FAQ

CWRU EMS is a student-run organization that provides emergency medical assistance to the students, faculty, staff, and guests of the Case Western Reserve University community. The most fundamental mission of CWRU EMS is to provide a high standard of free emergency care and transport. Furthermore, CWRU EMS strives to serve the CWRU community by facilitating and providing educational opportunities for the student body, by offering stand-by services for major university events, and by encouraging members to participate in public health-related volunteer and community service work within the greater Cleveland area. The overarching mission of CWRU EMS is to attend to the emergent medical needs of the Case Western Reserve community while continuing to foster general interest and education in public health and safety.  

Remain calm and immediately call (216) 368-3333 in the event of medical emergencies. Tell the dispatcher the emergency, location, and the condition of any individuals involved. The dispatcher may ask you questions that are useful to responders, so it is important to answer them as well as you can. CWRU Public Safety will then dispatch CWRU PD and, if applicable, CWRU EMS to your location. Once the personnel are enroute, stay in the location that you provided the dispatcher unless your environment becomes unsafe to do so; If you have to move, let the dispatcher know where you will be.

Yes! CWRU EMS operates at the same Basic Life Support (BLS) level as all other BLS EMS agencies. At least two members of each crew are nationally and state certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), and all crew members are BLS CPR certified. CWRU EMS responds in fully equipped ambulances and provides quality emergency medical care and hospital transportation.

To put things into perspective, CWRU EMS responded to 137 calls with an average response time of 5.7 minutes in the Fall 2025 semester!

A fully equipped Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance consisting of at least 2 crew members will arrive when you call CWRU EMS. If the nature of the call requires Advanced Life Support (ALS), CWRU EMS will co-dispatch Cleveland EMS or Cleveland Heights Fire Department for advanced care.

Our updated hours can be found on the home page of our website. While CWRU EMS may not be within staffing hours, off-duty EMTs may still respond to medical emergencies with an ambulance in a full Basic Life Support (BLS) capacity.

Nothing! If you call for an ambulance, CWRU EMS will not charge you for treatment or transportation to a local hospital. However, special event coverage is subject to an hourly fee; More information about this be found under our Services tab.

No. All information will be kept strictly confidential and shared only with medical providers directly involved in your care. CWRU EMS will not disclose your information to Housing, Greek Life, or the University.

The CWRU EMS headquarters can be found at 2272 Murray Hill Road, Cleveland, OH 44106. If you arrive for a meeting or special business, please walk to the rear of the building and reach out to your point of contact.

Please do not go directly to the building for medical attention. Instead, always call (216) 368-3333, and an ambulance will respond to your location.

Yes! CWRU EMS holds an annual Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) class in the Spring semester. Additionally, CWRU EMS teaches American Heart Association (AHA) CPR and AED courses. These courses are taught regularly and can be arranged by appointment. For more information, check out the Services tab.