By Sophia Giatzis

Fordham University EMS (FUEMS) received four awards at the National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation’s (NCEMSF) 25th annual conference during the last week in February. One of the awards was the EMS Organization of the Year, which it won in a group of over 200 other collegiate EMS organizations across the United States, Canada and other parts of the world.

Its other awards included the HEARTSafe Campus award, which recognizes EMS services with quality cardiac arrest responses, the EMS Ready Campus Bronze Award, which awards emergency preparedness and the Striving for Excellence in Campus EMS award, which awards excellent life support services.
FUEMS Chief Heather Cahill said she was overcome with joy at receiving the four awards in February on behalf of FUEMS.

“In the past two years, I have been able to aid and watch Fordham EMS grow and improve and become what it is today,” she said. “This award is for remarkable young people, of today and our forty year history, who have donated thousands of hours of service to keeping the Fordham community safe and healthy. I am so proud of every one of our members.”

Director of Fordham University EMS Marykate Decker, FCRH ‘18, wrote a letter outlining the progress that FUEMS made over the last year and how certain aspects of the organization set it apart from others. She sent this letter to NCEMSF and itserved as the foundation for FUEMS, receiving the EMS Organization of the Year award.
In 2017, FUEMS improved their relations with the community outside of the Rose Hill gates, according to those involved. Decker said FUEMS “formed a bridge” between itself and the Fire Department of New York, standing in solidarity with the FDNY when FDNY EMT Yadira Arroyo lost her life serving in the line of duty on March 16, 2017. Members of FUEMS wore a black stripe through the center of the star of life on their ambulances and donated to a fund for Arroyo’s children.

FUEMS also became a part of the 911 mutual aid system, sending 20 medical volunteers to be on standby at the finish line of the New York City Marathon for the past three years. FUEMS has also been adding to their extensive, ever-growing network of alumni who have expanded their Advisory Board and provided shadowing and career opportunities for FUEMS members.

FUEMS also pushed boundaries by increasing their presence on the Lincoln Center campus in 2017.

“[The] Fordham University Jesuit tradition emphasizes the importance of bridging gaps–gaps between men and women, majority and minority populations and the Fordham community and our neighbors in the South Bronx,” said Decker.

In the Fall of 2017, FUEMS drove one of their ambulances to the Lincoln Center campus to train new Student Attendants, and since then have provided free transportation for any student from the Lincoln Center campus to the Rose Hill campus to volunteer for FUEMS.

FUEMS also worked on their relationship with the Rose Hill community. In the fall semester, FUEMS started working with the Freshman CORE programming, a program that intends “to change student knowledge, attitudes and behavioral intentions related to alcohol and other drug use,” according to the CORE Programming page on the Fordham website. Chief Cahill and Decker spoke to the entirety of the Class of 2021, educating them about safe drinking habits, signs of alcohol poisoning and how to contact FUEMS in case of an emergency.

“We have seen a steady decline in alcohol related accidents this year, which we attribute to being some of the first people the freshman class meets,” said Decker.

FUEMS also worked with RAs and New Student Orientation Leaders, teaching them what to do and how to help in medical emergencies. FUEMS also had their first “CPR Day” on Jan. 30, 2018. FUEMS and Residential Life sponsored this event, in which students and faculty were educated on the proper techniques of CPR from Fordham EMTs. FUEMS is hoping to make this an annual event.

FUEMS also added a new ambulance, updated the three computers in their office, received approval to carry glucometry kits for diabetic emergencies and improved relations with other organizations on campus, such as Campus Ministry and Psychological Services.

It is because of these improvements that FUEMS won four awards at the National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services conference last month.

“A week later, I’m still overwhelmed with pride. None of this would have been possible without the servitude of each member of FUEMS,” said Decker. “Chief Cahill and I owe all of our successes this year to all of them; they are remarkable individuals.”

Kathleen Malara, who is the Executive Director of Fordham’s Health Services and has also been serving as advisor for FUEMS for 17 years, was proud of the strides that FUEMS made in 2017.

“The FUEMS students are an amazing group of individuals that not only work hard as students but also give back to the University with the dedication and commitment of caring for other students in the need of emergency care,” said Malara.

Julia Hughes, FCRH ‘18, who serves as an EMT and ambulance rider for FUEMS, was glad that FUEMS received recognition for their hard work.

“I am truly honored to be part of an organization that ensures the well-being of the Fordham community as one of their own,” said Hughes.

The organization is working to switch completely from paper to electronic patient care reports, adding positions of Crew Chief and Crew-Chief-in-Training-Coordinator this month, starting to integrate diversity training into their monthly agenda with the Office of Multicultural Affairs and working to make the Health Center an opioid prevention center, all while providing 24/7 service for the Fordham community and beyond.