UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Students in the course Kinesiology 303: Emergency Care–First Aid/Safety/AED recently participated in a vehicle rescue training at Pleasant Gap Fire Company, where they assisted in extracting and treating patients from a simulated motor vehicle crash.
After watching members of the fire company arrive at and extricate a person from a simulated motor vehicle crash, students rotated through stations where they practiced the role of an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) at a crash scene, rode and took vitals in a moving ambulance, and interacted with or used the tools emergency responders have at their disposal, including cutters, spreaders, and medical equipment used for patient transport. The training also gave students a chance to talk with members of the fire, rescue, and EMS staff about working as a first responder and field experiences for first responders.
According to course instructor Brent Smith, assistant teaching professor of kinesiology and instructor in the athletic training program, KINES 303 offers a basic introduction to emergency medicine for students interested in EMS and other emergency services, including law enforcement and firefighting, as well as a variety of medical and healthcare-related professions, including nursing and athletic training.
“In any medical field, it’s helpful to have interprofessional education and practice — credentialed providers coming together to collaborate and provide the best care. Training in emergency medicine helps students seeking a career in a variety of credentialed fields, like nursing or law enforcement, understand that EMS staff are far more than what they might perceive them to be — like just ambulance drivers,” said Smith. “Healthcare workers across the system, including first responders, need to understand and respect the value of other credentialed providers.”
After completing KINES 303, students are eligible to test for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians to position them to become certified as an EMR and apply for state licensure. With that certification, students can start working in community services. The course also prepares students for the follow-up course, Kinesiology 403: Emergency Medical Technology, which allows them to take the next steps to being credentialed as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
These courses help prepare students to become certified emergency responders and provide valuable perspective for students who are interested in a career in medicine or are considering alternatives to traditional medical school.