Published on July 17th, 2013 | by FIUSM Staff
Diego Saldana/Staff Writer
It is 2 a.m. in University Towers and a resident has suddenly stopped breathing. The student is not responding and a 911 call is sent out. By the time emergency personnel arrive, the student is conscious and breathing again thanks to actions taken by a member of Panther Emergency Response Squad, who happens to live in University Towers.
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This scenario is the PanthERS mission, a newly formed student-run organization that could one day be responsible for saving the life of a university community member. PanthERS will be the first responders to assist in emergency situations where Miami-Dade Fire Rescue or University Police may take too long to arrive.
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The PanthERS mission is to close the ?life-threatening gap? between the time a call goes out and when emergency responders arrive, said University Safety Officer Wili Alvarez, the squad?s advisor.
Alvarez envisions the organization being a cross campus 24-hour service that would include a team of two students on mountain bikes equipped with medical supplies, having a presence at University events such as football games and a component consisting of housing students.
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?Students will be suitably trained and equipped, already present on campus, familiar with building names, locations and layouts, and able to overcome traffic and obstructions that typically delay off campus resources,? said Alvarez.
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Students are on board.
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?Everyone in the health system will benefit,? said registered nurse and nurse practicioner graduate student Evelyn Salgueiro.
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Junior biology major Zachary Jones supports the idea behind PanthERS
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?[PanthERS] can assess the situation better and give info to people that come later,? said Jones. ?I also think it?s important to have 24-hour-a-day response because you never know what?s going to happen.?
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Alvarez not only wants students in medical fields to join, but will also ?make a concerted effort to recruit outside of allied health.?
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The organization is in its earliest stages of development and expansion.
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Alvarez is actively seeking out University community members who have any sort of emergency response training.
Salgueiro shares Alvarez?s view on recruiting outside of allied health.
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?I think anybody can be involved in the organization,? he said.
Individuals interested in joining PanthERS should send their qualifications and experience to Alvarez at SAFE@fiu.edu.
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Source: http://fiusm.com/2013/07/17/panthers-join-fight-to-save-lives-at-university/
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