Nicholas Scull, the director of education for Delaware County CPR, brings a Franciscan approach to emergency services training.
A 2021 graduate of Neumann’s Public Safety Administration program, Scull visited campus in early February to provide opioid addiction and Narcan training for interested faculty and staff. His two-day presentation included an overview of the risks associated with opioid use and how to recognize an overdose as well as a hands-on demonstration of how to administer Narcan. Seventeen people attended the full, two-part program.
“Our course puts a humanistic approach into overdose care,” he explains. “Every life is worth saving. Overdose meds have really improved recently, but a caring, compassionate approach is needed.”
Scull, 44, has been a paramedic since 2011. Over the course of his career, he discovered what he calls “the art of medicine,” a way of practicing that blends science with empathy, intuition, and a deep respect for the human experience.
In addition to offering instruction on a wide array of topics for businesses and schools, Delaware County CPR also provides certification and continuing education for EMTs and paramedics. Scull creates, administers, and schedules the courses, as well as handling compliance.
“We’re now an EMS education institute. We have the ability to improve someone’s earning potential from $8 an hour to $28-30 an hour. The reward is impactful to those we train and the community,” he says.
Scull still serves the community as a full-time paramedic with the Downingtown Fire Department. He and his business partner work an additional 20-30 hours per week with Delaware County CPR.
He credits the flexibility of the Public Safety Administration program as a feature that made a college degree affordable for him.
“It’s truly because of Dr. Jil Donnelly’s system that I have my bachelor’s degree, and my professional success has grown because of it. Everything that I learned had a practical approach and prepared me for the next level. It paid for itself almost within six months.”
Courses that Scull offers for businesses, schools and groups include Basic Life Support, Fire Safety in the Workplace, Burn Overview, Heartsaver CPR and AED, Opioid Overdose Training, Resuscitation Academy, and Stop the Bleed.