What is IU-EMS?

    From the homepage:  Indiana University Emergency Medical Service is a student organization comprised

 of certified EMT-Basics and first aid personnel.  IU-EMS is privately hired by university departments, student

 organizations, and community organizations to provide comprehensive emergency medical care to event

 participants.  The organization has a proud tradition of providing emergency medical care at major university

 events, including the world-famous Little 500 bicycle races, as well as the Dance Marathon fundraiser for

 Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis, which serves as a model for dance marathons around the nation.

    IU-EMS members also individually volunteer to assist in instructing the practical skills portion of the

 university's EMT-Basic course, HPER-H404.  At the conclusion of each semester, the organizations hosts a

 state practical skills examination, one of two examinations required for students to become EMT-certified.

 The organizations also provides first aid, CPR, and AED courses to its members as well as to the public, and

 assists in instructing the IU Police Academy first responder course.  Finally, IU-EMS holds many of its own

 educational and social functions for its members.

    IU-EMS' mission for the future is to continue to provide quality patient care at various university events, to

 further expand its educational leadership, especially to the public, and, finally, to establish a non-transport

 campus first response service in cooperation with BHAS (Bloomington Hospital Ambulance Service).  Such

 a response service will allow IU students who call 911 and ask for an ambulance to receive professional care

 sooner than they otherwise would, from fellow students who are familiar with the campus' layout and that of

 its buildings.

 Reasons to Join

    IU-EMS members gain several advantages by participating in IU-EMS.  The organization offers students

 the opportunity to receive hands-on clinical experience with patient care while still attending the university,

 placing them far ahead of students who participate in other programs that only allow limited clinical internship

 and observation, if at all.  Members interested in learning more about emergency medicine and enriching

 their knowledge and skills discover plenty of opportunities to do so that are not available to other students.

    Most of all, however, membership is fun!  Members find that, despite providing a professional service and

 maintaining strict medical standards, the organization is still easy-going and welcoming.  Members often

 form strong friendships with each other that they carry beyond participation in IU-EMS.

    The following are the top 10 reasons to join IU-EMS:

1. Receive hands-on clinical experience with patient care.

2. Learn valuable medical skills which are practical in everyday life.

3. Work with ambulance crews, hospital staff, firefighters, and police officers.

4. Help fellow IU students.

5. Be involved in the behind-the-scenes operation of major campus events, such as the IUSF Little 500 races and the IU Dance Marathon.

6. Enjoy member access to educational and social functions.

7. Volunteer as much or as little as you wish.

8. Meet people with similar interests, but who also come from a variety of interesting backgrounds.

9. Form networking relationships.

10. Add a great component to your résumé.

    Additionally, IU-EMS members have the following opportunities available to them to pursue as they wish:

1. Assist with instructing the university's EMT-Basic practical skills lab.

2. Seek enrichment and advancement opportunities.

3. Obtain EMT continuing education hours.

4. Volunteer to assist on a committee.

5. Advance to a leadership position.

6. Help to promote the organization throughout the university and the Bloomington area.

7. Find a job in emergency medicine.

 Member Roles

    Most IU-EMS members are First Aiders, who provide basic first aid to patients at all events.  The majority

 of injuries that First Aiders treat include skin and tissue injuries (scrapes, cuts, etc.), joint injuries, and

 other musculoskeletal injuries.  They also treat such things as insect stings and eye, ear, and dental injuries.

 First Aiders are always supervised by a certified EMT, who instructs and assists them as necessary.

    Members who are EMTs exercise the full Indiana BLS (basic life support) scope of practice for

 EMT-Basics while assessing and treating patients.  The majority of conditions that EMTs treat include

 respiratory difficulty, neurological deficiency, weakness, dehydration, and the soft tissue and musculoskeletal

 injuries listed above. They also treat such things as chest pain and abdominal pain, diabetic emergencies,

 allergic reactions, behavioral problems, head injury, and a host of other conditions.  New EMTs often have an

 experienced EMT, supervisor, or officer available to instruct and assist them as necessary.

    When First Aiders and EMTs volunteer to work at an event for which IU-EMS provides coverage, they are

 assigned to a particular shift, and sometimes a particular location.  Members are always part of a team of

 EMTs and First Aiders.  They either remain at their station or roam within a specified area, treating any

 patient that approaches them and responding to patient calls dispatched via radio.  EMTs perform full

 assessments and make patient treatment decisions, which can include respiratory assistance, drug

 administration, spinal immobilization, and transport to a hospital via BHAS (Bloomington Hospital

 Ambulance Service).

 Requirements

    The only requirements for joining IU-EMS are:

• Be Affiliated with Any IU Campus as a Student, Faculty Member, or Staff Member

• Submit the Three Forms Listed Below and Copies of the Appropriate Certifications

• Pay the $20 Annual Membership Fee ($10 if Joining During Spring Semester)

    EMTs must submit copies of current professional CPR and Indiana EMT certifications.  All other members

 (First Aiders) must submit copies of first aid, professional CPR, and AED administration certifications.  After

 the membership director approves an application, the applicant becomes a member, is added to the

 organization's e-mail list, is able to attend all meetings and educational and social functions, and enjoy all

 other privileges of membership.

    After joining IU-EMS, members must complete a short training and examination process in order to

 familiarize themselves with the organization's operation.  To maintain their membership, members must:

• Attend all Required Functions

• Complete all Required Training

• Maintain the Appropriate Certifications

• Work at Least One Event per Semester

• Pay the $20 Annual Membership Fee Each Fall Semester

    Note:  IU-EMS does not discriminate on any basis in accepting members.  View IU-EMS' constitution for

 more information on its nondiscrimination policy.

 FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

 Do I have to be premed or be a science major to join IU-EMS?

    IU-EMS includes members from all academic departments, and many members do not plan to pursue

 medicine beyond IU-EMS.

 What if I do not know anything about emergency medicine?

    IU-EMS offers frequent first aid, CPR, and AED administration courses that you can take before applying

 for membership,  and the university offers an EMT-Basic course.  Additionally, IU-EMS provides initial training

 for all new members and orientation training before all events, and an experienced member is always

 available to answer questions or to instruct and assist members as needed.

 What if I do not feel comfortable with my responsibilities?

    There will always be a more experienced EMT, supervisor, or officer available to instruct and assist

 members as necessary, and to take over patient care if a member does not feel comfortable providing care

 in any situation.

 What if I make a mistake?

    IU-EMS understands that most of its members are new to emergency medicine and that participation in the

 organization is a learning experience.  If a member unintentionally commits a medical mistake, most often an

 experienced member will simply point it out in a positive manner in order to educate the member that

 committed the mistake.

    Additionally, if a patient wishes to pursue legal action, medical care providers are protected by good faith

 immunity, meaning that they cannot be held legally responsible for any consequences of the patient's

 medical condition if they provided medical care in good faith (did not commit intentional negligence).

 Nonetheless, IU-EMS still possesses a comprehensive insurance policy in the event of such an incident.

 However, IU-EMS and its members have never been subject to any form of legal action during its entire

 history, starting with its foundation in 1994.

 Is working for IU-EMS dangerous?

    The first priority in emergency medicine is the safety of the provider, and emergency medical care is never

 rendered in a situation dangerous to the provider.  EMTs are specifically trained in assessing the safety of

 patient care situations.  Additionally, the organizations that hire us to work at their events, such as IUSF and

 the IU Dance Marathon Committee, take sufficient steps to ensure that their events are safe for everyone

 involved.  Finally, IU-EMS has a close working relationship with IUPD (Indiana University Police Department),

 and IUPD police officers are present and work directly with IU-EMS at many events, including the IUSF Little

 500 races and the IU Dance Marathon.

 What amount of time must I commit to IU-EMS?

    IU-EMS understands that most of its members are full-time university students who must balance academic

 study, extracurricular activities, jobs, and social and personal pursuits.  For this reason, IU-EMS members are

 only required to work one event per semester.  Members are free to commit as much time to IU-EMS as they

 wish, and shift scheduling is flexible.

 Can I join IU-EMS if I am a part-time, summer, or graduate student, or attend another campus?

    IU-EMS accepts applicants for membership from all Indiana University campuses, including part-time,

 summer, and graduate students.

 Can I join IU-EMS if I am not a student?

    IU-EMS accepts applicants for membership who have any affiliation with any Indiana University campus,

 including faculty members and staff members.

 Can I join IU-EMS if I am an alumnus?

    Alumni can only join IU-EMS if they are currently taking an Indiana University course or are a faculty member

 or staff member at any Indiana University campus.

 Can I remain in IU-EMS after I graduate?

    Alumni who were IU-EMS members in good standing when they graduated can remain in IU-EMS if they

 continue to meet all membership requirements.

 Can I join IU-EMS if I do not have any certifications yet?

    Applicants must submit copies of the appropriate certifications in order to be considered for membership

 in IU-EMS.  For opportunities to obtain certifications, visit the education page.

 Do I have to become an EMT if I join as a First Aider?

    Members can participate in IU-EMS as First Aiders for two regular semesters.  In order to continue to be a

 member for a third regular semester, First Aiders must enroll in an Indiana EMT-Basic course and obtain

 certification at the completion of the course.  Failure to do so will result in loss of membership.

 If I am an EMT in another state, how do I obtain Indiana certification?

    Download the Indiana reciprocity application for your level of certification from the Indiana Department of

 Homeland Security's EMS Certification webpage (new window).  You will also need to complete the Indiana

 written examination and either the Indiana or National Registry practical skills examination.  See the

 document Procedures for Obtaining EMS Reciprocity (PDF), available on the bottom of the same webpage.

(Opens New Window)

 Can I exercise my scope of practice if I hold higher than an EMT-Basic certification?

    While members are certainly encouraged to use any additional knowledge and skills they possess in

 assessing patients and making treatment decisions, they cannot take treatment actions beyond the Indiana

 EMT-Basic scope of practice.

 Can I join IU-EMS at any time during the year?

    IU-EMS only accepts applications at the beginning of each semester and at the beginning of summer.

 Application period dates will be announced prior to the beginning of each semester and prior to the

 beginning of summer.

 How long does it take to process my application?

    Please allow two weeks for your application to be processed.  If you still have not heard back from IU-EMS

 or started receiving IU-EMS e-mails, please e-mail us to inquire about your application.

 Applying

    To apply for membership in IU-EMS, simply print the following three forms and neatly complete them in

 black or blue ink.  Mail or drop off the forms, photocopies of all required certifications, and a $20 personal

 check payable to IU-EMS ($10 if applying during the spring semester) for the annual membership fee to the

 following address during the application period:

    IU-EMS

    Student Activities Office

    IMU Suite 371

    900 E. 7th St.

    Bloomington, IN 47405

Next Application Period:  TBA

 Videos

    The Joining IU-EMS video gives viewers information specifically about IU-EMS, while the NAEMT (National

 Association of EMTs, new window) and NEMSA (National EMS Association) videos concern the national

 EMS community in general.  The NEMSA video is streamed directly from its website (new window).