EMS celebrates tenth year of service with gala
Ten years ago — Oct. 12, 1996 — Rice Emergency Medical Services answered its first cardiac arrest call at Cohen House. A week from today, EMS will hold a gala at the same venue to celebrate its service to Rice.
The event will include remarks about EMS’s history and future, given by founders and other honored guests.A silent auction will be held later in the evening, featuring Rice memorabilia and donated merchandise from stores in Rice Village. The Rice Jazz Combo will provide music for the celebration.
“We expect the anniversary to be a memorable event,” Wiess College senior and EMS Operations Lieutenant Dania Daye said.
All former and current Emergency Medical Technicians have been invited, including students presently enrolled in HEAL 308: EMT-Basic. EMS founders Mark Escott (Jones ‘96) and Noah Reiter (Jones ‘99) will attend, as will Alisha Young (Hanszen ‘00) — the EMT who first responded to the Oct. 12 call. Rice Administrators, Board of Trustees members and representatives from non-Rice organizations involved in EMS’s founding and development may also attend.
Daye said she expects between 100 and 150 people to attend the event.
In 2006, Rice EMS responded to 568 calls, about fifty more than in 2005. Most calls were made by undergraduate students. The average response time for EMS was 3.2 minutes in 2006, compared with 3.8 minutes in 2005. The Houston Fire Department has an average response time of 12.8 minutes. EMS currently has about 60 members, including some on leaves of absence.
Daye said EMS recently received funding for automatic external defibrillators from the Texas Arrhythmia Institute. EMS will begin setting up the AEDs around campus and training community members how to use them in the case of a cardiac arrest.
EMS also recently advanced from a basic life support to an advanced life support first responder organization, which allows them to start IVs and administer additional drugs. EMS also hopes to obtain its own Advanced Life Support Ambulance in the near future.
“We strive for excellence in providing emergency medical care to the Rice community,” Daye said. “We continuously aim to push that standard of care to the highest possible level.”
The gala is open to the Rice public. Admission is free for EMTs, $15 for alumni and students and $20 for faculty and staff.
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