FaQ
Find frequently asked questions below!
General Operations
CrimsonEMS’ area of service is defined as the same as HUPD’s area of service, excluding the Longwood Campus. In the past, CrimsonEMS has been requested by groups such as the OSL, student organizations, intramurals, club sports, and the Alumni Association to serve at parties, athletic events, and special campus-wide events.
Patient encounters on shift are documented with patient care reports, but patient identifying information is kept confidential and members of CrimsonEMS are strictly required to uphold confidentiality of patient information.
Patient encounters on shift are documented with patient care reports. All patient identifying information is kept confidential and members of CrimsonEMS are strictly required to uphold this confidentiality, as outlined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Joining CrimsonEMS
If you do not yet have EMT certification, you may apply to join CrimsonEMS through our fully-subsidized EMT-B training course. If you already have certification, you may apply to join as a transfer EMT. You can find more information about the application here.
All members of CrimsonEMS are expected at minimum to meet the service requirement, currently set at 5 hours per month. However, members are encouraged to serve more than that, and they regularly do.
The class and all materials are fully subsidized by HUHS. Members are just responsible for the below fees, and financial aid is available for all fees—although the extent to which they are subsidized depends on the semester. CrimsonEMS is committed to ensuring that cost is not a barrier to joining CrimsonEMS.
| Fee | Cost | Comments |
| NREMT written exam | $80 | |
| MA licensure or relicensure | $150 | |
| CrimsonEMS joining fee | $75 | |
| Equipment rental | $50 | Cost is $25 each for boots and EMS pants. Members may provide their own equipment instead. |
| Quarterzip | $68 | These are fully optional but very helpful. Cost is variable depending on how many members order. |
| NREMT recertification | $15 |
EMT-B Training Course
Any Harvard undergraduate in freshman or sophomore year can apply to take the course. Unfortunately, CrimsonEMS does not currently accept Extension School students, graduate students, or staff members affiliated with Harvard. We recommend that you check out other local opportunities for EMT certification, such as Boston University’s courses, if you are still interested in working in EMS.
A basic science background in biology, chemistry, and physics is helpful. The training course will review these topics before delving into concepts such as anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, illness, trauma, abuse and patient assessment, as well as methods of treatment and management.
The class is divided into four modules—foundations, medical, trauma, and special patients and operations. Along the way, you will also learn the skills needed for certifications in CPR, prehospital trauma support, and emergency pediatric care.
There are reading quizzes every class, as well as an exam after each module. The course is pass/fail.
The course cannot be taken for college credit.
Balancing the training course with academics and other extracurriculars is feasible, but takes forethought. The course meets for approximately 15 hours per week, and there are also readings assigned outside of the class. Many class members would agree that CrimsonEMS takes the same amount of time as a challenging PSET class. Students often say they find that CrimsonEMS becomes their main extracurricular activity the semester of the training course.
For at least two semesters after the course, class members are required to join CrimsonEMS as full members and are therefore expected to fulfill the service requirement, currently set at 5 hours per month. Even after that year, however, we hope members will continue to be a part of CrimsonEMS, and the vast majority of class members do stay on.
If you have more specific questions about balancing the time commitment, please email us at communications@crimsonems.org.
To receive a Massachusetts EMT-B license from the National Registry of EMTs, students will first have to pass a state practical exam and then a national written exam. The practical exam will occur at the end of the training course. After passing the practical exam, students can register to take the written exam through Pearson VUE.
More information about the certification process will be given to students during the training course.
In the Spring 2019 training class, 100% of the students passed the practical on their first attempt and 95% passed the written exam. In the 2018 class, 100% of the students passed the practical and 95% passed the written on their first attempt. CrimsonEMS offers extensive office hours and other sources of support to ensure that students feel prepared to successfully receive certification.