Washington University Emergency Support Team (EST)

Infobox Organization
name = Emergency Support Team (EST)


image_border =
size = 300px
caption = EST Patch
abbreviation = EST
motto =
formation = 1979
type = Volunteer Collegiate EMS squad
status =
purpose =
headquarters = Washington University in St. Louis, Lien Basement
location = St. Louis
region_served = Main Campus, North Side, South 40
membership = Volunteer
language =
leader_title = Medical Director
leader_name = Alan Glass, MD
main_organ =
parent_organization =
affiliations =
num_staff =
num_volunteers = 50
budget =
website = http://est.wustl.edu/
remarks =

The Emergency Support Team, or EST as it is known on campus, is a student-run, all-volunteer EMS team that serves the Washington University community 24/7 during the fall and spring semesters. At least 2 of the 3 medics that respond to every emergency call are Missouri EMT-B licensed. All EST medics are CPR and first-aid certified. EST is equipped to handle all medical emergencies ranging from cut fingers to major traumas and cardiac arrest.cite news |url= http://media.www.studlife.com/media/storage/paper337/news/2001/09/11/News/Est-Assists.The.Ill.Injured-92173.shtml |title= EST assists the ill, injured |first= Radhika |last= Narla |work= Student Life |date= 2001-09-11] EST is a BLS squad and contracts to the Clayton Fire Department for paramedic assistance and emergency hospital transport. The Washington University Police Dept. provides non-emergency hospital transport. [http://www.est.wustl.edu/ Washington University Emergency Support Team ] ]

Founding and History

EST was started in the fall of 1979 by a group of students and faculty in order to provide 24/7 volunteer medical services to the Washington University community. The group was originally called SHOUT, which stood for Students Helping OUT. SHOUT was created due to concerns over the medical training and response times of the local St. Louis EMS agencies at the time. Among its supporters, Dr. Mary L. Parker, former Director of Health Services and co-founders Terry Chazan and David Levy were the most active. The members of SHOUT, about twenty students and staff, were dispatched by the University Police Dept. via voice pagers. SHOUT responded to calls in a golf cart affectionately named "The Cushman," which was equipped with trauma kits, oxygen tanks, splints and ice packs.cite news |url= http://record.wustl.edu/2002/10-11-02/est.html |title= Student medics provide invaluable service |first= Neil |last= Schoenherr |work= Record |date= 2002-10-11]

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s SHOUT continued to grow and was eventually renamed EST. The team's membership and call volume increased dramatically, along with members' training and community trust. The teams began using alphanumeric pagers and, over time, responded to calls in a number of different vehicles. Such vehicles include a Subaru Brat, GMC Jimmy, Jeep Cherokee, and a Ford Explorer. The dedication and vision of EST's past members have made it the professional and trusted EMS organization it is today.

Organization and Operations

EST has a 3-person duty crew that is on call 24/7 during the fall and spring semesters. EST goes out of service for the Thanksgiving, winter, spring, and summer breaks. All on-duty medics carry a radio to communicate with each other and the police dispatcher and a Motorola Minitor pager to receive calls from the dispatcher. The pagers are activated via tones over the police frequency. After the initial alert tone or vibration, a voice page follows during which the dispatcher relays the chief complaint, location, and additional information of the call.

On calls where paramedic backup or emergency hospital transport is needed, EST relies on local fire departments for ALS assistance and ambulance transport. The Washington University Police Department is available to transport non-emergent patients to the hospital.

EST also provides special coverage crews for events where the typical duty crew would not be sufficient. Such events include WILD, Bauhaus, Graduation, and famous visitors to campus. Once or twice a semester, EST also provides low-cost CPR classes to the community. [cite web | title = EST CPR classes | url=http://est.wustl.edu/index.php?section=cpr&page=cpr | accessdate = 29 August 2008]

Equipment

EST medics respond to calls in a red 2004 Ford Explorer equipped with flashing amber lights to increase visibility. The EST truck holds hundreds of pounds of important life-saving gear that includes, but is not limited to: 2 "jump bags," 2 oxygen bags, AED, backboard, stair chair, crutches, burn box, OB/GYN kit, environmental bag, splints bag, disaster bag, PPE bag, suction kit, and others.

Training

All medics are either Missouri licensed EMT-Bs, or are training to obtain that license. Members of EST are constantly training and retraining, testing and retesting, to maintain the highest level of expertise and readiness for the community. When new medics are accepted onto the team, they can begin taking duty after passing a CPR test, learning standard first-aid, and completing a truck usage tutorial. Initially, a new medic's only roles on a call include taking vitals and assisting the experienced medics. New medics take an EMT class their spring semester and usually pass the EMT exam the following summer or fall semester.

Once EMT licensure is achieved, medics must attend weekly trainings and meetings in order to continue taking duty and remain an active member of the team. Some medics elect to go through the move-up process, a series of mock calls (usually 2 or 3 a week) put on by the more experienced medics (known as Medic 1s), with the ultimate goal of moving up their medic rank to Medic 1 status. Medics in the move-up process will also run all their calls while being closely supervised by the Medic 1s. The move-up process can take anywhere from 6-18 months depending on the medic. Medic 1s must vote unanimously to move a less experienced member to medic 1 status. All medics, regardless of rank, must pass a CPR test every semester to keep taking duty.

Current Officers

[ [http://est.wustl.edu/index.php?section=about&page=whoweare Washington University Emergency Support Team ] ]

References