Quinsigamond Community College receives grant for emergency response device

WORCESTER, MA – March 11, 2024– Quinsigamond Community College recently received a grant from the Healey-Driscoll Administration to purchase an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) for one of the college’s security patrol vehicles. QCC was one of 80 Massachusetts municipalities, public colleges and universities, and nonprofits chosen to receive part of $165,000 in grant funding for AEDs to be placed in emergency response vehicles.

“We are close to completing the outfitting of all campus police and security vehicles with an AED. Seconds count in a cardiac situation, which is why we bring these vital life-saving devices on all critical calls,” said QCC’s Police Chief Stephen DiGiovanni.

The funding will cover the cost of an AED assigned to one of the college’s security vehicles. Currently 12 of the 13 police/security vehicles have AEDs, and the grant will ensure that all vehicles are now equipped with this life-sustaining device.  Additionally, two AEDs are assigned to QCC’s Police Academy, 21 in fixed locations that include at least one in each building on the West Boylston Street campus, three at the downtown campus and one at QCC’s Southbridge location. The college’s Athletic Center has four additional AEDs.

OCC’s Campus Police Medical Advisor Stephen Rice noted that sudden cardiac arrest causes approximately 350,000 deaths each year in the United States. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) with the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) can double or triple a sudden cardiac arrest patient’s chance of survival. A person’s chance of survival can decrease by 7%-10% for each minute that passes without restoring a normal heartbeat. If the AED determines that it is necessary, it delivers an electric shock through the chest to restore a normal heartbeat. The combination of AEDs around QCC in both fixed locations and patrol vehicles decreases the delay between sudden cardiac arrest and restoring a normal heartbeat.

The $1,703.20 grant covers the cost of one AED package that includes one set of adult and pediatric pads, one battery pack, a carrying case and an initial warranty.

QCC Campus Police officers and security officers are all certified in Basic Life Support and First Responder. CPR and use of an AED are covered under Basic Life Support certification.

The college’s Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education offers CPR/AED certification classes to the public for a fee. QCC Campus Police also occasionally offers non-certification training in recognizing sudden cardiac arrest, calling 911, Adult hands-only CPR and use of an AED.