By Faith Huey
(A picture of the new AEDs inside the AED cabinet)
UW-Stout has new automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) distributed across the campus, as well as plans to implement them into the dorm buildings this December, allowing people access to the equipment in case of an emergency. The new AEDs were selected and deployed by the department of safety and risk management at Stout to replace several older models.
AEDs, or automatic external defibrillators, are heart monitoring and electrical shock devices designed to treat sudden cardiac arrest and are also able to be used by anyone. According to Jim Uhlir, the director of saftey and risk management, several of the previous AEDs have been replaced by the newer models due to expired batteries, however, a few of them are still around in the athletics building and the student center. The new AEDs are small, compact units compared to the previous models.
(A picture of the inside of the new AED models)
When the AED cabinet is opened, a loud beep will sound to notify anyone around that there’s an emergency situation. From there, the inside of the AED has instructions, as well as an automated system to talk you through the process which activate when the device is turned on.
Uhlir shared the benefits of AEDs.
“They’re just a great advance,” he said. “People can now use them just like a paramedic in an ambulance could have in the past. In a lot of situations where there is cardiac arrest, they can sometimes save a life.”
According to Uhlir, AEDs are very important to have on campus, and knowing how to use them is also important since anyone can have an emergency at any time.
“Sometimes people can have a heart attack, or sometimes people have a heart condition and they don’t know about it, even younger people,” Uhlir said. “Young people can have heart issues and it can be triggered by exercise, or stress, or trauma, or almost anything, and they might not be aware of it.”
The new AEDs have been installed in the following buildings on campus whose previous AEDs needed to be replaced:
Administration Building - first floor lobby
Bowman Hall - first floor corridor
Communications Technology / Fryklund Hall - second floor connector corridor
Harvey Hall - first floor corridor
Heritage Hall - first floor atrium lobby
Jarvis Science Wing / Tech Wing - first floor connector corridor
Louis Smith Tainter House - first floor lobby
Micheels Hall / Applied Arts - first floor Furlong Gallery atrium
Sorensen Hall – second floor Admissions lobby
University Library - first floor front lobby
University Services - first floor lobby
Vocational Rehab - first floor elevator lobby
While training isn’t required for CPR and AEDs, training is available online and in-person to those who’d want it. Anyone who is interested in receiving training through UW-Stout can email Jim Uhlir for more information.