Why Should I Join?
Membership offers the chance to gain valuable and practical medical experience while providing a community service. EMeRG provides EMS coverage at both on-campus and off-campus events, such as concerts, GW Basketball Games, and the Marine Corps Marathon. Members are in the unique and exciting position of being a first responder to the GW community. One of the biggest benefits of membership is knowing that you have made a difference in someone's life.
Additionally, members may be eligible for early registration to GW classes. Please note that EMeRG members are expected to use this to increase the number of shifts they can work during the school day. Also, this privilege must be earned: being a member does not automatically qualify you to receive early registration.
EMeRG members also recieve membership in the National Collegiate EMS Foundation, a non-profit organization representing over 200 collegiate EMS organizations nationwide. EMeRG provides free continuing medical education, bike training, and driving training to its members.
Finally, while all normal EMeRG shifts are volunteer, some special events are paid. Members who are CPR Instructors may also be paid for teaching CPR classes.
How do I Join?
Meet the Prerequisites
To be eligible for membership in EMeRG, you must be a student
at The George Washington University. Any student may apply, whether
part-time or full-time, undergraduate or graduate. Additionally, all EMeRG members
must be physically able to perform tasks typical of those that EMTs must perform.
This includes, but is not limited to being able to lift a certain
amount of weight and being able to remain calm in stressful situations.
While not required for membership, a valid driver's license is required
to drive EMeRG-1 (our vehicle).
Become certified as an EMT
All applicants must either hold current EMT certification or
licensure OR reasonably expect to hold such certification or licensure by the beginning
of the semester for which they are applying. For example, if you are applying in
October of 2008, you must either hold EMT certification then or expect to hold it by
January of 2009. If you are taking a class that ends in December 2008, you would
therefore be eligible to apply. GW normally offers an EMT-Basic class every semester through
the Emergency Health Services
department. If you are already certified or licensed in another states, you may
be able to obtain reciprocity - DC accepts certifications and licenses from most
states for reciprocity.
Submit an Application
When recruitment is active, you may download an application from the
link in the box on the right. Once you have filled it out, return it
to EMeRG@gwu.edu. You should get a confirmation
e-mail shortly after submitting the application. Sometime between when
you submit your application and when the application cycle closes, you
will be contacted regarding the scheduling of an interview.
Have an Interview
All applicants attend an interview and are introduced to some of the
EMeRG Management Team. Interviews generally last 20 to 30 minutes.
Applicants who cannot attend the scheduled interview times, such as incoming
freshmen or students studying abroad, can arrange to have a phone interview.
Attend EMeRG Academy
Applicants who are selected to join EMeRG must attend a 2-3 day academy
that usually occurs right before the beginning of the fall or spring semester.
Many things are covered in the academy, including training on our Clinical
Operating Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures, hazardous materials
training, blood borne pathogens training, and an introduction to the EMeRG
Management Team.
Submit Availability and Start Working Shifts
After finishing the academy and filling out some paperwork, new members can
begin working shifts and special events. Members submit times when they are available
to work - therefore, you will only be assigned shifts that fit into both your
academic and personal schedules.
