The most recent school shooting has drawn attention to security precautions on campuses, as well as medical emergency readiness. While some schools like Virginia Tech have student-run emergency response teams which responded in the wake of tragedy, UB remains perhaps one of the few larger schools without any organized on-campus Emergency Medical Service (EMS).
"Throughout the SUNY schools, most of the larger and some of the smaller [colleges and universities] have school run EMS or ambulance agencies on campus," said Andrew Jacobowitz, a freshman biomedical sciences major and one of four students looking to establish an UB Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT). "We're the largest SUNY [school] that doesn't."
UB MERT, currently consisting of only four founding members, but 60 interested members, has hopes of becoming a well-established organization consisting of students who are NYS certified in initiating patient care and has basic or advanced life support.
"We just want to start a basic supporting unit right now," said Matt Chowaniec, a sophomore nuclear medicine technology major and founding member. "We only have a handful of EMT basics and three people who are advanced."
The founders of UB MERT are currently in the process of presenting a proposal to UB for an established budget, a fly car (an SUV with lights and sirens), and the right to practice emergency medical response as first responders on UB North Campus.
"We want to get a lot of things donated," Jacobowitz said. "We could either become an entity of the school and form a club, which would be a school-controlled organization, or we could become a volunteer organization, which is what most collegiate EMS schools do."
Even if students have no previous medical training, they can learn through the club. The founders want to launch a class on campus that would provide proper training for those who need it. The class would take place with the School's permission through the Erie County Department of Mental Health, Jacobowitz said.
According to Chowaniec, many fire halls also run similar EMS training programs in order to become NYS certified. In addition, UB MERT would be a useful experience, not only for those looking to obtain vital knowledge in case of emergency, but also for those who are looking to enter the medical field.
"There are a lot of people who want to do something healthcare related and they really can't get the hands-on experience," Jacobowitz said. "If this were to get set up, it would provide an opportunity to get the hands on experience in the field of medicine."
According to Sean Yaeger, a junior biomedical science major, if UB MERT was established, the club services would be available night and day, 24/7, on North Campus only.
Once details are worked out, UB MERT would be the first to respond to a called in medical emergency along with dispatched police.
"Once someone calls in an emergency, we would respond to the scene like University Police would, initiate patient care and get medical attention started," Jacobowitz said.
Currently, according to Jacobowitz, Twin City Ambulance is the supporting transportation agency for medical emergencies on North Campus. If UB MERT achieves its goal, Twin City ambulance would continue to remain the primary emergency transport in order to reduce insurance costs.
According to Richard Linde, assistant chief of University Police, although North Campus is under contract with Twin City Ambulance and Getzville Fire Department, South Campus is contracted differently.
"When we receive a call for first aid, we dispatch a car and notify Amherst Fire Control which dispatches an ambulance and Getzville Fire Department if necessary [to North Campus]," Linde said. "The Main Street Campus has a contract with Rural Metro and the City of Buffalo."
Linde added that when cars are dispatched to the scene of a medical emergency, which then escorts the ambulance to the scene, there is no lag between the time when the University Police are dispatched and when an emergency vehicle arrives.
A medical response team of some variety has become a commodity with an increased demand on college campuses in response to the recent tragedies at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University, according to Jacobowitz.
"With the school shootings, there's been an up-rise in Mass Casualty Incidents," Jacobowitz said. "With increased presence of EMTs on campus, it would be huge."
According to Chowaniec, EMS is like a whole different community where everyone bonds together and no one ever clashes. Many members who are EMTs and/or part of the fire department understand the devotion and training necessary to take on the job of having someone's life and safety in their hands.
"You really need to love it and put in the time as well as have the interest," Jacobowitz said. "You're trusted to go out there and have someone's life in your hands - passion is the key word."
For those interested in learning more about UB MERT or who would like to learn how to become certified in NY, contact UBMERT@gmail.com
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
