Miami Students Volunteer With Oxford Fire Department

By Elise St. Esprit

Miami University journalism student

Students at Miami University have the opportunity to volunteer with the Oxford Fire Department and emergency medical support (EMS) team.

Applicants for the program must be at least 18 years old and "of good moral character" according to the Oxford Fire Department. A valid driver's license and clean record are expected, as well as a high school diploma or GED. They must also spend time each month on training and field practice to complete and maintain their certificates.

To begin, the students learn basic methods of life support, such as trauma, ventilation and cardiac management, patient assessment and what to do during a geriatric or childbirth emergency. They are expected to earn and maintain a CPR certification as well.

After the basic training, students move on to more advance medical care, such as learning how to respond in situations with extensive blood loss, oxygen administration, and full spinal immobilization.

Student Volunteers

Miami sophomore Anna Geary began training for the emergency medical support certificate in October 2016. Classes meet at the Oxford Fire Department every Tuesday.

"We have a huge book -- 41 chapters that we go through as part of our training," Geary says. "We also have a mixture of lecture classes and hands-on labs that we do. It's really exciting, I'm really looking forward to the experience, I think it'll be great."

Geary, who is a Kinesiology and Pre-Med double major, hopes to go on to a future career as a physician's assistant. She said that many of the other student volunteers in the program hope to work in medicine as well.

Work At The Station

Oxford Fire Chief John Detherage said that when he took over the volunteer program in 2007, the student volunteers were first responders on the ambulances. Now the program has evolved so that the volunteers work alongside full-time staff members, making their time with the department more of a learning experience.

The Oxford Fire Department has four full-time firefighters and emergency medical technicians on duty 24/7, as well as an extra person on Friday and Saturday nights. The volunteer program has grown from about eight students ten years ago to more than 30 students this year.

The volunteers first begin with getting their emergency medical support certificate and then can chose to go on to work towards a volunteer firefighter position. While emergency medical technicians are not paid for the work they do at the station, they are compensated for the time they spend out on calls.

The volunteer firefighters however are paid like full time staff members. Student volunteers are expected to serve at least 16 hours every month at the station, as well as ride along in ambulances on calls.

The student volunteers provide emergency medical services for their Miami peers as well, including coverage at events such as hockey and football games and "whatever else comes down the road" Detherage says.

"I'm starting my work this week actually, I just passed the test to get my certification," says Geary. "I think it's going to be a really rewarding experience to volunteer in this community."

Photo: Oxford Fire Department operates with the help of nearly 30 Miami University student EMT volunteers. -- Photo by Elise St. Esprit