our story
As EMT’s, we have seen how much those first few minutes before EMS arrives can matter. Even when first responders are on the way, we cannot always reach someone immediately because we may already be responding to another emergency or traveling from farther away. In those moments, the people already at the scene have the greatest opportunity to help.
That inspired us to start EPI. While traditional emergency training often relies on presentations and passive learning, we engage participants through scenario-based training that allows them to practice responding to realistic situations.Through free, hands-on workshops, we teach lifesaving skills to children, teens, adults, and senior adults. One thing that has stood out to me is that many people already know what they should do, but they don’t feel confident enough to act. Watching that confidence grow throughout a workshop is incredibly rewarding because confidence can be the difference between standing back and stepping forward to help someone in need. Our hope is that every person leaves our workshops believing they are capable of making a difference when every second counts.
what we do
While traditional emergency training often relies on passive lectures, we engage communities through dynamic, scenario-based learning. We bridge the gap between knowing what to do and having the actual confidence to step forward and save a life when every second counts.
Interactive Workshops
We deliver hands-on, age-appropriate emergency preparedness training for children, adults, and seniors. Our workshops move past theory, using realistic simulations to teach essential skills like CPR, bleeding control, and crisis recognition in a supportive environment.
High School Mentorship
Launching in Fall 2026, our mentorship program guides the next generation of healthcare professionals. As EMTs and pre-med students, we provide high schoolers with real-world insights, career pathway guidance, and personalized college prep advice.
Community Empowerment
We target the critical gap in emergency response: the first few minutes before EMS arrives. By providing accessible, free training to everyday bystanders, we replace hesitation with actionable confidence to maximize survival rates in real-world emergencies.
Our board
Pranathi Bammidi (Co-Founder, Co-President)
Pranathi Bammidi is a pre-med student at Rutgers University majoring in Cell Biology and Neuroscience, is an EMT, and co-founder of EPI. Inspired by her experiences in emergency medicine and community service, she founded EPI to address disparities in emergency preparedness education and empower underserved communities with lifesaving skills. Her work is driven by a passion for health equity and the belief that every individual deserves the knowledge and confidence to act in an emergency.
Shreyaah Iyer (Co-Founder, Co-President)
Shreyaah is a junior at Rutgers University majoring in Cell Biology and Neuroscience with a passion for improving healthcare accessibility and empowering communities through education. As a co-founder of EPI, she was inspired to increase confidence in emergency preparedness. She is especially passionate about reducing barriers to emergency education and ensuring that all individuals, including those facing language or accessibility challenges, have the knowledge and confidence to advocate for themselves and others.
Pradipthi Bammidi (Co-Founder, Vice President)
Pradipthi Bammidi is a sophomore at Rutgers University studying Data Science. She is passionate about advocacy, healthcare equity, and using data-driven approaches to create meaningful change in communities. As a co-founder of EPI, she hopes to help bridge gaps in emergency preparedness by empowering individuals with the knowledge and confidence to support one another during critical moments. In her free time, Pradipthi enjoys reading and sketching.