Rice University’s Emergency Medical Services (REMS) received a donation from the Gary Sinise Foundation that will expand its capability to provide lifesaving care to the campus community. The funding granted to REMS, a team of undergraduate volunteers certified as emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and advanced EMTs, enabled the purchase of a cardiac and respiratory monitor.
“We’re thrilled to have received the funding for the new monitor from the Gary Sinise Foundation,” said Lisa Basgall, REMS director and adjunct lecturer. “This foundation generously supports first responders across the country with funds for needed equipment, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to receive and use the new heart monitor.”
REMS currently has one cardiac and respiratory monitor, so the donation effectively doubles the team’s capacity. Basgall calls them “amazing tools,” that can be used as a cardiac defibrillator and to assess patients with chest pain and breathing issues.
“It’s also an incredibly useful tool for continual monitoring of a patient’s
vital signs and can alert EMS providers of changes in a patient’s condition, which is particularly beneficial for critical patients,” she said
In 2024, REMS responded to 74 patients with these types of complaints. That same year, REMS provided 4,090 hours of standby coverage at 222 events on campus, seeing more than 270 patients.
Basgall said REMS brings the monitor to almost every call because it’s such a useful tool.
“Having a second device is going to broaden the tools available to EMS practitioners on standby for special events,” she said. “On a hot day at Rice stadium or during a commencement event or an outdoor concert, REMS is there to provide medical care for anyone who experiences an emergency, and this additional heart monitor will be a huge help to expand our capabilities in these settings.”
The foundation, founded by actor Gary Sinise, perhaps best known for his performance as Lt. Dan Taylor in “Forrest Gump,” works to honor defenders, veterans, first responders, their families and those in need.
For more information about REMS and its services, visit its website.