Getting Involved

In order to be a member, MERT requires that you have a valid American Heart Association CPR for the Healthcare Provider or American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer card and a certification of EMT Basic or higher in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition, all members need to take a 4-day bike course (free of charge) through MERT before answering calls.

Three scenarios pertaining to EMT certification:

1. If you are not an EMT, MERT offers EMT classes on campus at night in the Fall and Spring semesters that last for 10-12 weeks. The EMT course for the Fall 2009 semester tentatively starts September 21st, spanning from 6-10 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays as well as a few Saturdays. An information session will be held Monday September 14th, location TBA.
2. If you are a current EMT in PA, your credentials will be valid in PA given that the cards have not expired. You can find an application for joining MERT here.
3. If you are a current EMT in any other state, you must contact the Philadelphia EMS authorities to verify your credentials upon which you will be issued a PA card. Call EMS Council at 215-685-4219 during their office hours (8:00am - 4:30pm) and ask them to send you a "Reciprocity Packet." This process will take about 4 weeks.

If you need to refresh your CPR credentials or obtain an initial CPR card, many MERT members are officially trained and able to update your credential to the required standards free of charge.

To remain active, MERT members are required to work a minimum 24 hours on shift a month, although many members well exceed this requirement. This is typically completed in two 12-hour shifts. During shifts, members may attend meetings, eat, or spend time with friends, as long as the bike is within view. EMTs on shift must sleep in our three-room squad room in Sansom East, which is equipped with cable TV, Playstation II, and a refrigerator and microwave.

The application for joining MERT can be found here. For more information about joining, contact Katie at External.UPennMERT@gmail.com.

Emergency Medical Technician - Basic

MERT offers Penn students the option to take a semester long EMT class offered on campus for to become an Emergency Medical Technicians certified in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Students who complete this course can then become involved in the MERT program and gain firsthand experience in the field. The class will meet on campus for your convenience. Although the time obligation seems extensive, little outside work is required. The cost of the EMT course is $800 which includes stethoscope, text book, pocket mask, pen light, and ambulance driving training (EVOC). A $350 deposit is required before the class starts to secure a seat. The class is run by Star Tech. The class meets twice weekly (Monday and Wednesday) for 4 hours at night on Penn’s campus, and every other Saturday.

Required Bike Course

The required bike course is offered by a DPS instructor multiple times throughout the semester. The next one offered will be conducted in late September. The course is free for MERT members. It involves 4 days of combined classroom and hands-on experience. The IPMBA certification teaches basic bike maintenance and emphasizes skills needed for city and campus riding with medical supplies on bike rear.

This is a video from our mandatory bike class, taught by Lt. John Washington of DPS, where members learn to crash safely. This exercise is completely optional for all class members.