December 2, 1999

Ramapo College Security Officers Are Trained To Use Defibrillators

(Mahwah) – The office of Emergency Medical Services at Ramapo College of New Jersey recently sent two security officers to the American Heart Association’s Heartsaver Automated External Defibrillator training. The Heartsaver AED training course is designed to teach civilians basic CPR and also how to use a defibrillator. Statistics from the AHA show that early access to defibrillation after a witnessed cardiac arrest dramatically increases the chance of survival. The two officers who received training to use the defibrillator are James J. Hipple, Sr. and Nicholas B. Nardone.

The defibrillator is housed in EMS’s fully-equipped ambulance, which moves around the campus as needed. Jane Stein, director of the Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts, has been working with David I. Bacall, a senior at the College and chief of operations for Ramapo’s EMS, to acquire another defibrillator to be kept exclusively at the Center. "Issues can arise at the Berrie Center and we want to be prepared in the event of an emergency," said Stein.

The College’s 22 trained EMS volunteers cover four shifts per day. Another 20 people are undergoing the state certification training that mandates 130 hours of training plus 10 hours of observation time in a hospital emergency room. Drivers are further trained in defensive driving for ambulance drivers. Bacall suggests that everyone on campus should know CPR and his office plans to offer such classes at the College next semester.