Albany Med FLIGHT's helicopter landed in the middle of Rugby Field recently to raise awareness and give students insight into careers in the medical field, especially jobs in emergency medicine.
The touchdown was organized by the Union College Emergency Medical Services (UCEMS).
UCEMS began as a student club and is now officially sponsored by Health Services, guaranteeing the group an annual budget.
Sharron McCullough, director of Health Services, is the group's advisor. There are approximately 50 members, 20 of whom are certified emergency medical technicians, or EMTs.
Eden Neary '08, UCEMS director, arranged to have the helicopter land in Rugby Field. Traditionally, most landings are conducted over the soccer fields, where there is less foot traffic.
Both Neary and former director Ruth Ebert '06 joined the group during their first year on campus. The students train in the Schenectady County Community College's spring course offering.
UCEMS use their own personal time to train eight hours each week while still taking the usual number of classes here at Union. Students must also pay the course fee. Credit is not given toward their Union College degree. It is all voluntary.
Albany Med FLIGHT, operated as a Life Net program, began serving upstate New York in February 1996.
The program was developed as a cooperative venture between Albany Medical Center, the region's Level I Trauma Center and Rocky Mountain Helicopters, the world's largest EMS helicopter service provider.
The helicopter landing coincided with Union's Heath Fair. The annual event, sponsored by Health Services and the Wellness Committee, highlights health and wellness issues. Vendors offer advice, hold raffles, and give blood pressure checks, body fat analysis and freebees.
For more information visit: http://www.union.edu/healthservices.