First Responder Hero Award: Noah Hobbs

ROSSVILLE, Ga. (WDEF) – News 12 is recognizing some of the bravest members of our community through the First Responders Hero Award.

Whether someone is an EMT, paramedic, firefighter, or police officer, this award honors their unwavering dedication to keeping our community safe. When danger strikes, these men and women are the first to respond.

Now, it is our turn to put them first.

In partnership with Wettermark Keith, News 12 is proud to spotlight these courageous individuals.

This month, the community has nominated Paramedic Noah Hobbs with Catoosa County, Puckett EMS.

For Hobbs, the desire to help others began at a very young age.

He says the calling to emergency medicine was always there, even before he fully understood what the job would require.

“Well, ever since I was little, I’ve always had the dream of helping other people and being in emergency medicine. I found a picture from a while ago where I was dressed up as a paramedic or an EMT as a kid,” Hobbs said.

During high school, Hobbs explored a different path.

He was involved in JROTC and believed his future might be in the military.

However, life had other plans.

“Throughout high school, I was in JROTC and thought I wanted to pursue a career in the military. I wasn’t able to do that due to food allergies, but once I got out of high school, it was actually my JROTC instructor who recommended that I try emergency medicine,” Hobbs said. “He also recommended Puckett to me. One day I came to the main office and spoke to Lauren, and it was a done deal after that.”

Now working on the front lines, Hobbs says emergency medicine is as demanding as it is rewarding.

No two calls are the same, and each shift brings new challenges that require quick thinking and compassion.

“It definitely is a very challenging and strenuous field. I enjoy the fact that nothing is the same. Every day is a different challenge and an opportunity to learn,” Hobbs said. “People call for a large array of reasons, and it usually starts with figuring out what is going on. From there, we get more specific and decide what we need to do and where the most appropriate place is to take the patient, so they receive the best care possible.”

Despite the intensity of the job, Hobbs is intentional about staying grounded outside of work.

He says maintaining balance helps him show up fully for both his patients and his family.

“I try to maintain a very good home and work life balance. When I get off shift, I stay awake and spend time with my family. We go out to dinner and do fun activities, and I try very diligently to be present at home,” Hobbs said.

He also credits strong partnerships on the job as a vital part of surviving and thriving in emergency medicine.

“You’ll have good partners, and you’ll have bad partners, and the ones you really connect with, you kind of trauma bond with them,” Hobbs said. “It usually happens after a rough call where everything clicks. You know they’ve got your back and you’ve got theirs. It becomes second nature, and you just know the next step in taking care of a patient.”

While the job can often go unnoticed, Hobbs says moments of gratitude remind him why he chose this career.

“Being told thank you means a lot. This is a relatively thankless field most of the time and knowing that you’ve changed or helped someone’s life is very impactful,” Hobbs said. “Thank you to the community for always supporting us, especially during EMS Week and events like that.”

Through his dedication, compassion, and commitment to service, Paramedic Noah Hobbs continues to make a lasting impact on the lives he touches, embodying the true spirit of the First Responders Hero Award.