SLU EMS History

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SLU EMS's history spans more three decades. Prior to 1990, the group that would become SLU EMS worked primarily as first aid providers, assisting at athletic events under the supervision of Ron Waske. Then in 1990, when the Winning Health Center began closing over the weekends, SLU EMS (then called The First Response Team) started providing emergency medical care to the St. Lawrence community from 4:30 pm Friday afternoon to 9:00 am Monday morning during the academic year. The Dean of Student Affairs worked closely with Junior John Weinberg and Sophomore Sarah Markey to create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) under which the team would operate.

In the mid- to late-1990s SLU EMS began operating in its current state. The First Response team became a division of SLU Safety and Security and was issued a New York State agency code, recognizing SLU EMS as a New York State Basic Life Support First Response Agency. SLU EMS currently operates 24/7 during the school year. Our providers are paid during weekend shifts for 1/2, 1/3, or 1/6 of the hours they work depending on their experience and certification level.

SLU EMS is, and always has been, a completely student run EMS agency.

The Status of SLU EMS Today:

Training:

  • 6 members participated in the EMT-B class at SUNY Canton during the 2019-2020 school year. 

Vehicle:

  • SLU EMS currently operates in a Toyota Highlander, donated by the Safety & Security Department.  This the fourth vehicle SLU EMS has operated during its 31-year history.
  • The SLU EMS “fly car” contains all the equipment found in a BLS ambulance except for the stretcher! This includes a backboard, splinting equipment, airway adjuncts, BLS meds, bleeding control, and more.

Call Volume:

  • SLU EMS responded to over 50 calls during the 2021 spring semester and 134 throughout the 2020-2021 academic year. During the 2018-2019 academic year, before the pandemic, SLU EMS responded to 221 calls. Our providers responded to a wide variety of calls ranging from sports injuries to seizures to severe intoxication.