HWS News
12 March 2024 • STEM Making HWS a HeartSafe Campus By Cassandra Lundgren ’26
Members of HWS EMS were awarded the HeartSafe Campus designation at the National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation conference.
For 2024, Hobart and William Smith is one of only nine college campuses to be certified as HeartSafe. Members of the HWS Emergency Medical Services (EMS) student organization were awarded the honor during the National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation conference in Baltimore, Maryland February 23-25.
The conference, held annually, was attended by more than 1,100 EMTs and Paramedics from over 100 colleges and universities across the United States and Canada for three days of education, skills labs and networking.
In order to receive this designation, the HWS EMS team needed to CPR certify at least 5% of the population on campus – including students, faculty and staff. The team surpassed the goal by certifying more than 9% of campus. In the fall semester, team members were certified as CPR instructors and began holding CPR classes for the HWS community. The 3-hour classes, which are currently ongoing, require the use of CPR dummies, AEDs and a lesson plan from the American Heart Association.
“To me, receiving this honor is a recognition of the dedication and hard work HWS EMS provides to this campus 24/7. Our EMTs work tirelessly (literally) to provide free medical services to all HWS members, and this award exemplifies the commitment of our team to give back to the HWS community,” says Alex Davidson ’24, Chief of Service for HWS EMS and a CPR instructor. Among other EMTs who have helped to achieve this honor are Jadon Layne ’25, Captain of Operations; Daniella Lorenzana ’26, Lt. of Safety and Training; and Andrew Painton ’25, Emilie Mussi ’25 and Samantha Page ’26.
They encourage more HWS students, faculty and staff to attend an upcoming session. American Heart Association certified CPR/AED courses will be offered on campus March 16 and 17 at 10 a.m. The cost for a Heartsaver CPR card is $25 and can be paid in cash at the course or billed to a home address.
The team thanks the support they receive from Joshua Bishop, Director of Community Values and Conflict Resolution, and Martin Corbett, Associate Vice President of Campus Safety.
For more information, please reach out to EMS@hws.edu. To learn more about HeartSafe campuses, visit https://www.ncemsf.org/programs/heartsafe-campus.
