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.

This semester, Smith has students in the course from colleges across Penn State, including the Eberly College of Science, College of Agricultural Sciences and College of Health and Human Development.

Charlotte Dudis, a first-year student majoring in veterinary and biomedical sciences, decided to take the course based on a cursory interest in first-aid skills and CPR she developed in high school.

“I loved the training. This course is so great and has really revived my passion for emergency medicine,” said Dudis, who is now considering ways to combine her veterinary degree and emergency medicine.

She also appreciated interacting with the first responders at Pleasant Gap Fire Company and hearing about the close-knit community they’ve created.

“I loved watching them interact on the job. They spend so much time together and serve such an important role. They come onto emergency scenes and deal with patients in trouble, and the unfortunate truth is that sometimes things go wrong. But they always come back together to talk things through and be with each other. It’s such a strong bond.”

Jeryx De Guzman, a third-year student majoring in communication sciences and disorders, had the opportunity to sit in a vehicle while it was being dismantled as part of the exercise, with all safety protocols observed.

“They covered me with a sheet so I wasn’t injured, and I got to sit inside the car while they were extricating me from the vehicle — breaking off the doors, windows, and roof. I realized that it would be really scary to be waiting in a car to receive care, but we learned how to keep the patient focused and calm and to communicate what was happening.”

De Guzman is studying to become a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and work in a hospital setting. He sought out the emergency care course so he could become dual-certified as an EMR and SLP, to deliver an additional level of care to his patients.

“We got a real taste of what it was like to work on an emergency medicine team. It is so real to hear from people who have worked in this field and understand it beyond in-class instruction. They were able to explain how things from the textbooks are often different on the streets, but the day-to-day reality of being an effective EMS provider was a good mix of both classroom education and on the job training.”

The course is supported by Penn State’s Conferences and Institutes, which — recognizing the importance of hands-on learning outside the classroom — assists with credit-granting courses that include off-site educational trips.

This hands-on training was a highlight of the course for Serena Richards, a second-year student in the movement science option of the kinesiology major. She would like to pursue a career in sports medicine and orthopedics and plans to become certified and work toward a position as an EMT at Penn State to gain more experience working directly with patients.

“I want to help people and get my foot in the door in medicine in whatever way I can,” Richards said. “That’s why this course has been so amazing. All of us are there because we want to be there and we want to find a role in the healthcare field. It gives you so many options to start pursuing experience in medicine.”