Overview

City College Safety Services (CCSS) was founded in Spring 1983 by James Scaffidi in order to promote health awareness and teach CPR and First Aid to the City College Community.  A student run organization and an allocating body, CCSS is the administrative body from which the Volunteer Emergency Squad (VES) was founded.  As an emergency medical unit, VES consists of New York State Department of Health certified Emergency Medical Technicians and First Responders who respond to medical and trauma emergencies as requested by CCNY campus security during daytime hours and during special campus events.  All VES members are certified by the American Heart Association to administer CPR, First Aid, and the use of automated external defibrillators (AED).

The normal hours of operation are from 8:00am to 8:00pm Mondays through Thursdays and 8:00am to 4:00pm on Fridays when classes are in session.  In addition, VES has responded to emergencies when school is not in session.  Each duty crew consists of 4-5 members, dispatched by CCNY campus security, and work with NYC*EMS to provide early pre-hospital care.  On average, VES has responded to at least 100 emergency calls per year.

The primary goal of the members of CCNY VES is dedication to the values of professional, compassionate and expedient medical care to the students, faculty, staff, and visitors of the CCNY campus.

Services

Emergency Medical Treatment
VES provides free basic life support services to the entire CCNY campus population.  In case of emergency, dial x7777 from any campus phone or (212) 650 7777 from any other phone.  When calling, remain on the line until the operator tells you to hang up, and be sure to provide the location and nature of the emergency.

Special Events / Standby
VES also provides medical standby for large and/or recreational gatherings with extensive experience covering campus-wide graduation ceremonies.  VES may be requested to do a standby for your event.  For more information, please contact VES's Executive Board.  Please give us at least one week advanced notice.

Training

VES training is categorized into 4 parts:
 - Probie training
 - First Responder training
 - Assistant Crew Chief training
 - Crew Chief training

Probie Training
Whether you are a certified EMT or a responder who has no experience, a probie needs to undergo training with the senior members of his/her crew.  For non-EMT probies, you will be instructed in EMT responsibilities ranging from basic patient care to the intricate city EMS system.  You are required to master basic skills such as taking vital signs, CPR, and First Aid.  For EMT probies, your skills will be tested, criticized, and improved.  EMT probies will be instructed with the VES command structure and its relationship with other departments on campus. 

During this training, probies are strictly monitored by his/her crew chief and senior officers, any infraction will result in immediate expulsion.

Probationary training lasts for one or two semesters, after which you will be evaluated by the Executive Board members.  And they will decide whether to grant you full membership status.

First Responder (FR) Training
A full-fledged non-EMT VES member will continue his/her training as a first responder, learning more advanced skills (e.g. administer oxygen under EMT supervision) to be able to assist EMT on emergencies.  After one year, with demonstrated skills competent and dedication, will have a chance to be sponsored to an EMT class.

Assistant Crew Chief (ACC) Training
The prerequisite to enter this training is that you have to be a NYS certified EMT.  ACC training includes how to supervise other responders (both EMT and non-EMT), how to assist Crew Chief at the scene of emergencies, and how to assume command in the event the Crew Chief cannot respond.  To retain your ACC position, you must be competent in all skills and be able to perform your duties as listed.

Crew Chief (CC) Training
The prerequisite to enter this training is that you have to be a NYS certified EMT, demonstrated leadership skills, and currently an ACC.  Admission to this training is solely on the Executive Board's discretion.  This training includes crew management (e.g. ensure safety of all crew members, etc), appropriate triage and patient care (e.g. duty delegation, patient assessment, etc), patient documentation (e.g. pre-hospital care report), as well as establishing rapport with other agencies (e.g. secure scene with the assistance of CCNY Public Safety, transferring patient information to NYC*EMS, etc).  This training is aimed at developing leadership and interaction skills between members.