DeKALB | DeKalb firefighters were called Friday morning to assist with lifting a homeless man out of a vent at the Founders Memorial Library.

“[He has been] doing that for some time, at least in the winter when it was cold,” said DeKalb Fire Chief Lanny Russell. “He told medics he’d been hit by a car and that his arms and legs hurt.”

The man was not able to climb out of the vent and needed assistance to emerge from the subterranean vents.

“The fire department used a Reeves Sleeve,” Russell said. A Reeves Sleeve is a type of stretcher used for vertical and horizontal lifting in emergency services.

“[It is] a way to provide spinal immobilization,” Russell said. “We tress them up so their arms and legs don’t move, they’re strapped down.”

While anyone could access this vent prior to the incident, it now has a lock, Russell said.

Campus policy on this situation is to work with the University Police.

“We try to look at each case individually,” said Bob Albanese, associate vice president for Finance and Facilities. “We try to be humane and respectful in our treatment.”

When dealing with the homeless on campus, NIU tries to make good decisions for the university and protect the security of the campus, Albanese said.