Student led Emergency Medical Services team ready to respond when seconds count

Liam Prescott and Jacob Audet are two of the officers of UNE's EMS team
Liam Prescott and Jacob Audet are two of the officers of UNE's EMS team

A team of 35 volunteer students are ready and equipped to respond to calls for medical help on the Biddeford Campus. From 7 p.m. until 7 a.m., several members are on call and can be on the scene of a medical emergency within minutes.

鈥淒epending on where the medical emergency is on campus, we can be there very quickly to start rendering basic first aid and basic life support, while we wait for an ambulance,鈥 said Jacob Audet (Medical Biology, 鈥21), co-chief of UNE鈥檚 Emergency Medical Services (EMS). 鈥淚n EMS, seconds and minutes count.鈥

鈥淚f it is something serious, I think it's very important to have people who are medical providers right here on campus,鈥 added EMS member Liam Prescott (Medical Biology, 鈥22). 鈥淓ven if it is a short wait, it can feel like a very long time for people who need help.鈥

The EMS team works under the umbrella of UNE鈥檚 Office of Safety and Security. Audet and Prescott, along with Mitchell Becker (Medical Biology, 鈥21), Billy Kiernan (Nursing, 鈥21), and Wyatt Blackstone (HWOS, 鈥22), are the five officers who oversee the operation.

Team members carry backpacks filled with medical supplies, everything from medications, to oxygen tanks, to gauze and wraps. Fifteen of them are licensed EMTs, certified to administer medications.

鈥淪ometimes Biddeford鈥檚 ambulance will get the call the same time as us, but other times we will be first on the scene and we will decide if an ambulance is needed,鈥 explained Prescott.

Both Prescott and Audet volunteer with the service to gain valuable health care experience. Prescott wants to become a physician assistant and spends his summers as an Emergency Room technician at Cape Cod Hospital. Audet also volunteers back home in Connecticut during the summers and works part-time during the school year for Kennebunkport鈥檚 EMS.

鈥淲orking with UNE鈥檚 EMS starts giving you the exposure of what could possibly happen during medical emergencies,鈥 Audet stated.

Beyond the experience, Audet says he really enjoys the camaraderie among team members.

鈥淭his is something that has become part of my life in a way,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t's funny to say, because everyone says that. But, it is a very good group to hang out with.鈥

Balancing their time with EMS, studies, and other activities can be tough for both Prescott and Audet.

鈥淢y schedule is definitely my lifeline, but I have found that you get really good at time management,鈥 Audet commented.

The team is always looking for new members, students just starting out and those looking to get their EMT licenses.

鈥淲e go over all kinds of medical scenarios and trauma events,鈥 Audet explained.  鈥淲e do some training for those members working towards their license and advanced training for those who already have their license.鈥

One thing Prescott would like to see more of is training to help team members maintain good mental health, so he invited 51小黄车alum James Boomhower, B.S. 鈥11, a critical care transport specialist and paramedic with Boston MedFlight, to speak to the EMS team. Boomhower started Fit for Duty, an organization to help medical professionals treat their mental health with the same dedication and tenacity as they treat the physical health of those they took an oath to help.

鈥淭his is something we've all talked about for awhile,鈥 said Prescott. 鈥淲e want to have James come and talk about ways to keep our mental health strong during times like this, with all the heightened tensions we鈥檝e seen this year. Sometimes you deal with traumatic issues and we want everyone to be prepared and to train to keep up good mental health during awful situations.鈥

Boomhower will give a virtual presentation and talk to the team and others on Nov. 19.

Liam
Liam Prescott with his backpack of supplies
Med backpack
An Oxygen tank, medications, gauze, and wraps are a few items team members carry