In order to be better prepared for emergency situations, UB has installed 10 new Automated External Defibrillators at various locations on both the North and South campuses.
An AED machine uses electrically charged paddles to save people whose hearts have stopped.
The University Police, along with University Residence Halls and Apartments, Student Health Services, Environment Health and Safety and the Facilities department split the cost of the machines, according to Dick Lindy, assistant director for the university police.
"The university spent just under $20,000 on the devices, which included free training for the officers and others," Lindy said. "All of the officers have been fully trained in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), and are able to properly give AED care."
The new AED units are located in University Police headquarters in Bissell Hall, as well as the police substations in Ellicott and Goodyear, and the Environment Health and Safety office at 250 Winspear Ave.
The remaining defibrillators serve as mobile units in campus patrol cars, which, according to Lindy, are important because university police are normally first responders to on-campus emergencies.
Health officials in the area praised the use of defibrillators and said lives may be saved as a result.
"According to the American Heart Association, a person experiencing heart failure has a 38 percent chance of survival with the use of an AED," said Theresa Betz, nurse practitioner and training center coordinator for the American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care Program. "Without the use of an AED, the chance of survival is only 5 to 10 percent. It's quite a different story when you're talking about CPR alone."
Lindy said any person trained in CPR and AED use could utilize units on campus in an emergency. They can also be lent out for special events on campus, provided the borrower has the appropriate certification.
Members of the five departments involved in this project received certification from Betz at Student Health Services in Michael Hall. She said training is available from the university on a regular basis at a low cost for students, faculty and local residents.
"Last year we trained 1,200 people on campus in CPR with AED's," said Betz.
Some students said they recognize the benefits of easily available defibrillators at UB.
"I didn't really know much about AED's until I recently took a CPR training course for my summer job, and now that I am aware of their ability to save a life, I'm glad we are putting them to good use on this campus," said Kristin Johnson, a junior business major.
"I'm training to be a nurse, and I think this is one of the best ideas UB has come up with so far," said Jessica Lumb, a third-year nursing student.
Lindy said although the machines have not been needed so far, it is necessary to have them in case someone on campus does go into cardiac arrest.
"We did this on our own to make campus a little better place," said Lindy. "We haven't, to my knowledge, had to use one yet, and hopefully we never will."
Betz said UB got a jump-start on defibrillators, since pending New York State legislation could potentially require AED placement in all universities.
All junior high and high schools in New York already are required to have defibrillators.
"The units have been installed all over airports, elementary schools and other places where they are now standard equipment," said Lindy. "We thought it was time to bring the program to UB."
Besides the 10 new units, the university already had several AEDs in locations including Alumni Arena, Student Health Services, the CFA and the School of Dental Medicine, according to Betz.
Joseph Raab, director of Environment, Health and Safety, said UB is in the process of forming a Public Access Defibrillation Task Force that will meet for the first time on Oct. 22.
"The group will consist of various departments on campus who would like to see more AEDs at UB," said Raab.
According to Raab, the task force will assess the campus need for more AEDs as well as strategize ways to promote their use on campus and provide training.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
