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Each semester, the campus of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, consisting of over 18,000 undergraduates, 6,000 graduate students, and 4,000 faculty members, is watched over by the primarily student-run organization of UMass Emergency Medical Services. Working events such as concerts, plays, dances, and sporting activities, the UMass EMTs have been an integral part of the school for decades.
On November 17th, 2005, ABC news announced that UMass Amherst had the highest rate of violent crime in the nation, in accordance with the size of its campus. This reputation prompted the UMass EMS motto “You Stab ‘Em, We Fix ‘Em!”, which has held true on numerous occasions. This being said, it’s clear that the organization will remain a prominent group on campus for years to come.
Not only does UMass EMS provide services to those who are injured on campus, but they also offer an EMT training course to students each semester. The course is managed by Director of Training and UMass Junior, Peter Kaminski, whose says in regard to his position that “the vast majority of it is ensuring the quality of the course through working with the teacher and the students. You have to be on top of your game to understand the course material to pass on to the students. Organizing, getting forms and information out to students. Being available for extra help.”
The class relies on student teaching assistants who volunteer from the EMT group, and are, in turn, awarded a better choice of shifts to work in exchange for their assistance.
“The quantity and qualities of TA’s has significantly improved,” explains Kaminski, “It’s easy to find a number of TAs when you have a group of eager students who graduate and want to go on to pass on that knowledge. Their energy and enthusiasm is contagious amongst the students.”
Although both the group and the class are held in high regard on campus, Kaminski insists that there is always room for improvement, “It would be good if students would understand that they can’t treat their EMS class like they treat the rest of their academic classes. You can’t carry on habits like cramming before the final. You need to retain information throughout the course.”
As for the future of UMass EMS, the organization is planning to further enhance member involvement by hosting a number of training seminars and events, such as the recently held MCI, or Multi-Casualty Incident, Drill, for which the group rented a PVTA bus and staged a mock accident scene.
For the coming semesters, other event ideas include CPR seminars, vehicle extrication drills, fund raisers, and other specified training sessions.
Kaminski is excited for the elevated group involvement, “Retention of students from the class into the group has gone up. [Executive Director] Joe McGrath is excellent at connecting with people. His positive attitude and enthusiasm encourages students to continue moving forward in the group. With this extra enthusiasm you can do things like have an MCI Drill.”
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