The VCU College of Health Professions recently received two new safety resources to help protect our community in case of medical emergencies. This is part of a broader initiative by VCU to expand life-saving stations across campus. The goal is to equip VCU community members to be active bystanders should the need arise.

"It is an important part of creating a community of care," said John D. Freyer, associate professor of cross-disciplinary media at VCU's School of the Arts.

The new equipment includes:

• Opioid Emergency Kit: Contains Naloxone - a drug that reverses opioid overdoses and is an essential tool in combating the opioid epidemic.

• Stop the Bleed Kit: Equipped with the necessary items to control severe bleeding and prevent further blood loss for a victim suffering a traumatic injury, and training for the VCU community to provide life-saving medical aid.

The kits are located inside the automated external defibrillator (AED) -- a device used to help a person experiencing sudden cardiac arrest -- cabinet in the first-floor lobby across from the vending machines. Signs above all AED cabinets on campus now designate the area as a "life safety site."

The university offers training sessions on how to use these life-saving devices and other medical emergency procedures. VCU RecWell provides various levels of American Red Cross AED, first aid, and CPR courses for VCU faculty, staff, and students. Additionally, Rams in Recovery offers free on-campus naloxone training. Stop the Bleed Kits training, which includes a "full course bleeding control" and a "skills test bleeding control," is also available to VCU community members.

For more details on these devices and training opportunities, visit the VCU Safety and Risk Management website.

By Danielle Guichard
VCU College of Health Professions