Oskaloosa, IA–William Penn University has recently made campus a safer place by purchasing automatic external defibrillators (AEDs). William Penn received a grant from the Iowa Department of Public Health that would match half of the money the university put towards the units. Each unit costs roughly $900. Through funding from the university and assistance of the grant, William Penn was able to purchase eight AED units.

Josh Erickson, athletic trainer at William Penn, said AEDs are known to decrease the death rate for people having heart attacks by 80 percent as long as the victim can be reached within the first four minutes of the cardiac emergency. The unit will shock the heart, helping it to restart and establish a normal rhythm. Erickson said this will buy time for an ambulance to arrive and take the victim to the hospital.

Erickson noted that a number of student athletes across the country have been making headlines, suffering heart attacks while participating in athletic events. Erickson said this sometimes occurs because an existing heart condition is not caught in the pre-season physical.

“That’s why it is so important for the student athletes to be completely honest when they answer questions about their health,” Erickson said. “Just because a medical condition exists doesn’t mean we’re going to pull the player from the game. It just makes us aware and we are able to keep an eye on that person.”

The AEDs will be placed in buildings throughout campus and some employees are currently undergoing training to use the units. When residence hall staff returns in the fall, they will also be trained to use the AED units.

“These devices have proven invaluable time and time again saving the lives of thousands,” said Chad Rodgers, assistant director of the Penn Activity Center and student activities.