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Wednesday, May 22, 2013 11:43 pm
Whether it's a bicycle collision or difficulty breathing, the UA community can count on quick help from students trained and certified as EMTs.
The University of Arizona Student Emergency Medical Services, or UASEMS, group has been operational for three semesters and provides assistance in medical emergencies. Its leaders emphasize thorough training and certification.
"We're students at the UA who happen to be EMTs. We're not student EMTs," says Derek Smith, manager of UA Student Emergency Medical Services and a non-degree-seeking graduate student.
When Brandon Murphy arrived at the UA three years ago, he didn't find any options for students to work in EMS on campus. He met up with two other students – who've since graduated – to begin brainstorming a program that students could run. They looked at other universities that have student EMS programs and modeled a club after the best practices they found around the country. It took two years to work through the administration and risk management officials, but they were able to start as a club with ASUA funding and began responding in spring 2012.
UASEMS switched to funding from the student service fee and began expanding hours in fall 2012. As the fall progressed, the group did too, taking on additional days until they were operating from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. seven days a week.
UASEMS this year was the sole EMS provider at the Tucson Festival of Books, saving the festival $4,000 by not using the Tucson Fire Department. UASEMS also works stand-by at Spring Fling, football games and tailgating and when requested for special events, like the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure.
"Anything that occurs on campus, we can be there," Murphy says. "Our members do get put into emergencies where they're the only person there, so we make sure they're held to the same certification. We weren't going to settle for a CPR certification or anything else. We make sure everyone has state certification."
UASEMS finished the semester with 32 student members, most of whom are certified Emergency Medical Technicians, with the same Arizona training and certification as a Southwest Basic Life Support Ambulance. Two EMTs staff each 12-hour shift, sometimes along with an additional Certified First Responder, and typically respond to at least two calls for service. On its busiest day, UASEMS responded to 12 calls in a 24-hour period.
Common calls for service deal with fall victims, injuries from pedestrian, bicycle or vehicle collisions and respiratory distress.
"It's part of our emergency mission to provide a quick, rapid response and be the first to provide care until further medical care arrives," Murphy says.
By checking vital signs and reporting to paramedics, the student EMTs can eliminate a step and save valuable time if a patient needs to be taken to a hospital.
"There are calls where we take the blood pressure while waiting for TFD and give the information right to them so they can load and go. They appreciate it," Murphy says.
Many students join out of an interest in a future medical career, some have even gone on to medical school already, while others are considering EMT as a career. Interest is growing; the group has received 80 applications since the fall that they haven't been able to accept. They're hoping to take on as many as 10 in the fall and hope to expand to providing EMS service around the clock, seven days as week.
UASEMS has a golf cart and two bicycles, all equipped with emergency gear. UAPD ride-alongs are a mandatory part of the orientation, which includes 20 hours of vigorous bike training and instruction on bloodborne pathogens and health privacy laws. The members participate in monthly continuing education courses and perform mock drills during the week.
"It's real-life, in-the-field experience they can't get shadowing somebody in a hospital," says Murphy, a junior in communications from New Jersey. "Here, you're set to a standard and you have a responsibility. That is your patient until further medical attention arrives."
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Wednesday, May 22, 2013 9:50 am
This summer, guests at the Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa will be the first to experience the pristine rejuvenated guest rooms and newly-remodeled resort pools for rates starting at $99 per night.
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Wednesday, May 22, 2013 4:00 am
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Wednesday, May 22, 2013 4:00 am
Living in Arizona—especially during the hotter months—we are exquisitely aware that drinking water is valuable and life-giving. But even when you spend those hot days basking in air conditioning, getting enough water is one of the best things you can do for your health, at any age and at any time of year.
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013 5:00 pm
Summer travel season is almost here. Planning for the next family trip to visit relatives, stay at the beach or camp out in tents under the stars is in full swing, and everyone is dreaming of upcoming departure dates.
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013 12:13 pm
On May 14th, the Pinal County Sheriff Office arrested Robert Gilson, 28, of Tucson, in a string of thefts in the Saddlebrooke area. The suspect was an employee of Maid2Clean and was contracted by homeowners for services. While providing these services Gilson would steal jewelry and take it to various Tucson pawn shops.
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013 11:28 am
In a plea for her life on Tuesday, convicted murderer Jodi Arias said if she is sentenced to life instead of death, she will make a positive impact on the prison system.
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Monday, May 20, 2013 9:48 am
In March, the Oro Valley Police Department School Resource Officers Unit began an investigation involving a possible inappropriate relationship between a high school teacher at Ironwood Ridge High School and a female student.
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Monday, May 20, 2013 6:17 am
(NewsUSA) - According to recent reports, Warren Buffet has identified energy deregulation as the next big financial opportunity to reverberate around the country. Similarly, former GE Chairman Jack Welch described deregulation as "the next biggest thing since the Internet."
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Saturday, May 18, 2013 10:00 pm
(StatePoint) You may remember your parents telling you to turn off the television and go outside or read a book. But these days, it’s harder than ever to separate kids from media devices, especially as their options become more mobile.
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Friday, May 17, 2013 12:11 pm
On May 16, 2013 at 11:14 p.m., officers from the Marana Police Department responded to a residence located in the 8900 block of N. Palm Brook Drive in response to a 911 call. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male and female in the home. The male was pronounced deceased at the scene.
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Friday, May 17, 2013 10:54 am
Not sure what to give your dad for Father’s Day? Classic choices like a tie or cufflinks are nice, but don’t forget to give him the most meaningful gift of all -- quality time.
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Thursday, May 16, 2013 10:00 pm
(StatePoint) Not sure what to give your dad for Father’s Day? Classic choices like a tie or cufflinks are nice, but don’t forget to give him the most meaningful gift of all -- quality time.
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Wednesday, May 15, 2013 10:00 pm
(StatePoint) With summer travel season upon us, families across the country are taking to the open road for family road trips. But while the destination always leads to excitement, oftentimes the long car ride can be a drag.
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Wednesday, May 15, 2013 10:54 am
(NewsUSA) - Many of the key provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act -- better known as ObamaCare -- are already coming into effect this year.
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Wednesday, May 15, 2013 4:44 am
(NAPSI)—There’s hopeful news for struggling writers. An annual contest is designed to encourage them and honor the best of their work. This year’s award ceremony was held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
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Wednesday, May 15, 2013 4:00 am
When Oro Valley Town Council gave initial approval for the Aquatic Center in December 2011, it was with the vision that the facility would be both an economic driver for the town and an improvement to quality of life for our residents. It has been just two short months since our grand opening, and I am proud to announce that the facility has been an overwhelming success on both accounts.
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Wednesday, May 15, 2013 4:00 am
Hawkeye Richardson begins telling a story about a prehistoric shark from 20 million years ago. He explains that this shark, when it was alive, was the size of a semi tractor-trailer measuring in around 50 feet long and weighing 50,000 pounds. From a felt pouch, he slid out a palm-sized fossilized tooth belonging to one of those sharks, which was available to be held and touched.
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Wednesday, May 15, 2013 4:00 am
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Wednesday, May 15, 2013 4:00 am
Books for the young adult audience have always had their own charm and adult fans, but recently it seems that many have taken off and found mainstream success that goes far beyond a teen audience. The next one to do that may just be “Flicker” by Melanie Hooyenga.
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Wednesday, May 15, 2013 4:00 am
Even though “The Great Gatsby” has gotten the movie treatment several times in the past, no film adaptation has ever really stood out as the definitive version of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s celebrated novel. Director Baz Luhrmann’s film is certainly the most visually arresting interpretation of “The Great Gatsby” ever produced. Catherine Martin, who previously worked with Luhrmann on “Moulin Rouge,” “Romeo and Juliet,” and “Australia,” deserves multiple Oscar nominations for her hyper sets and eye-popping costumes. As wonderful as Luhrmann’s “Great Gatsby” is to look at, the enchanting visuals are also ironically the movie’s downfall. In the midst of the art direction, costumes, and music, the story and characters that made Fitzgerald’s book a classic, become a mere afterthought.
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Currently, Hawkeye Richardson houses hundreds of rare, old and unique books in his garage, which he sells at book festivals to fund his non-profit organization Tell Me a Good Story.
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Some of the books that the Tell Me a Good Story organization sells are first or early printing editions.
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Books that arenÕt very unique, Hawkeye Richardson donates to seniors, kids, teachers, military and veterans.
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Of some of the rare books for sale, Hawkeye Richardson has an 1870 10-volume set edition of Charles DickensÕ work, which sells for $1,200.