Rice University Emergency Medical Services keeps the campus safe from health emergencies and engages with Houston communities to promote public safety, preparedness and collaboration.
Most recently, REMS student volunteers provided two first-aid training classes for members of the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto in Houston, a longstanding partner of REMS.
Striving to keep their own communities safe, Girl Scouts, ranging in ages from 7 to 18, come to campus to learn important basic first-aid knowledge.
REMS volunteers instructed these young leaders on emergency management skills, such as controlling bleeding or hemorrhaging, getting help from bystanders and first responders, and providing quality CPR compressions.
The Girl Scouts also had the opportunity to make a first-aid kit with essential supplies to mitigate the spread of respiratory and other infectious diseases and manage common outdoor medical emergencies. From learning how to apply a simple band-aid, antibiotic ointment and sterile gauze pads to manage larger wounds, the hands-on experience empowered the Girl Scouts to take an active role in their communities’ health and safety.
In the past year, REMS has provided first-aid training for more than 70 Girl Scouts, allowing them to receive their First Aid Girl Scouts Badge. At the end of the session, the Girl Scouts also had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with common EMS equipment and engage with our volunteer student EMTs outdoors, learning the importance of teamwork and communication during emergencies.
In addition to Girl Scouts classes, REMS regularly provides monthly CPR and first aid certification courses accredited by the American Heart Association to students, staff and departments across Rice’s campus.
Last year, REMS volunteers taught CPR and first aid to 405 individuals across 36 classes. They provided Stop the Bleed training classes for over 60 staff and faculty across many departments. Through these initiatives, REMS hopes to foster a sense of responsibility on and off campus and show their readiness to help whenever needed.
Elizabeth Pan
Tony Tran
Rice EMS Community Outreach Team