A day in the life of a St. Lawrence student looks different these days. That’s especially the case for one Laurentian who is also spending her time saving lives in her hometown. Emily Cafarella ’21 is currently balancing her academic obligations with her role as a first responder and officer with the Massena Rescue Squad. That puts her on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic, working with her crew to keep her hometown safe.
“As a result of the pandemic, there are more precautions we’re taking with every call,” Emily says of the changes she’s noticed over the last month. “No matter where the call is, we’re now required to wear a mask, and there are more decontamination procedures once we return to the building.”
For Emily, who calls nearby Norwood, New York, home, responsibilities as an officer have also intensified as the demands on her team grow greater every day.
“It’s required me to step-up more to keep members upbeat and keep communication open, so no one feels left in the dark about constantly-changing protocols,” she adds.
Emily’s innate drive to help others has flourished at St. Lawrence. She’s been serving as a student EMT since her first year, when she was inspired to join after she called St. Lawrence University Emergency Medical Services (SLU EMS) for a friend and had an opportunity to see the student first responders in action. While training to become one herself, she managed a packed class schedule during the week so she could ride along with the Massena Rescue Squad on weekends.