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Mountaineer Medics program enriches App State student experience and supports campus events

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Mountaineer Medics Zach Wood, left, and Emily Bjerregaard work shifts during App State events at the university’s Boone campus. Multiple Mountaineer Medics teams are stationed at various locations in large App State venues, such as Kidd Brewer Stadium. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

"Our new Mountaineer Medics are gaining practical experience in pre-hospital care, making our response times faster and our campus safer for students, employees and visitors."

App State Chancellor Sheri Everts

“The Mountaineer Medics program empowers App State students to gain hands-on experience, building crucial skills for public safety careers, graduate-level degrees and, most importantly, saving lives. Our goal is to deliver high-value, compassionate medical care while fostering leadership and public service skills in our students.”

Frank Sherman, App State's fire marshal and EMS coordinator

By Emily Autry
Posted Oct. 25, 2023 at 3:39 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — This fall, 27 Appalachian State University students are gaining career experience in emergency medical services (EMS) and supporting campus events as part of a new program, Mountaineer Medics.

"Our new Mountaineer Medics are gaining practical experience in pre-hospital care, making our response times faster and our campus safer for students, employees and visitors."

App State Chancellor Sheri Everts

Through the program, undergraduate and graduate students with Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) credentials work part time to provide basic life support services to the App State Community, allowing these students to build professional experience in public safety and health care settings while reducing the demands placed on community resources during large events.

"Our new Mountaineer Medics are gaining practical experience in pre-hospital care, making our response times faster and our campus safer for students, employees and visitors," said Chancellor Sheri Everts.

Mountaineer Medics are managed by full-time staff members in App State’s Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management (EHS&EM) office, led by Director Jason Marshburn. Students working in the program are credentialed EMTs within the Watauga County EMS system.

“The Mountaineer Medics program empowers App State students to gain hands-on experience, building crucial skills for public safety careers, graduate-level degrees and, most importantly, saving lives. Our goal is to deliver high-value, compassionate medical care while fostering leadership and public service skills in our students.”

Frank Sherman, App State's fire marshal and EMS coordinator

“This program empowers App State students to gain hands-on experience, building crucial skills for public safety careers, graduate-level degrees and, most importantly, saving lives,” said Frank Sherman, App State’s fire marshal and EMS coordinator, who leads the Mountaineer Medics program as assistant chief. “Our goal is to deliver high-value, compassionate medical care while fostering leadership and public service skills in our students.”

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Mountaineer Medic Zach Wood performs a function check of his Automated External Defibrillator (AED). All EMS equipment carried by App State Mountaineer Medics is checked in advance of each shift and designed to be highly portable for a quick response. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

Mountaineer Medics provide emergency medical support on the Boone campus, including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator (CPR/AED) treatment, airway and ventilation support, stabilizing treatment for musculoskeletal injuries and other basic life support care in accordance with Watauga County’s local protocols.

Mountaineer Medics are also equipped to quickly mobilize patients in serious condition for advanced life support and transport to local hospital facilities and work closely with advanced life support providers in the community — such as paramedics — who will continue to stage during large campus events, such as football games.

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App State Fire Marshal and EMS Coordinator Frank Sherman, far right, speaks with students about patient assessments at a monthly training session held Sept. 2 in Holmes Convocation Center. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

Students in the program have already delivered EMS care at App State’s first three home football games and dozens of other campus events, serving a total of 110,495 stadium visitors. They’ve also supported 58 other campus events, assisting over 33,000 event spectators and caring for 168 patients since the program’s inception on Aug. 21.

“The first month was a wonderful experience,” said Sherman.“The EMTs with our program have worked hard to provide high-quality EMS care for the App State Community during special events. We’re also partnered with Watauga County Rescue Squad, Watauga County Emergency Services and Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute to provide our EMTs with regularly scheduled training sessions each month.”

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Mountaineer Medics Emily Bjerregaard, left, and Zach Wood organize and check their equipment. App State Mountaineer Medics work in teams of two, and each team is assigned a bag with medical and trauma care equipment — including oxygen and other medications — as well as a smaller bag for their Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and patient care reporting materials. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

In addition to gaining experience and earning clinical hours on campus, Mountaineer Medics are paid for completing the continuing education hours required by the state to maintain their EMT credentials. The twice-a-month training includes information specific to Watauga County’s local protocols and equipment and offers opportunities to interact with seasoned, local EMS professionals. It rotates between different on-campus locations and basic life support topics to enhance understanding of various campus venues and medical scenarios.

Mountaineer Medics can use EMT skills from the program to continue their education as paramedics, firefighters, dispatchers or forensic technicians, but their experience also creates a practical foundation for nursing and many other medical career paths, shared Marshburn. He added that EMS experience also complements studies in exercise science, recreation management and physical therapy, and may also provide a foundation for degrees in public service, such as public administration programs.

Meet 2 App State Mountaineer Medics

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App State senior Zach Wood. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

Zachary Wood, EMT

“Mountaineer Medics provides me with a space to build work experience in a real-world setting as a health care provider. It allows me to learn how EMTs operate and helps me prepare for working in health care after graduating. Even though the program is so new, it is already very organized, so I’m excited to see what the program will look like in a semester or two.” — Zachary Wood, a senior chemistry-biochemistry major from Boone

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Emily Bjerregaard, of Charlotte, is a sophomore exercise science major and an EMT with Mountaineer Medics. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

Emily Bjerregaard, EMT

“I see this program helping to build me into a leader, not only as a student but also in terms of my EMT skills and my career. After I graduate, I would like to go to physical therapy school and work specifically with first responders. By participating in this program, my ability to provide good patient care will continue to grow, while I enhance my leadership skills too.” — Emily Bjerregaard, a sophomore exercise science major from Charlotte

Are you interested in becoming a Mountaineer Medic?
Are you interested in becoming a Mountaineer Medic?

Enhance your career readiness and gain experience in basic life support and other emergency medical services through practical experience, training, certification and leadership skills development.

Students will gain experience that may provide a foundation for advanced degrees or other fields of study outside of the emergency medical field, such as recreation management, exercise science and other medical specializations.

Learn more
View larger image

Mountaineer Medics and App State students Zach Ritter, of Fayetteville, left, and Hailey Metzner, of Lewisville, wear pink this October to show support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month for Mountaineer Medics

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and App State’s Mountaineer Medics wear pink uniform T-shirts through Oct. 31 to show their support for breast cancer awareness.

The pink tees include a screen printed version of the custom EMT badge designed by Jim Fleri, a graphics specialist with App State’s University Communications team. Additionally, the badges feature a mourning band for Jay Kerley, former App State fire and life safety coordinator, who passed away on Oct. 31, 2022.

Kerley was an App State alum and a firefighter at Cove Creek Volunteer Fire Department who would go on to serve the community through Watauga Medics, and as an engineer at the Boone Fire Department and an assistant fire marshal for Watauga County before returning home to App State in 2022.

Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management
Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management

The Office of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management (EHS&EM) at Appalachian State University works in coordination with other university departments to support App State's commitment to campus safety. The office’s primary responsibility is environmental health, safety and emergency management functions across App State’s Boone and Hickory campuses. EHS&EM also coordinates App State’s on-campus emergency medical service (EMS) program, Mountaineer Medics, which provides emergency medical care and support to the App State Community.

Learn more
Learn more about the AppState-ALERT emergency messaging system
Learn more about the AppState-ALERT emergency messaging system

The system provides students, faculty and staff with real-time updates during campus emergencies. Register separately for venue-specific safety alerts for large campus events.

Sep. 1, 2023

App State’s 24/7 emergency messaging system, AppState-ALERT, provides timely information to students, faculty and staff in the event of a campus emergency. Anyone, including the public, can monitor emergency information at appstatealert.com.

Read the story

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

About the Office of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management (EHS&EM)

The Office of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management (EHS&EM) at Appalachian State University works in coordination with other university departments to support App State's commitment to campus safety. The office’s primary responsibility is environmental health, safety and emergency management functions across App State’s Boone and Hickory campuses. EHS&EM also coordinates App State’s on-campus emergency medical service (EMS) program, Mountaineer Medics, which provides emergency medical care and support to the App State Community. Learn more at https://ehsem.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

"Our new Mountaineer Medics are gaining practical experience in pre-hospital care, making our response times faster and our campus safer for students, employees and visitors."

App State Chancellor Sheri Everts

“The Mountaineer Medics program empowers App State students to gain hands-on experience, building crucial skills for public safety careers, graduate-level degrees and, most importantly, saving lives. Our goal is to deliver high-value, compassionate medical care while fostering leadership and public service skills in our students.”

Frank Sherman, App State's fire marshal and EMS coordinator

Are you interested in becoming a Mountaineer Medic?
Are you interested in becoming a Mountaineer Medic?

Enhance your career readiness and gain experience in basic life support and other emergency medical services through practical experience, training, certification and leadership skills development.

Students will gain experience that may provide a foundation for advanced degrees or other fields of study outside of the emergency medical field, such as recreation management, exercise science and other medical specializations.

Learn more
View larger image

Mountaineer Medics and App State students Zach Ritter, of Fayetteville, left, and Hailey Metzner, of Lewisville, wear pink this October to show support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month for Mountaineer Medics

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and App State’s Mountaineer Medics wear pink uniform T-shirts through Oct. 31 to show their support for breast cancer awareness.

The pink tees include a screen printed version of the custom EMT badge designed by Jim Fleri, a graphics specialist with App State’s University Communications team. Additionally, the badges feature a mourning band for Jay Kerley, former App State fire and life safety coordinator, who passed away on Oct. 31, 2022.

Kerley was an App State alum and a firefighter at Cove Creek Volunteer Fire Department who would go on to serve the community through Watauga Medics, and as an engineer at the Boone Fire Department and an assistant fire marshal for Watauga County before returning home to App State in 2022.

Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management
Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management

The Office of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management (EHS&EM) at Appalachian State University works in coordination with other university departments to support App State's commitment to campus safety. The office’s primary responsibility is environmental health, safety and emergency management functions across App State’s Boone and Hickory campuses. EHS&EM also coordinates App State’s on-campus emergency medical service (EMS) program, Mountaineer Medics, which provides emergency medical care and support to the App State Community.

Learn more
Learn more about the AppState-ALERT emergency messaging system
Learn more about the AppState-ALERT emergency messaging system

The system provides students, faculty and staff with real-time updates during campus emergencies. Register separately for venue-specific safety alerts for large campus events.

Sep. 1, 2023

App State’s 24/7 emergency messaging system, AppState-ALERT, provides timely information to students, faculty and staff in the event of a campus emergency. Anyone, including the public, can monitor emergency information at appstatealert.com.

Read the story

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

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Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
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