The Hamilton College Emergency Medical Service (HCEMS) is a New York State(NYS) certified agency that is made up of 23 student EMTs, who provide 24 houremergency medical service to the campus community during the academic year.Each EMT volunteers 30-40 hours a week to be "on call" and must respond to allon-campus medical emergencies during this time. On average, EMTs respond to50-60 medical emergencies each semester.
Hamilton has had student EMTs since the mid-eighties. However, when thecollege restructured its Student Health Services in 1993, HCEMS also underwentsome restructuring. It was felt that student EMTs would have to take ongreater responsibility under the new health service, and therefore, theirtraining should be more regulated. As a result, all Hamilton College EMTs nowhave to be NYS certified.
During the spring semester, an intensive 12 week EMT certification course isoffered on campus for interested students. Those enrolled in the course attenda three hour lecture two nights a week and participate in a four hour labsession every Saturday morning. Participants receive no college credit. Atthe end of the course a state examination is administered, and successfulcandidates are certified for three years. All EMTs must attend additionaltraining sessions once a month.
HCEMS operates under the supervision of the Student Health Service and isco-ordinated by Diann Lynch, a native of Clinton and registered nurse at thecollege.
