History
Our History
Our agency's history spans more than three decades. However, one thing has remained the same: SLU EMS is, and always has been, a completely student-run EMS agency. Click the sections below to learn more!
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.
In 1990, when the campus 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 certified Basic Life Support First Response Agency.
Today our agency counts 30 active members, most of whom are certified EMTs. We operate a Toyota Highlander donated by the Safety & Security Department as our "fly car", containing everything found on a BLS ambulance except for the stretcher. We typically respond to around 150-200 medical calls throughout the academic year and serve our campus with pride.