2009 Press Releases
Saving Lives at UCC!
24.02.2009
An initiative aimed at saving lives from sudden cardiac death has been announced at UCC with the launch of the second phase of a First Responder Automatic External Defibrillation (AED) Programme.
24.02.2009
An initiative aimed at saving lives from sudden cardiac death has been announced at UCC with the launch of the second phase of a First Responder Automatic External Defibrillation (AED) Programme.
The programme commenced on a pilot basis in 2007 and is now being expanded with the provision of AEDs and a corps of trained volunteer operators at a further 25 locations on and off campus.
In the event of a cardiac arrest, where the heart suddenly stops pumping because of a disturbance in its rhythm, the key to saving a victim’s life is the rapid restoration of the heart’s normal rhythm, and the early provision of effective Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Automatic External Defibrillators are designed to allow non-medical trained personnel save lives by delivering an electric shock that will restore the heart’s normal rhythm. Two pads connected to the defibrillator are placed on the collapsed victim’s chest. Software within the defibrillator analyses the heart rhythm to determine if a shock is required, and it will then use voice prompts to guide the trained user through saving the person’s life.
The Pilot Phase of the programme commenced at UCC in November 2007 with the deployment of 10 AEDs, in 4 separate locations in the College of Medicine and Health, The Mardyke and Curraheen Playing fields and the Student Health Department. Forty volunteer operators were trained, with recruits from all disciplines within the university community. The programme is now being expanded over the next two months to include the provision of a further 25 AEDS, with over 180 AED trained volunteer operators available at locations on and off campus.
Dr Michael Byrne, Head of Student Health Services UCC explained “The faster you can provide defibrillation to a collapsed victim in cardiac arrest, the greater their chances of survival. By having AEDs available in a wide number of locations, with a large number of trained personnel willing to use them, we are making UCC a safer place, for students, staff and visitors alike”.
Pictured at the launch were: Dr Michael Byrne, Head, Student Health Services, UCC, Professor David Kerins, Head, School of Medicine, UCC, Mr Seán O’Leary, Security Staff, UCC and Mr John F. Ring, Safety Officer, UCC.
In the event of a cardiac arrest, where the heart suddenly stops pumping because of a disturbance in its rhythm, the key to saving a victim’s life is the rapid restoration of the heart’s normal rhythm, and the early provision of effective Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Automatic External Defibrillators are designed to allow non-medical trained personnel save lives by delivering an electric shock that will restore the heart’s normal rhythm. Two pads connected to the defibrillator are placed on the collapsed victim’s chest. Software within the defibrillator analyses the heart rhythm to determine if a shock is required, and it will then use voice prompts to guide the trained user through saving the person’s life.
The Pilot Phase of the programme commenced at UCC in November 2007 with the deployment of 10 AEDs, in 4 separate locations in the College of Medicine and Health, The Mardyke and Curraheen Playing fields and the Student Health Department. Forty volunteer operators were trained, with recruits from all disciplines within the university community. The programme is now being expanded over the next two months to include the provision of a further 25 AEDS, with over 180 AED trained volunteer operators available at locations on and off campus.
Dr Michael Byrne, Head of Student Health Services UCC explained “The faster you can provide defibrillation to a collapsed victim in cardiac arrest, the greater their chances of survival. By having AEDs available in a wide number of locations, with a large number of trained personnel willing to use them, we are making UCC a safer place, for students, staff and visitors alike”.
Pictured at the launch were: Dr Michael Byrne, Head, Student Health Services, UCC, Professor David Kerins, Head, School of Medicine, UCC, Mr Seán O’Leary, Security Staff, UCC and Mr John F. Ring, Safety Officer, UCC.