RPI Ambulance has for years provided an invaluable service to the Rensselaer community, often being the first and sometimes only paramedics to respond to emergency calls on campus. They typically respond to calls within two to four minutes—the industry average is around five—and that is after getting the call, running to the garage, and driving to the scene.
Of course, this response time starts after they are notified that something is wrong. RPIA is a staple at men’s hockey games, often seen pacing among the crowd. With them in the building, however, why did it take the same amount time to get from the Houston Field House’s section nine to the penalty box as it would from their office, to their garage, and to the scene? Two minutes was again all it took for RPI Ambulance to arrive in the visiting penalty box after one of RPI’s off-ice officials collapsed in the box during the Engineers’ battle with St. Lawrence last Friday evening—but this was after the game had continued for nearly two minutes, a call for help had been made over the P.A. system, and someone had run to their office.
The answer is poor communication. RPIA, which was in the midst of swapping positions when the incident took place Friday night, was not able to respond as quickly due to an inefficient relay among Public Safety and the Field House Staff. Instead of receiving a radio call from Public Safety, the crew only received a knock on the door from a Field House staff member.
This is unacceptable considering what is at stake in emergencies—the lives of everyone in the Field House. While it would be unfair to blame a particular person or a particular party for the events on Friday night, it is not unwarranted to demand all groups—Public Safety, Field House staff, and RPI Ambulance—come together to develop a more efficient method for getting the information to the properly trained professionals to ensure that they can continue to offer the best service possible to the community.
Such a system could prevent the chaos that ensued in the penalty box Friday night, and mean the difference between life and death.
