HCEMS Handbook

 

Opening Statement

• 24 hr. emergency medical services to the Hampshire College community, in cooperation with the Department of Public Safety, Hampshire Health Services (HHS), and the University of Massachusetts Infirmary (UMI).

• The opportunity for EMTs and First Responders to provide medical care within the Hampshire College community and to maintain their skills through on-campus training and access to non-affiliated continuing education opportunities.

• Education within the Hampshire community on issues surrounding medical care and personal health.


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This handbook provides documentation of many of the issues relevant to the successful operation of the program. It is intended to be a flexible document, suitable for future use and reference, regardless of membership size or leadership style.

Acknowledgments

This document exists thanks to many individuals within the Hampshire community. Those who contributed time brainstorming and proof-reading were instrumental to its creation. Previously proposed constitutions and documents were also invaluable resources.  Several people invested additional time and energy helping to create and finalize this project. We would like to thank Sarah O'Malley, Maura Scanlan, Brenna Slater, Ruth Ann Colby, and Caroline Vig for their help.  We would also like to thank Derrick Elmes, former Director of Public Safety, and one of the founders of the Hampshire College EMT Program. Derrick's support has been an important part of this program's ongoing success.

Finally, we would like to recognize all of the past and present Hampshire College EMTs who have committed time and energy to making emergency medical care a priority on this campus.

This handbook was written and compiled by:
Jamie Balliet (F90), Pam MacEwan (F93), and Jennie Paigen (F90) © 1994.

Reformatted and edited by:
Tucker Ford Webb (F01) © 2004.


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Anti-Discrimination Policy

Hampshire College EMS provides equal opportunity employment and does not discriminate in its membership or service on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, nationality, military veteran status or non-job related medical condition or disability.

Originally, the Public Safety department required that the students were paged three times a day in order to establish confidence in the group's reliability. In the following years, membership grew and the program was granted Priority Funding, guaranteeing it a budget each semester. With increased funding, uniforms, radios and vital medical supplies were added to the program.

Hampshire College EMS is one of the longest running student organizations on campus. Officially in operation since 1978, it has seen a variety of leadership styles and membership sizes, yet there is seldom a day during the school year when the program is not in full service. While continuing to provide medical care and education to the Hampshire community, the program also offers student responders the opportunity to learn about responsibility, community service, leadership skills and fundamental emergency medical care.

Hampshire College EMTs are subject to Western Massachusetts Protocols. A copy of these protocols is available in the EMT office.

Program Funding

The Hampshire College EMT program is funded by the Finance Committee (FICOM), a sub-division of Community Council (CC). HCEMS is exempt from the normal funding cycle, guaranteeing it a budget to be determined prior to the beginning of each semester. Based upon current need, this budget provides for medical supplies, equipment maintenance, training events, and the HCEMT Grant Program.

 

Additional avenues of funding exist for the program. The Committee on Community Development (COCD), a sub-committee of Community Council, may offer financial assistance when substantial or permanent items are needed. Some items that COCD has granted additional funding for include radios, permanent pieces of equipment and uniforms. In the past, additional funding for the HCEMT Grant Program has been provided by Community Council and the Dean's Office.

 

Individual Compensation

At the beginning of each semester, Hampshire College EMTs must choose a method of compensation. Work study students may volunteer or receive payment as part of their semester allowance. Non-work study EMTs may receive the equivalent of work study wages for their time in service. Others choose to volunteer their time without receiving compensation.

 

EMTs are paid for six of every twelve hours on duty. Those in leadership positions do not receive additional compensation. To receive compensation, a work contract must be filled out at the business office prior to employment.

 

Students can also use EMT work for community service credit. Students who want an evaluation for their work as an EMT should discuss this with the leadership of the program at the beginning of the semester.

 

HCEMT Grant Program

HCEMS offers financial support for students interested in enrolling in the EMT course sponsored at Hampshire College. HCEMT Grant applicants must submit a written application demonstrating merit and need. As determined by the current leadership, grant recipients may be required to commit to a fixed number of semesters of involvement with HCEMS upon completion of the course.

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