UC Office of the President’s on-site training in automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is in high demand: Between this month and October, more than 80 UCOP staff are expected to participate in the four-hour certification course.

The Office of the President was one of the first Bay Area employers to establish an AED program under the authority of the Alameda County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency, says Bob Charbonneau, OP’s emergency manager.

Since its inception in 2002, the program has expanded significantly, placing nearly 20 AED devices in all major UCOP facilities including Berkeley, Sacramento and Washington, D.C. AED programs have been shown to dramatically improve the survivability of cardiac arrest victims.

By the time this fall’s training is complete on Oct. 24, more than 150 Oakland-based UCOP staff will be trained and certified in CPR/AED to respond to heart attacks and sudden cardiac arrest or other medical emergencies.

“OP is fortunate to have so many staff trained in emergency response, including AED/CPR, first aid and floor wardens,” Charbonneau says, adding that onsite emergency responders represent a critical component of UCOP’s emergency plan.

What should you do if a colleague or visitor appears to have suffered a heart attack or other medical emergency?

Get help:

• Designate someone to call 911 and report the emergency and exact location, including building, floor and room number. (Please note these important details: The number to call from UCOP buildings is 9-9-1-1, as noted on the sticker on your office telephone, because you must dial 9 to get an outside line. If 911 is experiencing heavy call volume, you may hear a recorded message from Oakland Police Department’s non-emergency call center providing options for activating TDD devices and languages; please stay on the line until a live dispatcher answers. Also, do not use your cell phone, as you will be routed to the California Highway Patrol.)
• Tell someone else to notify Building Security so personnel know that emergency services have been called. (This is the second number on your phone sticker.)
• If a heart attack appears to be in progress, have someone retrieve the nearest AED device.
• Locate AED-trained staff in your building by referring to the roster next to the AED device, or look for the red and white AED sticker on the nameplate of trained employees.
• Keep the area clear for emergency responders.

For specific emergency procedures for your building and a list of local cellular 911 emergency phone numbers, please check the UCOP Staff Emergency Preparedness website.

Most of the AED/CPR classes are fully enrolled, but there are still spaces for Sept. 16 and Sept. 30 (please note that the class originally scheduled for Sept. 19 has been moved to Sept. 30). All sessions that are full have waiting lists. To register or get on the waiting list, please send an email to EHS@ucop.edu indicating your preference for one of the following sessions:
• Friday, Sept. 16, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., 612 Kaiser Building
• Thursday, Sept. 29, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Franklin Lobby One
• Monday, Sept. 30, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., 512 Kaiser Building (previously scheduled for Sept. 19)
• Monday, Oct. 24, 12 to 4 p.m., Franklin Lobby One

If you have any questions, contact Bob Charbonneau at 510-987-9594 or robert.charbonneau@ucop.edu, or Janine Crocker, program administrator, at 510-987-9882 or janine.crocker@ucop.edu.

Emergency Management is part of UCOP’s Risk Services.

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