The EMS club started last year on Sacred Heart University’s campus and already has a strong following, as they host meetings and classes for students interested.
The club is hosting two CPR courses this month, as February is American Heart Month, where students can pay $10 and become CPR certified.
“We are applying for a Heart Safe Campus, so that means we need enough AEDs and students CPR certified to get the designation for the school,” said junior Mackenzie Rothschild, the Chief of the EMS club.
SHU’s EMS club shares tips on how to keep your heart healthy.
Instagram, @shuemsclub
To receive the Heart Safe Campus designation at least 10% of the school would need to be certified either by the club or on their own, including students and staff.
Sacred Heart becoming a Heart Safe campus is one of the biggest goals for the EMS club, which is why they have added two more CPR classes for the month of March (March 15th and the 24th). Receiving this designation would make Sacred Heart an ultimately safer campus filled with qualified first responding officials.
“It’s very rare to have a cardiac arrest but in the case of it happening, having the equipment and people around to help is paramount,” said Justin Fortin, the club advisor.
As previously stated, the Heart Safe Campus designation will allow Sacred Heart students who requalified first responders on their own campus. This could be majorly helpful and lifesaving in many cases, because when it comes to medical emergencies timing is everything.
“The sooner you start, the better the results will be, so if there are enough students trained there will always be someone nearby that knows what to do,” said senior Alex Piehler, the Assistant Chief.
The goals that the EMS club has set are important and potentially lifesaving.
“It takes the ambulance about seven minutes to respond and get to campus, where students as first responders can respond in about two minutes,” said Fortin and Rothchild.
In the event of a medical emergency, five minutes could be the difference between life and death for a victim.
If you are interested in joining the EMS club, go to their instagram @shuemsclub to see when their next meeting is. Also, if you are CPR certified please send an email to the club, shuemsclub@mail.sacredheart.edu, to help the club reach their goal of 10% of the campus.
