Portable Defibrillators Offer Help in Emergencies

Skidmore has acquired three Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and has trained nearly 40 members of the faculty and staff to use the portable shock machines in cardiac emergencies.

The College recently received state Department of Health approval for its AED program, according to Glenn Egelman, campus physician and director of health services. Egelman has worked with Dennis Conway, director of campus safety, and Jenn Fischera, athletic trainer, to spearhead the education and training effort, which to date has involved members of their staffs, as well as the athletic trainers and coaches. Egelman explained, “When used appropriately and at the right time, you can save lives with AEDs. A few minutes can save lives.”

According to the National Center for Early Defibrillation, sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death among adults in North America, annually claiming the lives of an estimated 225,000 in the United States alone. Frequently there is no warning of sudden cardiac arrest. Most victims have an abnormal heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation (VF). Causes of VF vary, but the chances for recovery improve greatly if an AED is used within minutes to shock the heart.

Egelman said that Skidmore’s investment in AED was the result of collaboration among faculty, student affairs staff, and business office staff. The Campus-wide Safety Committee promoted the idea. The three AEDs, storage cabinets to house them, and training in using them cost about $7,600.

Conway explained that Campus Safety staff member Priscilla Barry, who works part-time at Skidmore and full-time as a paramedic with the Saratoga Springs Fire Department, and Bob Williams, who also works part-time at Skidmore and is a captain with the city fire department, have been very involved in the training process. The training combined learning how to use the AEDs and developing CPR skills. As the group that usually responds first to on-campus emergencies, Campus Safety staff members were first to be trained. Two AEDs are being stored with Campus Safety, while the third is at the Sports Center.

Additional AED/CPR training sessions under the auspices of the American Heart Association will be offered each semester. Anyone interested in participating is invited to email Barry (pbarry@skidmore.edu) to request updates on CPR training. Future sessions will be open to all members of the campus community as space permits.

New York State legislation passed earlier this year now requires secondary schools to be equipped with AEDs and trained personnel. Although colleges and universities are exempt from the legislative mandate, Conway advocated for the “AED-enhanced” campus, because “it’s the right thing to do.”

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