Office of Public Safety

Section 1: Introduction

1)        Purpose

a)        The purpose of this manual is to establish educational, operational, and training guidelines for pre-hospital care personnel, provide a system for quality assurance, and offer a structure for didactic and clinical instruction for orientation and familiarization of the University structure.

2)        Scope

a)        These educational, operational, and training guidelines are applicable to all volunteers of Western Emergency Medical Services, EMT students, civilian observers, and students.

3)        Author

a)        Heather Platt, BA, EMT-P, former Western EMS advisor, and Illinois State EMT Instructor originally authored this document. It was based on guidelines, recommendations, and outlined procedural forms from the National DOT Curriculum, Centers for Disease Control, the McDonough District Hospital, the Kent State University Emergency Medical Service, and the Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Emergency Medical Services. Western EMS has made further changes to adapt former SOP and these guidelines into a current document for the service. It should be noted that many of the policies contained herein were formatted by various Western EMS members, University volunteers, as well as outside consultants.

4)        Objectives

a)        To outline standards for education, training, and operational performance of Western EMS personnel.

b)        To outline safety precautions and procedures.

 

About the University

Western Illinois University is an Illinois state supported university located in the city of Macomb, covers approximately 1,050 acres, and approximately 55 buildings.  Macomb is in the heart of West Central Illinois, just 40 miles east of the Mississippi River and typically enjoys a population of over 20,000 residents.

 

About the Office of Public Safety

Western EMS is officially a charter member of the Technical Assistance Support Corps (TASC). TASC members are made up of volunteers knowledgeable in various areas of expertise, lending assistance to the Office of Public Safety (OPS). Western EMS members are, in this respect, volunteers.

By state statute, university police departments cannot have reserve membership. The creation of TASC allows OPS to offer services that normal budgetary restrictions would not provide for, such as emergency medical care, translators, and amateur radio operators.

OPS provides assistance to Western EMS in the form of assigning the Western EMS Advisor to act as a liaison between the two agencies and providing dispatching services.

 

Western EMS Historical Background

The Western Illinois University Association of EMT’s was founded in the early 1970’s to provide training assistance and support to the Health Sciences Department’s EMT training program. The membership occasionally provided EMT’s to work Bureau of Cultural Affairs (BCA) presentations.

When operating in this capacity, the EMT’s who worked were known as the Western Medics. The Western Medics, operating without any written authorization, institutional or operational standards, were officially disbanded in October of 1992.

In the fall of 1992, the EMT Association underwent a six-month period of restructuring. New standards and goals were written, as were the organization’s structural guidelines. During that period, the group’s advisor, Heather Platt, drafted a proposal for a non-transport, Basic Life Support (BLS) Service. The proposal was submitted to the University in February of 1993, and she was given permission to proceed with the project.

Platt and the remaining members of the Western Medics began to further outline the program guidelines. The problem of finding an appropriate home for Western EMS was solved when Platt approached the Director of Public Safety, Joe Sylvester, with the proposal. When the meeting concluded the first tentative co-agreement between the EMT Association and the Technical Assistance Support Corps was reached.

Sergeant Robert Baxter was assigned to become the first liaison between the two agencies. A formal agreement outlining the relationship between TASC and the EMT Association was presented to the members for a vote. The members were unanimously in favor of the agreement, and Western EMS was born on April 19, 1993.

Western EMS owes its heartfelt gratitude to all the people who helped make the program possible, “so that others may live.”

Special thanks goes to former Association President Heidi Haney, EMT-A, and former Association Secretary, Lisa Farrow, EMT-A, who kept the Association alive during the turbulent era of transition when it looked as if the Association might disassemble.

To the first Executive Board of the new EMT Association, who volunteered so much time and effort toward the creation of Western EMS; Aaron Machek, EMT-A, Dan Hulata, EMT-A, Roberta Metzger, EMT-A, Edward Paulson, EMT-A, Chris Pinnow, EMT-A, and Chris Sterricker, EMT-A, both the EMT Association and Western EMS owes a debt that can never be repaid.

It should be noted, that none of these people were ever compensated for their efforts, but instead chose to devote more than a year of their lives in the respected tradition of some of the most dedicated volunteers in the world, those of the EMS profession.

 

About Western EMS

Western EMS is a professional, volunteer, non-transport Basic Life Support (BLS) service. Members provide direct patient care to the Western Illinois University population and visitors to the campus.

Western EMS personnel must complete rigorous training, continuing education, and evaluation programs to be eligible for membership. Members are selected on the basis of experience, leadership, dedication, service and professional performance.

Informational Synopsis:

Western EMS is an organization recognized by Western Illinois University. Western EMS consists of people interested in promoting excellence in EMS and in serving the University population by providing supportive medical and educational services.

Western EMS personnel provide their services on a voluntary basis with a paid-per-call reimbursement. By policy, membership in Western EMS is limited to individuals who are not under any disciplinary action by the University, are in good academic standing, have passed a background check by the Office of Public Safety, and have completed a mandatory probationary period. This period includes an equipment practical examination, a final written exam, training sessions, and ride along time. Upon successful completion of these requirements, the candidate becomes a full member of Western EMS.

Disciplinary action for the organization is handled through the Office of Public Safety upon request by the EMS officers. Ultimately, the Western EMS Advisor has the final authority to revoke a working membership status if the person does not meet the required professional standards. There is no appeal for this type of disciplinary decision.

When on call, duty crews will report to the Western EMS office to pick up their equipment for that shift. When a call comes into OPS, the dispatcher will record the call information and dispatch it to the duty crew. Upon arrival at the scene, the crew will gain access to the patient’s location, assess the scene, institute appropriate medical treatment, and refer the patient to the appropriate medical facility. When the run is completed, the crew will report to OPS to collect the call information, and advise the dispatch of their status. Then, the crew will complete the required paperwork and restock any used equipment.

Western EMS receives its funding through the Offices of the Vice President of Students Services and Vice President of Administrative Services. Some disposable supplies are obtained through McDonough District Hospital.

Western EMS personnel are under the constant scrutiny of the Western EMS Advisor and the Director of the Office of Public Safety. Western EMS licensed EMT’s are monitored by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the McDonough District Hospital EMS System