The AHC Office of Emergency Response is now in its 10th year of operation. As we reflect on our accomplishments since our establishment in 2004, there is much to be proud of related to our work on the Twin Cities campus and in the broader community. Our team has realized, however, that we would like to do more to encourage and support emergency preparedness within the Academic Health Center.
I am pleased to announce a new educational initiative called AHCPrepared. Throughout the year, we will host targeted one hour sessions in partnership with campus and community content experts. Watch this site for session information on topics such as:
Safety on Campus – Responding to an Active Shooter: An active shooter incident is a reality in today’s society. The University of Minnesota Police Department leads this session designed to help students, staff, and faculty think about how best to respond to an assailant with a gun on or off campus.
Bystander CPR: Each year over 300,000 people die in the U.S. from sudden cardiac arrest. The rapid response of bystanders saves lives. This session covers the steps to assist someone who has experienced sudden cardiac arrest, provides on opportunity to practice hands-only CPR, and reviews the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
I hope you take the opportunity to attend future sessions. CPR is a skill we should all possess requiring refresher training throughout our lifetime. Active shooter preparedness is an unfortunate necessity. Although I have worked in the area of emergency response since September 12, 2001, much of the information within this session was new to me. I now feel better prepared in both my professional and personal life.
Future topic suggestions or questions
If you have suggestions for other topics or any questions or concerns about emergency preparedness and response, I would love to hear from you. Please email [email protected].