Emergency Equipment Installed
By Matthew Rupel
Santa Clara University's Environmental Health and Safety Department has recently completed installation of new automated external defibrillators located around campus, the same equipment that was used to help resuscitate a student who collapsed after a basketball game last year.
According to Emergency Planning Manager Mike Taheny, one of the paramedics who transported the student to the hospital said that the quick response was the reason the student survived. "That's a powerful statement," said Taheny.
The new AEDs have been installed at many of the major buildings on campus, including the Villas. EHS plans to install more AEDs as campus construction projects are completed.
The AED systems are simple to use so that most students should be able to operate them in an emergency. Once taken out a start button can be pressed so that the AED will recite step by step instructions in English for its use. The machine then reads the victim's cardiac patterns and determine if a shock is required.
According to Taheny, the installations cost the university around $1,600, but "if one person knows what to do and saves a life, then it's all worth it."
Assistant Director of Emergency Medical Services senior Andrew Peterson said that it's great that the school was willing to put down the money to make the campus safer. "AEDs are really important for any cardiac situation to really get them on people right away," he said.
The AEDs are consistent with those used by the Santa Clara Fire Department. Peterson said that this streamlines the emergency response service, since SCFD can just download the information retrieved by Santa Clara EMTs.
EHS is planning to hold CPR training sessions for students and staff throughout the year which will also teach people how to use the AEDs. The next traning session will be on Nov. 9.
Taheny said that they want the training program to have a variety of people from the different areas on campus so that there will be someone trained with the device at any major building. Even though there are training sessions being held, "I'd rather have somebody push the button and follow the instructions than not attempt to save me," said Taheny.
Contact Matthew Rupel at mrupel@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4849.