Syracuse University Ambulance, commonly referred to as SUA, is a SU Health Services-based student operated organization that responds to over 1,500 medical emergencies each year, providing basic life support, transport, rapid cardiac defibrillation as well as non-emergency transportation. SUA operates two full time BLS ambulances. In addition, SUA operates three medical transport vans, a supervisor's fly car and a MCI trailer for multiple casualty incidents.

To view our rigs and vehicles, click here!

SUA provides emergency and non-emergency services 24-hours a day, 7-days a week during the academic school year and is funded by a portion of the student health fee.

History

SUA was formed in 1973 by a group of students out of a need for emergency medical services on campus. Starting with only a few members and meager equipment, the Syracuse University Medical Crisis Unit was formed. The organization has evolved greatly over time but remains a student-run organization to this day.

Inter-Agency Relationships

SUA's medical services are available for all resident students, faculty, staff and visitors of the SU and ESF campuses. SUA also provides service for the areas immediately off campus and locations surrounding SU. SUA maintains working relationships with city ambulance services such as Rural Metro Ambulance that provide advanced life support on calls when required. In the event of a large scale mass casualty incident, SUA has agreements with various agencies to assist with mutual aid for large call volumes. Currently, SUA is involved in inter-agency training and maintains constant contact with other local ambulance services, fire departments, police and public safety agencies.

Medical Transport

Students who are in need of temporary or long-term non-emergency transport due to illness or injury may utilize SU's non-emergency medical transport service (MTS). Utilizing three ambulette vans, one of which is equipped with a handicap accessible lift, MTS provides students with transport to local area doctors and hospitals for appointments, transportation to pharmacies for prescription pick-ups, as well as transportation to and from student's residences and classes. Transport services are paid for by a portion of the student health fee and are available anytime classes are in session.

To schedule a medical transport pick-up, please call (315) 443-4566 as soon as possible before your appointment or class.

Special Events

Special event standby services are provided by request for major campus events. SU Ambulance crews provide services for major Carrier Dome, sports and other special events with attendance exceeding 5,000+ spectators.

Mass Casualty Incidents

SUA's Mass Casualty Incident trailer is one of the most highly regarded aspects of the agency. SUA is currently one of two agencies within Onondaga County to have MCI response capabilities. Put into service in 1999 and upgraded in 2009, SUA's trailer is outfitted with equipment designed to respond to mutual aid for large or small scale multiple patient catastrophes. Within this trailer there are over 30 backboard setups, MCI tagging equipment, ALS medical support equipment for local ALS agencies, BLS medical support bags/boxes, a backup generator, scene lights, portable oxygen setups for over 30 people and scene organizational equipment.

As a result of SUA's MCI capabilities and equipment, SU Ambulance in conjunction with Onondaga County Fire/EMS/and Police agencies, conducts numerous MCI training programs in an effort to increase large-scale training readiness. These training programs familiarize the agencies and individuals with incident command, usage of equipment, treatment of patients, etc. during large scale MCI's. Working with local area hospitals, large size simulation programs are conducted at Hancock International Airport, the Syracuse Regional Transportation Center, the Carousel Mall Complex, and other strategic training locations.

SUA participates in a yearly MCI drill on campus that involved many agencies including Syracuse Police, DPS, bomb squad units and the FBI.

Dispatching

SUA is a self-dispatched agency where paid student dispatchers (certified as Emergency Medical Dispatchers) work in a state-of-the-art dispatch center 24-hours a day where calls to university emergency lines are handled and immediately dispatched/relayed to on-duty ambulance crews. SUA's dispatchers also take calls and dispatch the medical transport vans to locations around the Syracuse area. The phone system also has direct links to SU's Department of Public Safety and the city paramedic ambulance service. Dispatching services are available when classes are in session. During off-times such as vacations or during the summer, SUA's emergency lines are forwarded to DPS where appropriate medical services can respond.

The radio dispatching console allows SUA to communicate with vehicles, notify crews of pending ambulance calls and connect ambulances to on-duty nurses and physicians for medical support. If there is a time when a second ambulance crew is needed or the crew is not available at headquarters, the system includes a paging interface that communicates with text pagers that members of the organization keep on their person.

Training

SUA and SU Health Services are committed to providing training opportunities and awareness to the SU campus. 99% of SUA's training programs occur on the SU campus. Most members of the organization are trained in first aid, CPR, Hazardous Materials, Blood-borne pathogens, BLS/ALS assistance, scene safety awareness and HIPAA training. On any ambulance crew, there is at least one or more individuals with a New York State Emergency Medical Technician certification (EMT-B). Some students also have completed training as CPR Instructors for the American Red Heart Association.

Member Training

In order to provide the highest level to training, SUA has developed a training program developed to train both EMT's and non-EMT's about our organization. New members are put through an attendant and progression-status program that introduces them to ambulance equipment and their usage, operations, patient care, ambulance driving, interagency communication, and on-scene involvement.

After completing a probationary period, members go through a rigorous training program starting them as Attendants (ATT), where most of the introduction is done. After displaying proficiency with the requirements, the ATT may choose to begin a Driver (DR) program and become acquainted with driving and operating the ambulance. If the student has completed EMT training, they may also choose to begin a Crew Chief (CC) program teaching them how to be responsible for patient care on an ambulance call. During the training phase, known as a progression, students work side by side with instructors and field supervisors on actual ambulance calls gaining proficiency and comfort in the field. When a comfort level is reached and permission has been granted from the supervisors and training staff, the students will become cleared to work their position without the need of a trainer watching them.

The training program is developed and overseen during the year by appointed Field Supervisors. These members are responsible for the organization's training programs as well as developing protocols for training. These supervisors work one-on-one with progression students to make sure they are learning the right skills to become cleared at their position. Volunteers are divided into companies to allow close interaction with groups of members.

Click here to view our current active members, officers and alumni.

Recognition

In addition to recently celebrating 30 years of service, SUA has been acknowledged for a monumental life-saving call during the 2001-2002 school year. While at a SU basketball stand-by, 3 SUA members were called upon to come to the aid of an unconscious man who they ultimately discovered was in cardiac arrest. Thinking quickly, SUA members applied and utilized an AED and restarted the man's heartbeat with a series of shocks. Care of the patient was transferred to SU Carrier Dome Medical Staff and Rural/Metro Paramedics. The patient was transported by SUA to a local area hospital, treated, and later released.

During the 2004-2005 school year, SUA was honored as the "New York State EMS Agency of the Year". Awarded by the state's EMS council, SUA was chosen to receive this honor out of 1,127 different EMS agencies state-wide. "The award to the Syracuse University Ambulance Service is particularly impressive because it is a busy volunteer, student-operated service whose level of quality has been recognized as exemplary, first by the Regional EMS Council locally and now by an EMS committee representing the entire state," says Edward G. Wronski, Director of the New York State Department of Health's Bureau of Emergency Medical Services.