History
In 1988 Western student Robert Garland encountered a non-breathing casualty on campus and needed to use his CPR skills. After the incident and aware of the existing McMaster Emergency Response Team, he approached the Director of Student Health Services, Dr. Tom Macfarlane. Dr. Macfarlane encouraged Robert to collect information on such incidents and to develop a proposal. Robert gathered information from the Western Special Constable Service (formerly Campus Community Police Service) on the frequency of emergency and first aid situations on campus. He then returned to Dr. Macfarlane to seek support for a 24-hour First Aid team at Western. Dr. Macfarlane organized a meeting of UWO administrators, Western Special Constable Service, emergency responders and other stakeholders.
Robert’s initial proposal for a 24 hour First Aid Team was presented to the committee and initially rejected. Following that meeting Dr. Macfarlane and Robert developed a modified proposal for a daytime First Aid Team. The modified proposal was approved. Dr. Macfarlane agreed to share responsibility for supervising the team with St. John Ambulance. The Western Student’s Emergency First Response Team was born in 1989 as part of Brigade 28 of St. John Ambulance and was overseen by St. John Ambulance and by Dr. Macfarlane. Rob Garland became the first Program Director.
