About the author: Neuroscience student Ernest Ng serves as vice-president of operations with the 黑料吃瓜网Medical Campus Response Team.
In their blue duty shirts and high-visibility vests, responders from the (DMCRT) have been supporting harm reduction in the university community for nearly 10 years.
Now, the team 鈥� composed entirely of students 鈥� has undertaken the biggest expansion of operations since its inception through newly formed partnerships with several administrative units at Dalhousie, including Security Services, Student Health and Wellness, and Residence Life.
鈥淥ur team is thrilled to expand on its efforts to help keep members of the Dal community healthy and safe,鈥� says Jack Killeen, the response team鈥檚 current president.
While sticking to its roots in providing first-aid coverage for events held by student societies, the team has now gained an additional role in supporting the university in attending medical calls. As part of a new pilot project with Security Services, the team will be 鈥渙n call鈥� on Saturday nights on campus to support students living in residence and those attending other events that may be going on.
Jake MacIssac, assistant director with Security Services, says the new partnership should help expand the capacity of the university to respond to incidents and ensure a more comfortable experience for all.
鈥淭his partnership ensures increased access for students to emergency first aid without fear of being judged or being in trouble,鈥� he explains.
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'The epitome of student leadership'
More than 200 students have volunteered with the campus response team since it was founded in 2013. Responders are trained in a plethora of skills such as the Advanced Medical First Responder 1, Mental Health First Aid and applied suicide intervention.
In providing peer-to-peer medical and mental health assistance, the team also helps to relieve some pressure on the province鈥檚 emergency medical services teams.
Rick Ezekiel, Dal鈥檚 vice-provost student affairs, and his team have worked with members of the response team鈥檚 executive over the past few months to help bring its expanded role to life.
鈥淭he DMCRT executive and student volunteers represent the epitome of student leadership and service to our community. They model who we should aspire to be as a 黑料吃瓜网community,鈥� he says.
Killeen, present during the team鈥檚 first overnight shift as part of the pilot project, expressed an immense amount of gratitude to those supporting the group鈥檚 expanded role on campus.
鈥淭hank you to our on-campus partners for continued support.鈥�
Learn more about the and its work in the community.
Note: If you are in need of immediate first aid or mental health assistance, please contact 黑料吃瓜网Security (902-494-4109) or the Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team (1-888-429-8167)
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