rig. 

Driving duties to Mineola and return fell to Kinney – the junior of the two.

The pair made an interesting team. Kinney is from Rhode Island and Von Bargen from California.  Each has a story which brought them to East Texas. 

As a young adult, Kinney followed her parents who relocated to be near her mother’s family in the Flint area. Von Bargen was drawn east for romantic reasons. The medical field, however, is largely responsible for them yet being here, as each pursued medical qualifications through Tyler Junior College.  

Although they did not attend TJC at the same time, they did embark on very similar paths. First qualification as an EMT, and then, for Von Bargen, further qualification as a paramedic. Kinney has been in the medical field for two and a half years and Von Bargen seven years.   

“You have to really love what you do,” Von Bargen stated. They both explained how the job pays a health care professional through the giving of service to others, not necessarily with a big wage. 

Kinney related that her interest in becoming an EMT initiated in discussions with an EMT in high school.

“I did my whole senior project on the profession,” she stated. Significant volunteer time followed as did ride-alongs.

The calling to the medical field is a call to service, the two Apache alumni agreed.

“It is really all about the service, about being there for the community,” Von Bargen offered.  “It’s one way that you can make a little difference every day,” added Kinney.

The main instrument in making that difference – in addition to the skills of the caregiver – is the ambulance. Even on a cursory tour, one can sense the forethought and medical detailing which went into its interior. 

The base on the floor is a large clamp into which a standard litter fits. Within a hand’s reach above the rear door are a host of triage items. Some of the newly-developed wound treatments are accessible along the left side of the cabin.

“We treat a lot of gunshot wounds in East Texas,” the two remarked.

The interior of the ambulance cabin contains no wasted space. Specialized medical equipage is positioned with forethought as to when and how it may be used. The stowage system is akin to a Navy warship.   

When queried about procedures should they be called to assist at a game, Kinney and Von Bargen advised that they would provide whatever direct medical assistance was required, while simultaneously calling for another ambulance to transport the player to a local treatment facility.

Once an ambulance team is assigned to an event, they endeavor to remain at the venue, calling in another ambulance whether that be a truck ambulance or, in critical cases, a helicopter. UT Health operates three medical helicopters in East Texas. They are based in Quitman, Athens and Henderson. 

Thus far, Kinney and Von Bargen have had to respond to only one Friday-night football injury. It was a knee injury. As often occurs, the parents of the injured player opted to transport him for treatment.  

UT Health uses an internet portal to schedule work hours, as well as special event coverage, for their practitioners. Kinney doubles up at UT Health as an EMT and a dispatcher, managing the work assignment portal. 

While one of the team scheduled the Mineola vs. North Lamar game a month ago, the other volunteered for the coverage just a day beforehand. Other venues they have seen thus far in the 2025 season included All Saints Academy, Carthage, Whitehouse and Chapel Hill Tyler.

Both young women appear to have adapted well to East Texas and expect to remain. 

Von Bargen recounted, “Texas hospitality got me. Shortly after I arrived, an employee from a local Whataburger walked me out to my car under an umbrella during a downpour.”

Kinney is looking to continue her medical training, obtain her BS in nursing and qualify as a registered nurse.

It was apparent that Kinney and Von Bargen could be found wherever they were needed to serve the community – especially in the fall on Friday nights.