ICEMS students assist Little 500 riders on track

The students who work with the Indiana Collegiate Emergency Medical Services have had an array of experiences throughout their time working the Little 500 event.

Senior and President Jennifer Kempfer has been involved with ICEMS since she was a freshman and said the organization has worked every Little 500 practice since February.

She said that a few years ago, one of the rider’s chains broke, and he went over his handle bars and was knocked unconscious.

Sophomore Sherouk Omara said that while she was working for ICEMS last year, she witnessed a girl bust her knee, where she had sustained a previous injury.

“It was probably the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen,” she said.

Junior Stevie Hacker said she once saw someone who wasn’t drunk get pushed over a fence and become scratched.

During the races, Omara said they divide into groups of two to four people and patrol the stands. ICEMS students with more experience supervise each group of people.

They work in conjunction with IU Health Emergency Medical Transport Services.

During the actual race, there are four EMTs paired with four personnel on the track and eight first-aiders paired with four EMTs in the stands.

“By the time the race comes along, they have a fairly good idea of what they’re doing,” Kempfer said.

She said heat exhaustion has been an issue some years, especially when alcohol is a contributing factor.

“You can get a myriad of stuff,” she said. “Some of the injuries drunk people get are pretty funny.”

Kemper also has helped at events such as Qualifications and Miss-N-Out and said she personally works about one to three practices each week.

“I don’t think people realize how much of a time commitment it can be sometimes,” Kempfer said. “I’m proud of my guys. I like the experience, and I like working with other people.”

When something serious happens, Kempfer said ICEMS workers take the patient’s vitals and determine whether he or she must be taken to the hospital by ambulance or can be treated on-site. She said only two patients have had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance this year.

When someone is injured during practice, the riders stop until the person can be moved and treated. During the races, the riders are slowed down, but the race doesn’t stop. The EMTs must backboard the patient and move the person as quickly as possible.

Kemper said her staff is trained through simulated situations and also work hands-on.

“They learn by doing,” Kempfer said. “The best way to learn is from experience.”

EMTs complete a three- to fourth-month class and must also gain experience in an emergency room and an ambulance. First-aiders must take a CPR and first-aid course.
Kempfer said many of her staff members are pre-med, and they become involved to obtain real-life experience before heading to medical school.

She said her staff arrives at the race about an hour and 15 minutes before it begins and stays until all bikers have left the field and most people are out of the stands. She said the group has about 40 active first- aiders and 20 active EMTs.

As a freshman, Omara worked the women’s practices and the men’s race. She said only ICEMS students work at the practices.

“Usually it’s scratches and bruises,” she said. “I really didn’t get anything major.”
She also mentioned that sometimes riders have been known to crack their helmets.

“I wasn’t really nervous because I had done the practices,” Omara said. “If anything happened, it would be addressed quickly. It’s usually not too eventful. It’s a good thing for them and us, as well.”

Hacker is an EMT and became involved with the organization last year.

“I just got my EMT certificate, and I just wanted to get some hands-on training,” Hacker said.

She said she plans to be a nurse. She added that she enjoyed working last year’s race and worked in the bleachers for the women’s race and on the track for the men’s race.
Hacker said that last year she mostly helped move riders off the track. This year, she assists with both the men’s and women’s practices on Thursdays.

“That’s different than the race because no one’s there except for us, so we actually have to do stuff,” she said. “It’s really exciting.”

She said it can be difficult helping people sometimes because her adrenaline is running and she is trying to remember everything she was taught. She added that there have been lots of broken bones while she’s worked.

“I always admired rescue teams, and I just wanted to get involved with it and really help people,” she said. “It’s fun to get to meet new people.”

Omara said that because the group is all students, sometimes people don’t trust them.

“I really want to reassure them that we have really great EMTs and they really know what they’re doing,” Omara said. “We’ll take care of you.”