Emergency Medical Responders added to campus organizations

The Daily Mississippian

by Adam Goslin
DM Staff Writer
June 03, 2003

Ole Miss students looking to gain experience in emergency medical situations can now join the Univeristy of Mississippi Emergency Medical Responder (UMEMR) student organization.

The UMEMR gives students the experience of working in real emergency situations. The organization was created because of need for more first responders in Lafayette County.

"We've had a good turnout," said Melissa Riley, training officer for the UMEMR and lieutenant for the Lafayette County Volunteer Fire Department. "We've had several graduates go on to become paramedics."

Riley is a graduate student from Nashville, Tenn., studying in education leadership.

The UMEMR is a subdivison of the Lafayette County Volunteer Fire Department and Lafayette County Emergency Medical Responders.

The organization was formed in April. The students involved get to work with members of the fire department as first responders, the people who inform and guide emergency medical technicians and paramedics to the scene of an emergency.

Members of the UMEMR are required to be members of Lafayette County Volunteer Fire Department. Members must also have a valid EMR license and attend at least one EMR training session a month. Members are also required to make at least three emergency medical calls per semester.

The UMEMR currently has 25 active members, Riley said. She also said 12-15 members are active this summer.

"We have students of all majors and classifications," Riley said. "We have international students and faculty and staff working with us."

Andy Poe, who has worked with the fire department since he was a freshman and worked to get the UMEMR up and running, said he enjoys working with the group.

"I love it," Poe, a senior biology major from Carrollton, said. "The thrill of helping people is a thrill like no other."

Poe credits the North Mississippi EMS Authority for the success of the UMEMR. He said none of the training could have been possible without the NMEMS and Chris Elliott. Elliott was the instructor for the group and was Paramedic of the Year in 2001 for Mississippi.

Training for first responders is offered once a semester. The next training session will be offered in July. The session has classes two nights a week for four hours and lasts around six weeks. General meetings for the UMEMR occur the second Thursday of each month in the Turner Center.

For more information about the UMEMR visit http://www.lcemr.com or e-mail to lcemr@aol.com.