Campus Response Team (CRT)

Students standing behind the University of Waterloo sign

Established in 1998, the Campus Response Team (CRT) is a student-run service that provides support to the UWaterloo main campus. By offering their services to all major events and activities taking place on campus, CRT plays a crucial role in the safety of students. Through rigorous training of its members, CRT is equipped to provide assistance in emergency situations requiring First Aid and CPR. In cases of more serious emergencies that may occur during an event, CRT responders are trained to take charge of a scene and provide the initial response prior to the arrival of Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Mission

To inform students on how to improve their health, safety and quality of life by providing training and community service.
To increase student safety at events and across campus by providing trained volunteers to offer first aid, CPR, and the necessary medical supplies.
To build awareness of health and safety issues across campus.

Get involved

Are you an undergraduate or graduate student at the University of Waterloo? Do you have a valid First Aid and CPR certification? Are you able to commit to two terms? Apply to join the Campus Response Team today!

To be eligible to apply to CRT, you:

Must be an undergraduate or graduate student at the University of Waterloo.
Must have a valid Standard First Aid and CPR-C certification or higher (CPR BLS is recommended) from a recognized Canadian agency approved by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario. Please refer to the Providers approved to deliver Emergency and Standard First Aid on the WSIB website.
Must be able to commit to a minimum of two terms with CRT.

Check our social media platforms or email us at admincrt@uwaterloo.ca to learn more about our application process. Typically, we take on new rookies at the start of each term so keep an eye out on our platforms around those times.

Additional information

CRT’s official standard of care is Standard First Aid and BLS. All applicants must hold a valid certification of at least Standard First Aid (SFA), certified and issued by a recognized agency according to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). SFA certifications issued by these agencies are typically valid for three years but may vary depending on the agency.
All successful applicants will be required to complete a First Responder course during their second term on the team. This course provides training on all aspects of first aid and CPR, including spinal injuries, heat or cold injuries, bone and joint injuries, abdominal and chest injuries, burns, and medical/legal aspects.
All applicants to CRT must be current undergraduate or graduate students at the time of application.
Typically, CRT members are required to take about 20 hours of shifts during the term, in addition to doing 2 hours of Advocacy and Promotions (AnP) work. However, this is subject to change depending on the term due to COVID restrictions. Responders must also attend mandatory training sessions throughout the term (see below).

First aid course offerings

University of Waterloo Athletics:

Visit the University of Waterloo Athletics website and search for First Aid Courses.

St. John Ambulance:

Member training

The Campus Response Team operates at a Standard First Aid and BLS level of care. Many members, however, are trained at the First Responder (FR) or Medical First Responder (MFR) level. In addition to their certification, all active members of CRT undergo the following mandatory training every term.
Throughout the term, CRT holds 3-4 mandatory members meetings for the Directors of Training to review key skills. Additionally, relevant CRT business is discussed and members participate in team-building activities. Each session typically lasts between 3-5 hours.
Casualty Simulation (CasSim): Every term, CRT will take volunteers from the community and host a large-scale, in-house, first aid competition called CasSim. This competition simulates a variety of challenging emergencies with CRT members responding and being evaluated by their peers. Many of CRT's past CasSim events have been featured in local media such as The Record, Imprint and CTV.

Request for CRT to be at your event

If you would like UW CRT to attend your event, please fully complete and submit the CRT Coverage Request Form. Additionally, you may email scheduling.crt@uwaterloo.ca or contact us through social media. Note that we require minimum 14 days in order to process your request and arrange for trained responders to be present at your event.

History of CRT

In 1998, the Campus Response Team began its journey as an on-campus first aid team. CRT was quickly adopted thereafter as a service by the Federation of Students. With an advisory board consisting of representatives from Health Services, the Federation of Students, the Student Life Centre, the Safety Office, and University of Waterloo Special Constable Service, the team has quickly grown to be fully integrated as a vital component of the University of Waterloo community.

CRT is part of a national umbrella organization: The Association of Campus Emergency Response Teams of Canada (ACERT). In the past, CRT has both attended and hosted a variety of first aid competitions and extra training, including hosting a national first aid conference alongside Laurier’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) titled “NCCER: National Conference of Campus Emergency Responders”. CRT has also hosted a joint training simulation with Waterloo EMS, which has received attention in The Record, CTV, and other media.

CRT has undergone rebranding with its new motto: "Service, Excellence, Professionalism." As part of the re-branding, the logo was changed to the current Star of Life, including the motto. Our re-uniforms have been replaced with navy blue for improved recognition and overall appearance. To increase visibility and member safety during outdoor and night events, CRT has also implemented reflective tactical vests. With these new changes, CRT is excited to serve the student community at the University of Waterloo.

Recently in September 2021, we completed our transition from WUSA to join the Campus Wellness team. Through this transition, we hope to expand the scope of our care by providing more coverage within the University of Waterloo community.

Contact

200 University Ave West

Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1

admincrt@uwaterloo.ca

Facebook and Instagram @UWCRT