In furthering its prominence as a leader in health sciences education, Daemen College has established the institution’s first-ever campus rescue squad, a student-run volunteer group that will provide emergency medical services to the college community.

The new Daemen College Rescue Squad (DCRS) was fully operational at the start of the spring semester. Created under the Division of Student Affairs, DCRS is made up of a core group of undergraduate and graduate students, including a majority in health sciences and human services majors, who are trained and certified as basic emergency medical technicians.

“This new response squad forms a reliable team of well-trained student volunteers to help meet the emergency medical needs of the Daemen community that complements immediate care services provided through our key partnerships with Snyder Fire and Rescue and Twin City Ambulance,” said Dr. Greg Nayor, vice president for student affairs and strategic initiatives. “We are very proud of our students for their time and effort in establishing DCRS, which is a valuable resource for our students, faculty, staff, and visitors.”

Development of DCRS was led by Robert Mead-Colegrove, assistant dean of campus life, who oversees the Office of Campus Safety. The rescue squad, which has been certified by the New York State Department of Health, is dispatched through campus safety and works closely with its officers.

During the development of DCRS, extensive research was conducted through the National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation. Policies and procedures, practical training, and other parameters were created, and equipment was obtained over the past year in preparation for launching the rescue squad.