In 1973 there was no provision for emergency ambulance service on the campuses of Syracuse University and the State University Environmental School of Forestry beyond the city of Syracuse’s commercial provider. Recognizing the need for a system of care designed to meet the needs of the university community, a group of Syracuse University students applied to the University for and received permission to begin to run a student organization operated service. It began with a station wagon, some first aid equipment, a handful of volunteers, and the support of the University Health Service medical director.

Today, 65 highly dedicated volunteer members of the Syracuse University Ambulance (SUA) provide emergency response with state-of-the-art equipment, including two ambulances, a supervisor’s van, and a multi-casualty incident trailer. SUA responds to more than 1,000 emergency requests a year. Emergency calls are received and dispatched by a dispatch center located within SUA quarters in the health service.

SUA operates within guidelines established by the New York State Department of Health and under the direction of the Syracuse University Health Service. Full-time staff includes an EMS manager, and the director of health services serves as the SUA medical director. Because of the support received from student health fees and from the Syracuse University Student Association, there is no charge for ambulance services for full-time registered students. Services provided to faculty, staff, and part-time students are charged on a fee-for-service basis.

Description of Services

Ambulance services are provided 24 hours per day, seven days a week during the academic year. Weekday services are provided during the summer sessions. Services are provided to SU and ESF faculty, staff, and students and for students living in the near campus area. SUA provides basic life support services with rapid cardiac defibrillation capabilities. As required, advanced life support services are provided in collaboration with the city-based commercial ambulance service. SUA also provides mutual aid response with other agencies within the greater Onondaga County area.

Syracuse University ambulance is the only ambulance service in the area with permission to transport directly to Syracuse University Health Services. Students requesting SUA allows access to the full range of services offered to all students at the heath center. 

Other services provided involve emergency medical service training including residence hall presentations, student organization exhibitions, campus-wide demonstrations, and training courses in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

SUA provides emergency medical services standby services for events held at the Carrier Dome – Syracuse University’s major athletic venue. Special event standby services are also provided for other major campus events. SUA works collaboratively with the SU Department of Public Safety and the SU Safety Department to provide comprehensive services.

A Core of Volunteers

The strength of the EMS program lies in our diverse volunteer staff. We constantly seek highly motivated and enthusiastic people from all academic programs. Recruitment efforts include campus-based seminars, participation in opening weekend student activity events, and individual one-on-one recruitment by active members. While some of our volunteers have previous experience or exposure to ambulance services, there are many that express interest for the first time. SUA provides interested students with all necessary training.

Volunteer staffing includes students certified as an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (AKA crew chiefs), Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians – Intermediates, drivers, and attendants. Each shift there is a designated field supervisor that is responsible for the overall operation of the service as well as the appropriate management of the emergency response. The EMS manager, in partnership with the student supervisors group, provides administration of the service. The student supervisors group consists of field supervisors (5), facilities supervisors (2), the special events supervisor, the training supervisor, and the personnel supervisor.

SUA provides students a chance to incorporate themselves into a devoted group of student volunteers working as a cohesive unit. As recently noted by Stephen Handzel (AEMT-I, Field Supervisor, Junior Biology major) “ SUA is a group of students who come from all aspects of life. In the midst of chaos this diverse group forms a bond as a family to provide quality emergency medical care to our campus community”.  Available retention figures indicate a higher than average level of graduation occurrence and greater academic achievement. SUA alumni include physicians, stockbrokers, paramedics, architects, social workers, information systems specialists, nurses, and other professionals.

Non-Emergency Transport Services

In 1987, we recognized that many of the requests for ambulance services were not emergent in nature, but rather that students required transport services. University Health Services created the Syracuse University Medical Transport Services (MTS) to assist students needing temporary non-emergency transport because of illness or injury.

Current MTS services include transport to and from classes and other academic requirements, transport to and from the health service, and transport to and from other health care facilities.

Services are provided by trained student employees using two vans – one of which is equipped to facilitate wheelchair bound patients. Services are provided 24 hours per day, seven days a week during the academic year and weekday services are provided during the summer sessions. More than 6,000 transports are provided on an annual basis.