Taylor students have the opportunity to save lives and serve the Grant County community by volunteering with local EMS unit, Ambulance 8.
Ambulance 8 is looking for volunteer emergency medical technicians (EMTs) from Taylor University and the Upland community, Jacob Theurer, chief of the Upland ambulance, said. Ambulance 8 is a volunteer-run ambulance serving Upland, Matthews and the surrounding areas of Grant County.
“We’re 100% volunteer, so we need help both from the community, from Taylor [and] from people that want to have a sense of community involvement,” Theurer said. “We’ve been very fortunate to have a pretty steady flow of EMTs come through with Taylor.”
To volunteer as an EMT, students must receive their national and Indiana state EMT certification.
Students not yet certified can enroll in an online or in-person EMT certification course lasting anywhere from eight weeks to a few months. In EMT courses, students learn skills such as giving basic medical support, operating equipment like stretchers, assessing the patient’s condition and creating treatment plans, Audrey Schefer, a junior biology pre-med major at Taylor University and a former volunteer with Ambulance 8, said.
Volunteers with Ambulance 8 have a lot of flexibility, Theurer said. At the beginning of each month, volunteers tell Theurer their availability, listing how many evenings they can work.
Volunteering as an EMT is also a way for students pursuing a career in the medical field to get on-the-ground experience while meeting patient-contact hour requirements, Theurer said.
Schefer appreciated how EMT work prepared her to face a variety of situations.
“If you're interested in the medical profession, it's an amazing experience and opportunity to have because you're exposed to so many different things [and] so many different kinds of people,” she said.
Because most volunteers are either working professionals or full-time students, the ambulance typically runs only in the evenings from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m., Theurer said. Paid EMS ambulances from Gas City cover daytime emergencies.
To operate, the ambulance must put together a two-person crew, consisting of a driver and an EMT. If available, a helper will also join the driver and EMT for runs.
During shifts, volunteers are considered on-call, carrying pagers everywhere they go, Theurer explained. Grant County Central Dispatch will notify Ambulance 8 when there is a call within its range. If the ambulance is not busy with another call, the volunteers’ pagers will ring, signalling that the crew has four to six minutes to arrive at the Upland Fire Department, where Ambulance 8 is stationed.
Once assembled at the station, they take off in the ambulance to the patient’s location, Theurer said. Upon arrival, the EMT will assess the patient’s state, address any immediate medical needs and, if necessary, transport the patient to the hospital.
The ambulance and its crew offer basic life support (BLS), Schefer said.
BLS ambulances offer basic medical care, such as giving patients oxygen, monitoring their vitals, administering an array of medicines and bandaging wounds, Schefer explained. If the patient requires more intensive care, the team will call Advanced Life Support (ALS) to the scene
Schefer’s interest in working as an EMT stemmed from her love of excitement and variety, she said. The job requires individuals to think on their feet and be prepared for any situation.
“I would suggest being an EMT for students who really like a fast-paced environment where you don't know what you're going to expect,” Schefer said. “It's going to be kind of uncomfortable sometimes, and you have to be able to adapt to things very quickly, because you could be pulling up to someone's house and they have a stubbed toe, or they're in cardiac arrest…you just have to be okay with doing a 180 on a moment's notice.”
Theurer also emphasized the mental toughness required to be an EMT.
Though Upland is usually pretty quiet, receiving anywhere from zero to six calls a shift, EMTs must be ready for anything.
“It’s not for the faint of heart,” Theurer said. “A lot of calls are easy calls, but you have to be prepared and you have to be able to deal with those difficult situations when they arise.”
However, the position is also extremely rewarding, especially in a smaller community like Upland and Matthews, Theurer explained. He enjoys the opportunity to come alongside others and their families on one of the worst days of their lives, bringing peace and comfort to a frightening situation.
Schefer echoed Theurer, appreciating her ability as an EMT to assist those in need.
“Just being able to be there for [the patients], serving my community and giving up my time is really meaningful to me,” Schefer said. “And I just love connecting with people like that, even if we only see them in the ambulance for maybe 10 or 15 minutes — just getting to know people and caring for them.”
A diversity of ages and professions volunteer with Ambulance 8, from nurses to professors to Department of Child Services (DCS) workers, Theurer said. Despite their differences, he described the Ambulance 8 crew as a “tight-knit team.” He also highlighted the ambulance’s faith-centered and familial environment. Meetings and dinners are opened with prayer, and multiple crew members attend church together.
“Other ambulances have their own styles and their way of doing things,” Theurer said, “but this ambulance is far more God-driven than any other ambulance that I’ve ever seen.”
In an industry where darkness is evident and faith is often an afterthought, Schefer enjoys the Christian emphasis and community focus of Ambulance 8.
“We're all very dedicated to what we do, and we do it with compassion and love and actually wanting to serve the people here,” Schefer said. “A lot of the members of the team have been with Ambulance 8 for decades. They have thousands of runs they've been on. They know the people of Upland, and that's really nice, because there really is a genuine want to form relationships and be there for people who are hurting.”
Those interested in the position can email Theurer at emt801@gmail.com to learn more information and begin the vetting process. Individuals exploring the idea of becoming an EMT or simply curious about the role can also request to set up a ride along with Ambulance 8, accompanying the crew on different runs and observing the ambulance in action.
