In November, Saint Anselm College’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team hosted EMS week: five-days of organized events highlighting safety and medical response techniques. The unique presentations provided Nursing and Health Science students with personal experiences and beneficial information.
An unforgettable landing kicked off the week’s events with an exciting helicopter visit from Dartmouth Hitchcock’s Advanced Response Team. The group’s paramedics and flight nurses informed students of their roles with a presentation and helicopter tour. Followed by a visit from the Goffstown Fire Department, where students received hands-on CPR training with a two-hour demonstration.
Saint Anselm College EMS (SACEMS), founded in 1991, is a group of volunteer students, all of whom are Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMTs). SACEMS members are also licensed through the state of New Hampshire.
Megan Wozniak ’25, a member of SACEMS, explained “we are trained in many life-saving skills, and, as students who live on campus, we can quickly respond to emergencies and provide immediate care. SACEMS provides rapid response to 911 emergencies on campus. We also stand-by at many events on campus, including club sports and events for the Meelia Center.”
On Tuesday, students gathered in the student center for a “Stop the Bleed” presentation, hosted by CMC’s EMS Coordinator, Shawn Brechtal. Those who attended learned the importance of bleeding control techniques.
Nursing Professor Carrie MacLeod continued the week by hosting a multidisciplinary presentation, focusing on the importance of supporting patients both medically and emotionally. “The panel shared their experiences about providing care that spans across EMS contact, the emergency department, the intensive care unit and preparation for discharge,” said Professor MacLeod. Several alumni were featured in the presentation and shared their first-hand career roles and experiences with students. The alumni include Caroline Huntress '22, Molly Brun '14 and Zachary Wormell '11.
On Thursday, the Goffstown Fire Department gave students ambulance tours and the spoke about their roles as first responders. The week concluded with a special visit from a member of Manchester Public Health Department, Andrew Warner. He informed students on the many signs of an overdose and demonstrated the proper way to administer Narcan.