Marshall University Emergency Medical Services has quietly served
the students, staff, and visitors on our campus since 1982. We exist as
a division of the Department of Public Safety, but most of our personnel
are volunteer members of the MUEMS Student Association. Currently there
are over 40 active volunteers in the student organization. This venue provides
us with a chance to explain who we are and what we do for the Marshall community.
Our primary mission is simple: to provide the best possible emergency medical care for the Marshall University community. From the first day of classes to the last day of finals, we are there for all persons on the campus. A subset of this goal is to provide second-to-none coverage for Marshall University's special events. From a sold out National Championship game to graduation Saturday, we are there; quietly waiting in the wings, hoping we are not needed, but ready if we are. In addition to providing a fully licensed ambulance with state-of-the-art advanced life support capabilities, we also are involved with training. We train the public in CPR and first aid, host a plethora of specialty classes for EMS personnel, and train new EMT's and paramedics through the Community and Technical College. The members of the student organization are there in all steps of these processes, whether it be helping EMT and paramedic students through difficult spots in the curriculum, or teaching a CPR class to any group of interested persons. Succinctly, our secondary goals can be summed up by saying that we do all we can to educate the public and fellow EMS providers in the latest protocols and procedures.
The 1996-97 academic year has been an eventful one for MUEMS. We started
the year off implementing a new response plan for events held in Marshall
Stadium. Our organization president, Bill Butler and coordinator, Dave Gesner
designed
the coverage protocol, and implementing it was, at the
onset, a nervous occasion. Being untested, our reservations were obvious.
However, as the season progressed, it became evident that this plan was
flawlessly designed and perfectly executed by our crew of volunteers. The
highlights of the plan are its allowance for multiple tiers of response,
all geared to the severity of the incident, and a goal of definitive advanced
life support treatment (when necessary) being initiated in five minutes
or less. Everyone who has been involved in the stadium events agrees that
this plan is first class. This is only one of the innovations we utilize
to provide the best possible care to all persons on the Marshall campus.
Our EMT class in the fall semester enjoyed one of the highest pass rates in the state, again. This is thanks to the tireless efforts of Mr. Gesner, who teaches the class, and countless volunteers of the student organization who were there to help in any way imaginable. We look forward to having the same rate of success with the spring semester course. Our squad members help out with individualized skills, such as CPR and patient assessment, and host students on their observation time, making it as educational an experience as possible. We have received large amounts of positive feedback from the EMT students on the quality of the personnel available to assist them in class or on the ambulance.
One of the
most unique aspects of MUEMS is our specialized rope rescue
team. We have about fifteen members who are trained in rappelling and rigging
carrying systems. The function of this team is to get persons out of precarious
situations where simple carrying is not safe or practical. Although we have
not needed to use this resource, it is there and ready for an incident on
the campus should it occur.
Another interesting facet of MUEMS is our CPR training center. This is a topic of particular interest to me, as I have recently been appointed the coordinator for CPR training services. We are one of about 75 centers in the state offering a full range of classes in adult, pediatric, and comprehensive cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We have about 60 instructors at our disposal and can customize a class for any size group and any level of prior experience. We are also able to train new instructors in house, thus expanding our bank of instructors and improving our ability to serve the Marshall community.
This summer will provide Marshall University EMS a unique opportunity to showcase our abilities when we host the National Collegiate EMS Foundation summer conference. We will be offering a wide variety of classes and seminars to EMT's and paramedics from around the nation using both our own instructors and some from around the area to assist us. The tireless efforts of Chris Frazier, vice-president of the student organization, Chuck Peoples, Dina Clark, and many others are making this look like it will be a first class event. EMS personnel from around the state and nation are going to participate, and membership in a collegiate organization is not a prerequisite. Persons from all area EMS organizations are invited and encouraged to attend.
In closing, MUEMS is about students helping their peers. We provide EMS
coverage to
the campus seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day
and average less than three minutes from receiving a call to our arrival
at the side of an injured or ill person. Our staff is state certified, the
same as any organization in the state. Just because we are not a paid service
does not alter the quality of care you get from us. Our dedication and training
is as good as any in the state of West Virginia, and when you need us, we're
just a phone call away. If we are not available, your call will be promptly
forwarded to Cabell County 911 who can serve you in our absence. For information
on any of our services or if you would like to join our group, feel free
to call our coordinator, Dave Gesner, at 696-2391 during business hours.
Authored by Dan Bledsoe, EMT-B, First Year Student, School of Medicine
Feel free to call me or E-mail with any questions or comments:
Phone: 429-6480
E-Mail: RBLEDSOE@MARSHALL.EDU
Picture captions from top to bottom:
The MUEMS staff takes a moment to pose for posterity before this year's championship game. (Photo by Dave Gesner).
Squad members unload the ambulance, getting the equipment ready for the championship game. (From left: Matt Bias, Paramedic; Chuck Peoples, EMT; Bill Butler, EMT; Wendie Bias, Paramedic; Chris Frazier, EMT; Mike Freed, EMT; Brian Mayo, EMT) (Photo by Dave Gesner)
EMT Sara Foy takes a moment to relax during the National Championship Game with MU mascot Marco. (Picture by Bill Butler)
Our Rope Rescue team in training. Mike Freed, EMT is rappelling off Holderby Hall as Dave Gesner, Paramedic is spotting him down. (Photo by Sara Foy)
While Chris Frazier, EMT, poses for the camera, Paramedic Lee Bias double checks his equipment in preparation for the big game as Paramedic Rich Meadows assists. (Picture by Dave Gesner)