Skip to Environmental Health and Safety site navigationSkip to main content

Ramapo College EMS

Ramapo College EMS (RCEMS) is a student-run, first responder EMS organization. RCEMS is the operations branch of the Ramapo First Responders Club (RFRC).  Our EMT student staff members are employees of the Ramapo College Department of Environmental Health & Safety.  The members of RCEMS are a diverse group joined together in a common cause, providing a valued and outstanding service to the campus community.

The mission of Ramapo College Emergency Medical Services is to deliver the highest level of care as a student-run first responder agency.

*PLEASE NOTE*

Ramapo College EMS is not on duty 24/7.  RCEMS is only available to staff major events on campus.  In the event of a medical emergency on campus, please call Ramapo College Public Safety at 201-684-6666 (x6666) or 9-1-1.

Ramapo First Responder Club Meeting Sign-in Form


Upcoming Events

RCEMS Event Calendar


2024-2025 Officers

President and Assistant Chief

Samantha Katz, EMT-B

Major: Neuroscience

Hometown: Monsey, NY

EMS Experience: Spring Hill EMS, Mahwah EMS

Lieutenant and Logistics Officer

Trey Lengyel, EMT-B

Major: Law and Society

Hometown: Wayne, NJ

EMS Experience: Wayne First Aid Squad, Holy Name Medical Center EMS

Military Service: U.S. Army Reserves – 479th CBRN Battalion – 68W Combat Medic Specialist

Lieutenant and Training Officer

Emma Tretola, EMT-B

Major: Nursing

Hometown: Cinnaminson, NJ

EMS Experience: Delran Emergency Squad, Jersey City Medical Center

Sergeant and Vice President

Gabrielle Sivash, EMT-B

Major: Nursing

Hometown:

EMS Experience:

Sergeant and Treasurer

Kalyani Karmaker, EMT-B

Major:

Hometown:

EMS Experience:

Staff Advisor

Evan Kutzin


Prospective Members

Students interested in becoming a member of the Ramapo First Responder Club or Ramapo College EMS should read the information below to understand what is expected of them and the process after applying and interviewing.

Ramapo First Responder Club Sign-Up Form

Please direct any questions to rcems@ramapo.edu.


Requirements of Membership

  • All RCEMS and First Responder Club members must be matriculated, degree-seeking, full-time or part-time students at Ramapo.
  • Student EMTs must be in good academic standing and making satisfactory progress toward a degree.
  • Student EMTs must maintain a 2.2 or higher GPA.
  • Student EMTs must attend monthly First Responder Club meetings in order to remain in good standing. Two unexcused absences from meetings in a semester may result in removal from the organization.
    • Meeting requirement will be waived for conflicting class schedules or an urgent matter to which you must attend as long as you notify your supervisor of the absence in advance.
  • Student EMTs must follow all First Responder Club By-Laws and RCEMS Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
  • Student EMTs must maintain all necessary and current certifications. This includes, New Jersey EMT certification (or equivalent) & Basic Life Support Level CPR/AED.

Membership Classifications

Club Member

All new members enter RCEMS as Ramapo First Responder Club Members.  Students enrolled in EMT training programs will also be considered Club Members.

EMT Trainee

The EMT Trainee is a new EMT with less than 1 year of experience (or less than 2 semesters with RCEMS) who is in the process of becoming a Crew Chief. EMT Trainees cannot work alone and must be supervised by a Crew Chief.

EMT Crew Chief

The EMT Crew Chief is Student Staff member responsible for all aspects of patient care. They are responsible for the event standby, the duty crew, and their safety. They are responsible for making sure that the patient care is given a high priority. They will maintain a professional appearance and demeanor at all times. They must be familiar with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and By-Laws of RCEMS. They must be a NJ EMT-B (or equivalent) and must be familiar with the regulations set forth by the Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) of the State of New Jersey as they apply to the EMT-B.


Membership Process

The following are the steps towards becoming a member with the Ramapo First Responder Club and RCEMS. Each step must be completed in order to become a full member.

Step 1: Apply for Membership

All students are eligible to join for the Ramapo College First Responder Club as Club Members (i.e. social members).  The First Respond Club specifically welcomes all students that are members of a fire department, first aid or rescue squad, police department (including auxiliary/reserve/special officers and dispatchers), OEM/CERT, as well as anyone interested in volunteer or career emergency services.

Students interested in obtaining EMT certification should meet with the First Responder Club’s Training Officer.

The application process for certified EMTs interested in student staff positions will open in the first month of each semester. The application for EMT Trainee (EMT’s with <1 year of experience or <2 semesters with RCEMS) will be available on handshake until about four weeks into each semester.  The applications for EMT and EMT Crew Chief will open on a space available basis.  Due to the orientation/integration process being longer than most clubs or on campus jobs, we cannot accept applications for on campus employment from EMTs with fewer than 2 semesters remaining at Ramapo at the time of application.

Step 2: Interview with Staff Advisor

EMT applicants will be invited to sign up for an interview with our Staff Advisor. The interview sessions will typically occur during the fifth or sixth week of each semester. During interviews, applicants will be asked about their experience with EMS, prior leadership experience, and will have a chance to ask any questions they may have about the RCEMS EMT positions.

Note: We may not be able to offer student staff interviews to all EMT applicants.

Step 3: Receive the Decision

Once all interviews have been completed, the Staff Advisor will meet with the Executive Board to decide which applicants will be the best fit for the organization.  Applicants approved for an EMT position will receive an offer of employment from the Cahill Career Center.

Students will be required to return 3 signed forms to the Financial Aid Office (E-210C) in person:

Regrettably, we cannot accept every application we receive, so the decision process will be competitive (relative to the number of applicants) and based on experience and the interview session.

Step 4: Complete the Background Check

A background check is conducted to make sure that applicants have no serious criminal offenses that would prohibit them from employment as an EMT.

Step 5: EMT Trainee

Once you’ve completed the steps above and your background check is approved, you will become an official RCEMS member with the rank of EMT Trainee. EMT Trainees are overseen by the Training Officer, but any Crew Chief can train new members.

As an EMT Trainee, your goal is to complete your training to become a Crew Chief so that you can work solo events and be elected for an E-Board position.  Crew Chiefs no longer require supervision while on duty.

Step 6: Get Your Uniform

Meet with the Vice President to get your uniform sizes. Once you have a complete uniform, you can now start signing up for shifts on the schedule.

Step 7: Staff Two Events

When you sign up for an event standby or duty crew shift as an EMT Trainee, the Training Officer or a Crew Chief will always be added to that shift. The Training Officer or Crew Chief will walk you through our training process which will help you get used to how RCEMS operates.

Once you staff two events or shifts, you qualify to take get cleared as a Crew Chief.

Step 8: Get Cleared as a Crew Chief EMT

When you are ready to go through process to get cleared as a Crew Chief, the Training Officer will meet with you and test you on what was covered in the training. If you pass that, you will be promoted to a Crew Chief.

Should you fail to get cleared, you will be required to staff at least one more shift for training. After this additional training, you can request to get cleared as a Crew Chief again.

Step 9: Commencement and Graduation

When you complete your studies at Ramapo College and participate in Commencement ceremonies, an RCEMS EMT graduation stole will be worn as part of your regalia.  The graduation stole is a symbol of the achievements you’ve made as a dedicated first responder and they commemorate your service to the Ramapo College community.

On Wednesday 10/25/23, Ramapo College President Cindy R. Jebb hosted a pinning ceremony for RCEMS EMTs.


EMS Scholarships

Ramapo EMT Scholarship

David R. Hackett Scholarship


Additional Information

Public Access AED Map

Access to Narcan on Campus


On Wednesday 10/18/23, Ramapo College EMS hosted the NJSP NorthSTAR flight time for an info session, Q&A, and demonstration about flight medicine and prehospital nursing careers.