Volunteers with Carleton’s student-run medical response team will be receiving a higher level of response certification since joining the department of university safety last year.
The change is part of an ongoing transition for Carleton University Student Emergency Response Team (CUSERT), a student-funded, medical response team that provides on-call first aid services and supervision of many university events.
The decision to end CUSERT’s arrangement with St. John’s Ambulance and formally join the department of university safety was a long time in the making. Len Boudreault, director of the department of university safety, said there were ongoing difficulties with St. John’s Ambulance, particularly when it came to reaching agreements regarding responsibility and liability.
“It’s not some group of volunteers who decided to go out and stick band-aids on people,” he said.
Kensi Dickinson, CUSERT manager, said the team had a longstanding relationship with the department. The two organizations always went “hand-in-glove,” Boudreault said.
Although the decision was put into effect immediately, the transition is ongoing.
“With a change of this magnitude there is of course a lot of paperwork and planning and decision-making,” Dickinson said.
The most extensive changes will occur at the managerial level, with liability now falling under the responsibility of the safety department. The liability arrangement is now with the Ottawa Paramedic Service and it is currently before lawyers, Boudreault said.
So far, Dickinson sees the transition as positive.
“We have always had strong operational liaisons with [the department of university safety] . . . now all our direct operational contacts are centralized . . . which allows for a greater level of efficiency,” she said.
However, because both organizations already have established relationships with one another, the change does not radically affect volunteers or applicants. CUSERT applicants are still required to have standard first aid and CPR level “C” qualifications, the same requirements Ottawa Fire Services has for recruiting firefighters.
CUSERT applicants must submit applications, provide references, and go through the extensive training process. The application process typically begins early.
The goal is to have teams trained and ready by Sept. 1, Boudreault said. CUSERT receives, on average, 70 applications, from which 15 to 20 are accepted. The actual selection process remains unaffected by the change since all necessary certification is completed during training.
The transition will also have a minimal affect on volunteer training and duties. CUSERT volunteer training now occurs with the assistance of the Ottawa Paramedic Service. After shifts, volunteers are now required to report to the shift manager of the department of university safety. As well, both CUSERT and the department will respond to all calls.