VEMS – Serving the Villanova community one call at a time
Kate Rainka ‘03  

So many things set Villanova University apart from other academic institutions; our Emergency Medical Technicians, (EMTs) are no exception. With the plethora of things that make Villanova the wonderful community it is, often it is easy to lose track of individual groups, people and accomplishments that make up the whole. The Villanova Emergency Medical Service, (VEMS) is one of these organizations. The 38 Pennsylvania certified EMTs who comprise this unique organization add an element to the University community that sets it a level above the rest. The National Collegiate Emergency Medical Service Foundation confirmed this when they designated VEMS the “2001 Chapter of the Year,” and described them as, “an example by which all other [collegiate EMS] groups should model themselves.

The group embodies Villanova’s Augustinian principle of an intellectual, caring and helpful community. They volunteer over 25,000 hours of service annually. These hours are spent responding to emergency medical calls from all over campus. When 94444 is called, VEMS arrives in less than three minutes ready to handle any crises from mystery rashes, to snowball fight incidents, to cardiac arrest. What other group can boast they have their own defibrillator?  Not only students benefit from VEMS’ care; VEMS serves students, faculty, staff and visitors. During Special Olympics Fall Festival weekend, Nov. 2-4, 40 additional calls were logged, and weekend football games, campus tours and other such activities are events where VEMS’ presence on campus is acknowledged and appreciated.

It is their presence when needed coupled with their high level of response that was responsible for a grant from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency in April 2001. This $7,684 grant was used to purchase new equipment for VEMS. It allowed them to acquire a new Plectron building alerting device, new HT 750 radios, new training equipment and uniforms. This grant also supplemented their normal operating budget. Refrigerator and microwave rentals on campus support this operating budget.

VEMS student volunteers are on call 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week, including breaks and summer vacation. In addition to being on duty 24/7, VEMS offers other services to the Villanova community. Approximately once a month they hold CPR classes to train other members of the community in basic lifesaving skills. Also, VEMS helps to coordinate an EMT class and certification program through Delaware County Community College. One might wonder who would volunteer so much time and energy to an organization and why. Junior Jay Neagle, a student in the College of Commerce and Finance said, “The adrenaline of driving the ambulance and arriving at crises situations keeps me going  – it’s a great feeling!”  Other pre-med students participate for hands-on medical experience. Whatever the reason, VEMS serves the Villanova community one call at a time.