Learn what the First Responders can do for you
Nate Weaver
Staff Writer
The First Responders play a vital role in keeping the school safe, however, many students are unaware of who they are, or when they should be contacted.
The First Responders are a group of Wooster students who are on call, prepared to attend to any medical emergency. They are nationally registered Emergency Medical Responders (EMR) who have undergone practical training and passed national exams. At The College of Wooster there are around 20 First Responders.
In the case of an emergency, many students are unsure if First Responders should actually be called. It is a fine line between the need to contact security and calling 911 in a very serious situation, and it is unclear where the First Responders fit into this all.
First Responder Edmund Shi ’15 shed some light on when the team is most useful. “Whenever you are unsure of the security of the situation you should call First Responders. We are the ones who take the first stance and we need to make the decision of whether to contact 911,” he said.
Head of the Wellness Center and faculty adviser of the First Responder team Esther Horst explains, “In a situation where a student is unresponsive I would call 911, and if a student is intoxicated they are advised to bring them to the Wellness Center. The First Responders are usually contacted in a situation where there might be an injury or illness.”
The medical ability of these students is not to be doubted. As First Responders president Andrew Lamade ’13 said, “Basically anytime you call security for medical reasons, you could call us. We can’t give drugs or IVs, but we can do anything else an ambulance can do.” One benefit to First Responders that students don’t often recognize is that as students they are not required to report to security any underage drinking. “Another incentive is you don’t have to worry about security,” said Lamade.
The First Responders feel the College could do more to inform campus of the EMR’s presence. It has been suggested that during ARCH a program should be instated to encourage students to join the team. Furthermore, residence halls should have the First Responders’ numbers readily accessible with the RAs, stressing the importance and availability of the EMR’s on call. Along with security and the Wellness Center ,students should put the First Responders number in their phone.
First Responders is always looking for more people to join their team. No former medical knowledge is necessary. However, applications and interviews are required, and only 10 students are accepted into the fall class. Although anyone can apply, it is a large time commitment. After 48 hours of training under the direction of the Wayne county paramedic Allen Wilson, they are fully prepared. “First Responders agree to give shifts of volunteer time, it takes time away from academics,” said Horst. Responsibility is essential because these students are put in difficult situations. As Shi puts it “ [we] have to be able to think outside the box, because every situation is different. There often isn’t much time to think it through, we just have to act.”
Those interested in medicine who enjoy helping people should consider becoming a First Responder. “Although it is a lot of pressure and responsibility,” Lamade said, “It does pay off. People are always very thankful.”