The Department of Emergency Medical Care and Rescue (EMCR) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) hosted a two-day First-Year Students Orientation, from 18 February 2025 to 19 February 2025.
The first day of the orientation was held at Ritson campus, where the student’s played fun, educational games and activities like the bingo challenge, briefing and group allocation, campus scavenger hunt and student pledge.
There were also speakers from various DUT support departments who briefed students about different services offered in the university. The departments included the Library, Writing Centre, Financial Aid Office, Campus Clinics and Academic Development.
Day two of the orientation started at Blue Lagoon Beach and ended up at Ushaka Marine World saw the first years’ aspirations of becoming one of the EMCR graduates was tested through intense drills on the day. These drills incorporated the daily physical and mental challenges of being an Emergency Care practitioner.
Amazingly, students appeared up and ready for the tasks as they kept their energy and spirit levels up until the last moments of the drills. They had to walk and run on sand from Blue Lagoon Beach while carrying a patient on a stretcher. Amongst other drills that they were tasked with were fire drills, hiking and running. The noticeable thing during the drills was the teamwork among students. Students were also taught the importance of teamwork, time management and following safety instructions.
Mrs Amy Lagesse, a lecturer in the department of EMCR, emphasised the importance of the orientation to students. Lagesse claimed that it was beyond just giving students the first-time experience. It was about giving them a practical sense of what they should expect in their academic years and beyond.
“It is important to instill discipline, a smooth transitioning to higher education and to provide all necessary information for them to succeed in their academic career,’’ she elaborated.
One of the task team members who was guiding the first years, Mr Christian Mpebe (a senior student) commended students for their resilience and how they responded to all the tasked they were given.
“They responded very well and appeared ready. They showed that they know what they applied for,’’ he added.
Rachel Hanna Gous from Mooi River who is one the of the first-year students, said this orientation taught her that teamwork, discipline and time management is vital in their field.
“One thing that stood out for me was working together as team. Despite disagreements, we supported each other through thick and thin. We pushed each other to the limits and finished all the drills we were tasked with,’’ explained Ms Gous.
Photographer: Thalente Cele.
Pictured: Department of Emergency Medical Care and Rescue (EMCR) students at their first-year orientation.
Vukani Langa
