About SUNY Canton EMS
SUNY Canton EMS is a student-led, non-transporting emergency response agency serving students, employees, and visitors on the SUNY Canton campus. The squad responds to medical emergencies around the clock throughout the academic year and may assist emergency responders elsewhere in St. Lawrence County when requested.
Members come from majors across the college. Some are certified Emergency Medical Technicians, while others contribute through public education, event support, equipment management, communications, administration, and other roles that help the squad serve the campus community.
Our purpose
Provide professional emergency care with compassion and understanding while creating opportunities for leadership development, applied learning, and community service.
The squad combines emergency response, campus service, and hands-on student learning.
Emergency response
Respond to medical emergencies across campus throughout the academic year as a Basic Life Support First Response agency.
Event and community support
Provide medical standby coverage for campus events, assist county responders when requested, and support emergency and disaster operations.
Training and education
Develop student responders and teach members of the campus community skills such as CPR, first aid, bleeding control, and opioid-overdose response.
During its first ten years, SUNY Canton EMS grew from an idea into an established student emergency-response organization.
150+
Student members
300+
Emergency responses
Nearly 1,000
Event standbys
Nearly 50
EMT students sponsored
SUNY Canton EMS was built through student interest, campus collaboration, and a shared commitment to improving emergency medical support at the college.
2014
Richard R.J. Thayer first proposed creating a collegiate EMS squad that could provide medical support for the SUNY Canton community.
March 2015
A campus advisory group began exploring the squad's structure, policies, funding, certification requirements, and operational needs.
January 2016
More than 30 students from a variety of majors attended the first student interest meeting.
Spring 2016
Students completed weekly training while the advisory group worked with the college, St. Lawrence County, and New York State. With support from SUNY Canton and the Student Government Association, the squad obtained equipment and state certification as a Basic Life Support First Response agency.
Fall 2016
SUNY Canton EMS began responding to medical emergencies on campus.
2026
The squad celebrated ten years of student leadership, emergency response, event coverage, training, and service to the SUNY Canton community.
Join the squad, request medical coverage for an event, or contact us to learn more about our services.