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Quinnipiac University is rolling out a new program, called Res-Q Campus Emergency Medical Service, in which student Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) will be the first responders to emergency medical situations at Quinnipiac.

Quinnipiac joins 250 other colleges/universities that have EMS programs.

“Once I was aware that there were other campuses that had student-run EMS, I said, ‘We need to be doing this at Quinnipiac.’ ” Phillip Brewer, MD, medical director for student health services, said.

Brewer had the idea to bring this program to Quinnipiac several years ago. He has been working alongside the Department of Public Safety and student leaders to coordinate this.

“These student EMTs will be responding with our Public Safety officers in getting to the scene much faster when minutes count,” Rich Hally, Public Safety training officer and fire marshal, said.

A pinning ceremony took place last Tuesday, where each student EMT received a pin and certificate officially making them members of the Res-Q team.

The goal of this program is to have EMTs work alongside Public Safety officers right away until the Hamden Fire Department arrives.

Many of the students are currently EMTs in their hometowns or pursuing degrees in the medical field. The program will also allow students in health care fields to use their hours working as on-campus EMTs as patient contact hours.

Two students, Charles Dunn and Rob Lay, have been spearheading this program as the student leaders throughout the process.

“People are able to get experience with EMS and learning how to deal with patients and stressful situations that are skills that they’re going to want to build,” Dunn said.

The students’ hours will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. However, those involved hope the program continues to grow.

“Eventually, they might be able to grow to where they’re doing standbys at all kinds of events,” said Assistant Chief for the Hamden Fire Department Charles Lubowicki. “And maybe even have their own ambulance because they sky’s the limit in a program like this.”

The student EMTs are currently in a training phase and will begin working on Nov. 14.