Dan Sayles
Staff Writer

Despite the University’s population of aging faculty and the relative affordability of a modern device that can prevent death by heart attack, the University of La Verne does not currently, in any corner of campus, have a portable defibrillator.

However, efforts are under way to purchase at least two such devices, which could be here by the end of February, which coincidentally or not is American Heart Month.

The automatic external defibrillator, which costs roughly between $1,300 and $1,700, helps revive people undergoing sudden cardiac arrest by sending an electric shock through the chest to the heart, forcing it to resume beating.

The movement and sports science department will be the first department on campus to house two lifesaving AEDs. Natural sciences may be next.

“It’s simple to use,” said Paul Alvarez, clinical supervisor for the athletic training education program. “You turn it on and follow the verbal messages it gives you.”

Alvarez said he ordered two of the devices earlier this month.

“It’s been really pressing for the Movement and Sports Science Department to get certified again, so we can get the AEDs,” Alvarez said.

Around 95 percent of cardiac arrest victims die before reaching a hospital and use of an AED increases their survival rate by 30 to 45 percent, according to the American Heart Association.

A third AED should soon go to the biology department as Biology Professor Robert Neher has pledged to pay for one himself.

Though the three new AEDs are just a beginning, eventually officials say they need more to protect the campus population.

“I don’t know when we are going to get one.” said Cynthia Denne, director of student health services.

The very first AED actually came to La Verne about 10 years ago and was housed for a time with campus safety.

It remains unclear what happened to that original device.

Use of the devices requires specialized training, which is sometimes offered along with CPR training.

Dan Sayles can be reached at dsayles@ulv.edu.