WASHINGTON — Thousands of student EMTs and paramedics across the U.S. will be recognized this month as part of the first National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Week, observed Nov. 10–16.
The initiative, adopted by the Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice — which oversees the U.S. EMS Compact — highlights the contributions of collegiate and university-based EMS programs nationwide. These student-run organizations not only provide emergency response on campuses but also serve as training grounds for the next generation of EMS professionals.
The National Collegiate EMS Foundation states more than 8,400 collegiate EMS clinicians operate across roughly 250 campus agencies in 43 states, five Canadian provinces and Jamaica. In the last academic year, member programs logged over 94,000 emergency responses and maintained more than 2,850 automated external defibrillators for campus and community use.
“These collegiate EMS providers represent the next generation of public servants and healthcare professionals,” Executive Director of the EMS Compact Commission Donnie Woodyard Jr., said. “My own formative years as a collegiate EMS provider taught me responsibility, teamwork, and empathy, values that guided me throughout my career. These students are gaining real-world experience that strengthens our entire profession. Some will stay in EMS, while others will go on to become physicians, nurses, business leaders, and policymakers who will remain lifelong advocates for emergency medical services.”
The resolution highlights collegiate EMS programs as an essential component of the nation’s public safety system, delivering lifesaving emergency care, health education and leadership training within college and university communities.
