GENESEO, N.Y. - During the week of Nov. 27, Geneseo First Response (GFR) will be sponsoring a campus-wide Emergency Management Services (EMS) week. The event is designed to raise funds for GFR, contribute to local charities, and to demonstrate emergency services.
One of the hopes of this event is to increase awareness amongst the Geneseo campus about the services provided by GFR. GFR is made up of 60 students who are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to aid in emergency situations all over campus. GFR is a part of the National Collegiate EMS Foundation (NCEMSF). Traditionally there is a week in the spring dedicated to recognizing emergency services. However, this November a week was set aside in recognition of collegiate EMS organizations. NCEMSF originally designated Nov. 6-12, but due to time issues, GFR pushed their week of recognition to the end of the month.
"GFR probably has some of Geneseo's most committed and fascinating students," said event organizer and GFR member Kristi Ruggiero.
To kickoff EMS week, GFR members will be handing out cookies and EMS week information in Sturges Quad on Monday, Nov. 27 accompanied by the First Response Vehicle. That same evening, GFR Lieutenant Mark Marinescu will give an open lecture about Wilderness EMS in Newton 203.
The rest of the week will continue in similar fashion, including free blood pressure tests, demonstrations of EMS skills, a craft night for nursing home residents in Mount Morris, and a lecture by Monroe Hall emergency medical technician and Geneseo student Lee Brown. There is also a benefit planned for the Teresa House, a local hospice. Unlike the other events, this particular benefit is designed only for GFR members. A display will also be set up in Milne Library chronicling the history of GFR and informing students about EMS week and GFR procedures.
Throughout the week, donation boxes will be set up around campus for items such as hygiene products, puzzles, crosswords, word searches, and stuffed animals. These items will be collected by GFR and delivered to a nursing home in Mount Morris in the beginning of December.
"We hope that this fundraiser gets a huge response in donations from the students on campus," said Ruggiero.
GFR will also be preselling Krispy Kreme donuts Nov. 11 - 30, which can be picked up on Dec. 1. Half of the proceeds will be given to Golisano Children's Hospital either as a monetary donation or as gifts for the holidays. The other half will be put towards a vehicle fund for GFR.