About UWEMS
The University of Washington Emergency Medical Service (UWEMS) is the first collegiate-based EMS agency in Washington State. We act as a non-transport basic life support agency run by volunteer state-certified EMTs and American Red Cross CPR/AED/First Aid Instructors.
​
MISSION Improve the health and well-being of the University of Washington community by providing high-quality emergency response, standby, and training services. We envision a campus environment where members of the UW community are empowered and supported in their most vulnerable moments.
​
GOALS Complement the medical care delivered by the Seattle Fire Department by providing rapid, skilled, and compassionate medical care on the UW Seattle campus and provide valuable development opportunities for students, promote careers in EMS, prepare future leaders in prehospital medicine, and lead campus-wide initiatives to cultivate a culture of community safety and preparedness at the University of Washington.​​​​​​
Our History
​The idea of creating a collegiate EMS agency at the University of Washington (UWEMS) was conceived in Spring 2023. With over 250 collegiate EMS agencies across the country—and an average of 4.3 new agencies established each year—the students saw an opportunity to bring this vital service to UW.
​
To lay the groundwork, they interviewed numerous established collegiate EMS programs, conducted an in-depth literature review, and held preliminary meetings to assess the feasibility and benefits of UWEMS. After months of research and planning, they drafted a formal proposal. UWEMS would mark the inception of the first collegiate EMS agency in the State of Washington.
