University Of Arkansas Police Department Equipped For Medical Emergencies

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas Police Department now has the medical equipment to deal with any emergency on campus in which a person is not breathing or has no pulse, announced Lt. John Reid and Officer Matthew Mills.

Each of the department’s four marked patrol cars is outfitted with an Automated External Defibrillator, a portable lightweight device designed to restart the heart of an individual who has gone into cardiac arrest.

Unlike older model defibrillators frequently seen on television shows, the AEDs are compact and lightweight. The units are used only when a person has gone into cardiac arrest and deliver a measured electronic shock to the victim designed to "restart" the heart.

There are many types of trauma or accidents that may cause cardiac arrest, but the most commonly known arrest is a heart attack, said Mills. As the department’s emergency medical technician he conducts regular CPR classes and training in the use of the AEDs for all patrol officers. Both men feel AEDs will soon be common in public buildings. They are already being utilized within the airline industry.

The UAPD obtained the units after a state law enacted last July allowed such organizations to possess them.

"Matt is the one that pushed it," said Reid, referring to equipping the patrol cars with the devices. "He took the idea to our director, Lawrence Slamons, who liked it."

Mills developed a proposal, obtained bids, and presented the package to Slamons who then took it to Don Pederson, vice chancellor for finance and administration. Slamons and Pederson then worked on making the plan a reality.

The AEDs went into the patrol cars Dec. 10, but so far haven’t been used. There have been times in the past when the units would have been invaluable, Reid said, such as when a student at a fraternity went into cardiac arrest and an officer had to perform CPR.

Every minute counts when a person goes into cardiac arrest, said Mills. With every minute that lapses, the survival rate decreases eight to 10 percent. UAPD officers are typically on the scene of a medical emergency within two minutes, which means they can care for a cardiac arrest victim while the chance of survival is still high. AEDs can be used on any individual over the age of eight, but the voltage transmitted into the body from the device is too high for anyone younger than eight.

Anyone experiencing a medical emergency on campus should immediately call 911, Mills said. UAPD officers trained to use the AEDs will be immediately dispatched to the scene and will provide medical care until paramedics or EMTs arrive.

This type of service is another example of UAPD’s commitment to being a full-service law enforcement agency, said Reid.

"We are here not just to enforce the laws of this state and community, but to make the campus as safe as it can be," he said. "We are very concerned about the welfare of everyone here. More than likely when an emergency develops, we’ll be the first ones there."