About SERT

The UWO Student Emergency Response Team (SERT) is a student run, volunteer organization providing emergency medical response to 9-1-1 calls on Main, Brescia, and Huron Campuses. We provide service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during the academic school year and 8:30-4:30 weekday service from May to August. We are dispatched through the Western Special Constable Service (WSCS) to any medical emergency on-campus, responding in three person co-ed teams.

Why Call Us?

SERT complements and enhances the emergency medical services available at Western, such as Middlesex-London Emergency Medical Service. The value of SERT has been recognized by the Ministry of Health, and as a result, we are incorporated in the tiered response to Western. This means that we are dispatched to any 9-1-1 calls on campus requiring medical assistance, even those not routed directly through Western Special Constable Service (i.e. cellular phones). However, it is suggested that if in need of assistance on campus, and the only available phone is a cell phone, that you contact Western Special Constable Service directly at (519) 661-3300. In the 2015/2016 school year we attended 940 calls. SERT responds to emergencies in a fraction of the time it takes other services to arrive and provide first responder care to patients, improving their comfort and probability of survival.

SERT often deals with minor, non-life threatening situations that do not require an ambulance. In these situations we provide treatment of injuries and advice for pursuing further advanced medical care should it be required. Often this service saves on unnecessary ambulance calls. The emergency medical response service provided by SERT is completely free to use.

Event Coverage

SERT also provides additional coverage to many large scale events on campus, including Orientation Week activities, Kinesiology Special Olympics and Convocation. This service allows coordinators of events to have additional first aid coverage directly at the area of the event and provides the security knowing that people with first response qualifications and first aid supplies are there to help with minor and major incidents. If you would like SERT to cover your event, please complete this form. A minimum of one month’s notice is appreciated when booking SERT for event coverage.

How Are We Here?

SERT is able to provide these services thanks to our dedicated volunteer members and our major benefactor and parent organization, Student Health Services (SHS). SHS provides medical care, counselling and a variety of educational and support programs for students. As an organization they have provided us with infrastructure, support and guidance that has allowed us to survive and grow.