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 IMPBA bike course (free of charge) through through MERT offered by the Penn Police Department 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. See below.
2. If you are a current EMT in PA, your credentials will be valid in PA given that the cards have not expired.
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 215-686-1313 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.

Joining MERT

If you are in possession of a valid PA EMT card and currently CPR certified and would like to join MERT, fill out the application found below and return it to Emilia Hermann at emia(at)sas.upenn.edu.

You will then be contacted and offered a spot in the next 4-day bicycle class. This training is mandatory to all MERT members prior to signing up for shifts. After the completion of this final class, you will become an Active MERT Member.

Contact Halana Whitehead (halana(at)sas.upenn.edu) for any additional questions.

Membership Application 2008

Pennsylvania Basic Life support Protocols