Student EMS team works to keep campus events safe

Nick Fisher smiled as he recalled letting a 10-year-old boy play with his stethoscope after treating him at a past IU Dance Marathon event.

“He had an M&M in his ear,” said Fisher, Indiana Collegiate Emergency Medical Service vice president. “He had autism, so he was violent and just screaming. I had to calm him down while another Emergency Medical Technician got the M&M out.”

IC-EMS is a volunteer organization where students provide medical attention to minor injuries. They can also treat students who are intoxicated.

Members of IC-EMS go to several IU events, such as the Little 500, the Nearly Naked Mile and IU Dance Marathon in order to treat any emergencies during the events.

“When you’re functioning for 36 hours straight, it’s a good idea to have IC-EMS there in case of an emergency,” said Parker Remak, operations director for the IU Dance Marathon.

IC-EMS President Garrett Blumberg, who has been involved with IC-EMS for four years, said the EMS team must be ready for anything.

“A guy at Little 500 flipped over his handlebars,” Blumberg said. “He broke his collarbone. Injuries like that aren’t really that common. Most of us are only trained for the minor injuries. He had to go to Bloomington Hospital for that.”

While EMTs from Bloomington Hospital also attend major events, IC-EMS is the only medical organization at Little 500 practices.

IC-EMS has more than 100 students currently involved, and Blumberg said there were 30 to 50 new members from recent call-out meetings this semester.

Jennifer Kempfer, the IU-EMS events director, said students can still join IC-EMS if they missed the call-out meetings by handing in an application and $20 for dues.

Students involved with IC-EMS do not need prior medical experience.

First-Aid and CPR classes are available for free to members.