Duke Emergency Medical Services wants to prove that it is more than the average student-run organization. With a brand-new 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer “quick response vehicle” equipped and certified by the North Carolina Office of EMS and the prospect of advancing to Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate level certification, Duke EMS aims to establish itself this year as more than just a “Band-Aid service.”
“We are a real, professional EMS service. We follow all guidelines set by the state, and unlike other student clubs who answer to Student Affairs, we report to the [Duke University Police Department],” said senior David Strauss, director of Duke EMS.
Financing for the Trailblazer came from Duke EMS fundraising and DUPD’s annual budget. “Both the police department and Duke EMS agreed that a quick response vehicle was needed,” said William Garber, DUPD’s medical center affairs manager and liaison to Duke EMS. The new vehicle allows for quicker response time to emergency calls and less dependence on the police department.
“Before we either had to wait for the DUPD to pick us up or run to a call by foot, carrying all of our supplies. It can be tough if you’re trying to help someone and you’re all out of breath,” said senior Matt McDaniel, internal coordinator of Duke EMS. “Now we can get to calls faster, and the car has all the basic equipment a regular ambulance has.”
The new addition also brings the possibility of upgrading to the next level of care from EMT-Basic to EMT-Intermediate. This advance would permit Duke EMS to inject IVs and perform higher-level procedures. Several members are already certified in the intermediate level and work with the Durham County EMS.
“Duke EMS is an integral part of the county system, and we appreciate their dedication very much,” said John Tezai, director of Durham County EMS. On average Duke EMS can get to an on-campus emergency in two to three minutes. Without them, Tezai said, the wait would extend to five to six minutes for Durham County EMS to arrive.
In addition, Duke EMS aims to acquire a central base where it can receive all calls and continue working throughout the year—a goal DUPD Chief Clarence Birkhead fully supports. As of now, Duke EMS is not in service during the summer. “The campus does not close in the summer. We have camps running, and DUPD does not close either. Keeping in the spirit of service, Duke EMS should run year-round,” Birkhead said. “We’ve talked about this for a number of years, and we are beginning to get through the logistical issues that prohibited us from running a base.”
These issues include finding an appropriate location, ideally on Central Campus, and scheduling members who are willing to commit through the summer. DUPD has been in communication with Eddie Hull, executive director of housing services and dean of residence life, and is optimistic about establishing a permanent base for Duke EMS. “We’ve taken great strides in accomplishing Duke EMS’s professional status, and being part of DUPD definitely solidifies their place on campus,” Birkhead said.
Historically, the police department has supplemented most of Duke EMS’s operational costs since its inception in 1994, Garber said. Since Duke EMS split from Student Affairs in 2003 to join DUPD the group has been considered a division of the police department.
Beyond volunteering at sporting events to take care of ailing fans and teaching a popular course on basic-EMT that has doubled in size since last spring, Duke EMS also plays a large role in addressing alcohol issues at the University. Strauss noted that administrators have told him that Duke EMS has done more to address alcohol issues than any other student group.
“Students are much more receptive to letting other students help them out instead of a police officer who is 30 years older,” Strauss said. “It’s about stepping up and taking care of your own.”
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