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SCU Emergency Medical Services

Call us for after-hours support on campus: (408) 554-4444
Contact us to train as a volunteer EMT: www.scuems.com

Contact us for any medical concerns every day of the academic year from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 a.m. (not available during holidays, academic breaks, or finals week) by calling Campus Safety at (408) 554-4444. 

SCU’s Student Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is a student-run and student-operated medical care organization. We have a volunteer staff of 35 Nationally Certified and State Licensed Emergency Medical Technicians - Basics (EMT-Bs). Our program operates under the guidance and licenses of medical professionals in the Cowell Center who function as our medical directors. We work closely with Campus Safety to provide emergency medical care on campus between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., when the Cowell Center is closed. Each night shift is covered by three or four EMT-Bs.


How We Operate

We are dispatched to any emergency scenes on campus that require medical personnel by and alongside Campus Safety Services. Any student calling the CSS Emergency Phone - (408) 554-4444 - can request medical attention from SCU EMS. 

We can:

  • Respond to any medical emergency that occurs on university property
  • Provide stabilizing medical care and Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • Call ambulances for any patient in need of immediate hospital care
  • Provide important information pertaining to many injuries and conditions

We cannot: 

  • Respond to events or emergencies which occur off campus (call 911!)
  • Provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) or perform invasive procedures
  • Transport patients to hospitals independent of local EMS/Fire agencies
  • Diagnose conditions or prescribe/provide medications 

No, the EMTs work alongside Campus Safety but do not "write up" people for any policy violations. EMTs simply provide medical attention and have no role in the disciplinary process.

It is always better to call than not. SCU EMS follows these on-campus policies:

Medical Amnesty: The reduction of judicial consequences for students requiring medical attention due to alcohol intoxication and/or alcohol poisoning.

Good Samaritan: The elimination of judicial consequences for up to two students who may be under the influence of alcohol and who make a good-faith call for medical help on the behalf of a fellow student. 

No, all EMTs are volunteers and the work done by SCU EMS is unpaid.

There are approximately 30 EMTs per academic year.

The EMTs use golf carts to transport themselves and their gear to the scene of each incident.

SCU EMS is on duty every night of the academic year, with the exception of finals week. Each shift begins at 5:00pm and ends at 8:00am. There are 3 to 4 EMTs on duty each night who respond to emergency calls.

SCU EMS responds to a variety of calls including medical issues, trauma, intoxication, sports-related injuries, and psychological calls.

Yes, if SCU EMS is contacted ahead of the event, then a team of EMTs will cover an on-campus event such as a concert, sporting event, alumni event, etc. SCU EMS asks for a $100 donation, if possible, to cover the cost of the equipment used on a typical shift.

All SCU EMTs are required to attend multiple training sessions each quarter to maintain and improve their skills as well as keep their certifications current. These training sessions are put on by the SCU EMS Training Officers. SCU EMS also will invite certain ambulance companies and the Santa Clara County Fire Department to conduct occasional training sessions.

Joining SCU EMS is generally a two-step process. 

Step 1

Getting EMT-B Certification

Many local agencies exist which offer EMT-B certification courses. Find a list of California agencies offering EMT training here.

Application to join EMS[PDF] 

Step 2

Interviewing for the Squad

Application Process:
Interview sign-ups are customarily available beginning in early May, but the exact timing is dependent on the SCU EMS leadership team's schedule. Check the upcoming events calendar on the home page regularly during spring quarter for the exact date. 

Requests to interview must be emailed to the SCU EMS PR representative (scuems.pr@gmail.com) during the appropriate window. The PR representative will email out scheduling documents and interview dates to all applicants following the final application day. 

Interview Process: 
The SCU EMS squad interview is an important way for the leadership team and the squad to connect with potential applicants and determine how well their personalities, skills, and commitment mesh with the values and goal of the team. The interview consists of two main parts:

  1. A traditional personal interview: Please bring resumes to interviews (exact number of copies needed will be emailed to all applicants) and expect to answer personal questions related to skills, strengths, weaknesses, values, leadership and personality.
  2. A mock call: come prepared to run a simulated emergency medical call response to demonstrate the skills you have acquired and the quality of care you are capable of providing.

If you have any questions about the class or the application process, please do not hesitate to contact the SCU EMS PR representative (scuems.pr@gmail.com). 

 

EMS Drill

Each year SCU EMS puts on a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) drill. An MCI is an incident that occurs where there are more patients than EMTs can adequately respond to. These incidents include events such as earthquakes, fires, bombings, bus crashes, etc. We develop a scenario and pick a location on campus for the event to occur. In order to make the situation as realistic as possible, the scenario and location are not disclosed to everyone on the squad with the exception of the Leadership Team up until the activation of the drill. Santa Clara students volunteer as patients in this drill and the Santa Clara County Fire Department and Santa Clara Police Department are on scene evaluating us as well.

This is a significant learning tool for our squad and an event that helps the team learn to work well together.

If you are interested in volunteering to be a patient or in watching the drill, please contact our Assistant Director at scuems.assistant@gmail.com.