On Thursday, Nov. 3, Director of Environmental Health and Safety and Emergency Management Jim White held a safety training session open to all persons in the Longwood community. During this session, White introduced the class to an Automated External Defibrillator, or what is better known as an AED machine. According to White, while CPR has proven to be effective, the AED machines have saved more lives than CPR procedures in the past seven years since the introduction of the machine. White commented how it is very easy to use, so much that young children could follow the directions to save someone, if the occasion ever arose.
The session consisted mostly of various workers from all over campus such as individuals from Facilities Management. At the beginning of the session, guides to AED procedures as well as how the machine works were handed out to all members. Next, a video was shown to the group showing standard AED procedures should anyone ever be in a position to need the use of it. The procedure showed how to use the machine on your own as well as with the help of a partner.
According to the video, using the machine is very simple, as all the person needs to do is follow the steps issued by the machine. Upon tuning it on, the AED will walk the individual through each step in order to assess the patient and move along with the rescue. Some of the technology featured with the machine includes measuring the pulse of the patient, counting of how many shocks were administered, as well as keeping track of how long the patient has been unconscious since the machine was turned on.
While the video showed some AED machines with both adult and infant pads, most of the machines only have the adult pads. In a worst-case scenario, however, the adult pad can be used on infants, the only change being the placement of the pads on the infant.
Once the AED has been turned on, it will direct the individual to either use CPR first or continue with the procedure. White told the class the AED machine has technology advanced enough to tell the individual when they are not doing a step correctly, an example being that when the individual is administering CPR to the victim, the machine will tell the individual whether or not their compressions are deep enough. If the compressions are not, the machine will instruct you to change this.
After the tutorial was shown, White explained to the group that AED machines will now be placed in 18 different facilities in the Longwood University community, examples being Bristow and Lancaster Halls.
In other news, White told the class that hopefully by next year, it is possible an emergency medical team will be placed directly on campus for the use of the Longwood community. While the Prince Edward County medical team is very well respected for their work, the team is based mostly from volunteers, and volunteers are becoming increasingly scarce. With AED machines in the buildings on campus, patients will receive quicker attention, which can dramatically change the outcome in an emergency situation.
