Students Saving Lives: EMT

With only 10 minutes left in the 3-11 evening shift, the emergency radio goes off at the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Station. There is a cardiac arrest somewhere in town and immediately Sid Dante '05 and Nicky Peterson '07 take off toward the scene in an ambulance.

As they complete their first call, the radio sounds again. Without a minute to collect their thoughts, Dante and Peterson are off again, this time to treat a woman with an allergic reaction.

Nights like this are typical for the eighteen University students who volunteer as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).

According to the chief of Princeton's squad, Greg Paulson '98, University students make up a third of the squad's total membership.

Paulson was a volunteer while an undergraduate and has remained involved for 10 years.

He added that the squad has benefited from a "long history of very enthusiastic and dedicated [University] members."

"If it wasn't for Princeton students, there wouldn't be a squad," said Dave Cromwell, a former president of the squad who still returns to visit the station every week.

According to squad figures, six of the station's top 10 call responders are Princeton alumni or students, including Dante, Erin Blake '06 and Marc Verdiel '05.

Verdiel, who serves as the squad's recording secretary, became involved his sophomore year and volunteers roughly 80 hours a month.

While students are only required to spend 32 hours each month on duty, a majority put in extra time. They frequently hang out and do homework at the station, which has a television, Game Cube and several computers.

"The station is a really social place," Verdiel said. "And it's nice to get off campus sometimes."

Dante said the experience gave him a greater connection to the town.

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Adam Castano '05 echoed those sentiments, saying the EMT experience is one of the few ways that students can interact with the entire Princeton community.

And all student squad members agree the experience teaches confidence, calmness and the ability to think on one's feet.

"There's no other experience like this," Dante said. "This is the only way on campus where you can find yourself in uniform treating someone who has just been in an accident."

To become an EMT, a student must attend 125 hours of class, pass comprehensive exams and observe several ambulance shifts.

Students join the squad as junior members, eventually moving up the ranks to senior members after refining their technical and personal skills.

Dante, Verdiel, Blake and Castano — all senior squad members — have the added responsibility of taking the lead when on location.

All student squad members agree it's a life changing experience.

"These students really represent Princeton's motto — 'In the Nation's Service and in the Service of All Nations,'" said Eric Kutner '95, vice president of the squad.