HR committee approves Carroll University ride-along affiliation with Waukesha Fire EMS

The Waukesha City HR Committee voted unanimously to approve an affiliation agreement permitting Carroll University health services students to participate in clinical ride-alongs with Waukesha Fire Department EMS.

The committee discussed the proposal after the Fire Chief described the arrangement as "a pretty straightforward contract" that would provide athletic trainer and other health students "a better feel and understanding" of how injuries occur in the field. The chief said the agreement includes standard liability and insurance language and that "there is no cost, no financial impact whatsoever" to the city.

Committee members asked whether the city has done similar agreements before; the chief said the department had not run this agreement with Carroll previously but that ride-alongs are a common practice among fire departments and hospitals. Committee member Mike Racine recounted that ride-alongs during his youth offered valuable real-world learning and asked about waivers if a student were injured; the chief responded that emergency medical care would be provided and residual matters would be handled under the contract's provisions.

A member moved to approve the Carroll University College of Health Sciences affiliation agreement and to authorize the mayor to execute it on the city's behalf. After a second, the chair called the roll and recorded the motion as passing unanimously.