The first phase in combatting emergency heart problems on campus is complete, just as awareness has increased during National Heart Month.

NIU has installed seven automatic external defibrillator systems, which administer an electric shock to restore the heart to a life-sustaining rhythm during a cardiac arrest. Although the defibrillators are operational, they still need to be connected to emergency response systems.

The Lifepack 500s are kept in white metal boxes and look similar to the housing units for fire extinguishers. The units are located at Chick Evans Field House, Huskie Stadium, the Office of Campus Recreation and Anderson Hall. An additional six devices will be installed in all NIU police cars, and one device will be installed at the Health Services building by this summer.

Each device costs $2,500, and the total cost of the project is about $32,500. The project is paid with institutional funds provided by the state.

Head athletic trainer Phil Voorhis, who proposed the project 18 months ago, said the packs are one way NIU is making the campus safer.

“It has been proven that people are more likely to have a heart attack in a public place,” he said. “The most frequent places people suffer heart attacks are at sporting areas, activity centers, concert halls or civic centers, large hotels, high-risk buildings, gated communities, high-security facilities, sprawling

manufacturing plants and remote sites.”

The next step in the process includes the required linking of the boxes to the police department’s system, which will be completed by this summer. When the box is opened, an alarm will sound, and a signal will be sent to the department. An ambulance will then be dispatched to the location.

Voorhis said the Lifepack 500s are easy to use, but it is not recommended that untrained individuals operate them.

“The units give operators written and oral instructions,” he said. “It analyzes the person’s condition and will not administer a shock unless conditions are right.”

About 75 people, including the athletic and Rec Center staff, are trained to use the Lifepack 500s. Voorhis and other staff members continue to provide AED training, with the cost of training absorbed by the athletic department .

The four-hour class teaches adult CPR, rescue breathing and choking techniques, like the Heimlich maneuver. Individuals must pass a written exam before becoming certified.

“There isn’t really any liability issues that NIU needs to address,” he said. “AED trained responders are covered by the Good Samaritan Clause when using the devices. The clause states that individuals who are acting in good faith cannot be held liable if anything goes wrong.”

There have been a few heart attacks on campus in the past few year, Voorhis said.

“It is nice to know we have the packs if we need them,” he said. “I hope the packs are the biggest dust collectors on campus.”

Voorhis added that the project had some outside backers as well.

“This program would not be possible without the support of Kishwaukee Community Hospital. The hospital provides the medical oversight for the program, which is required by the Federal Drug Administration,” Voorhis said.

Cardiac arrest is responsible for about 250,000 deaths each year, according to KCH pamphlets. Early recognition of cardiac arrest, early administration of CPR and additional care from Emergency Medical Services systems are essential for survival.