November 11, 2004

Preparation can be the solution to emergencies of all kinds.

As peacekeepers and public servants, the University of Houston Department of Public Safety (UHDPS), which includes the UH Police Department (UHPD) and UH Fire Safety (UHFS), recognizes the need to be ready for any sort of predicament.

With the addition of automated external defibrillators (AED) and hazardous materials (HAZMAT) response gear, the department has become better equipped to deal with potential crises.

UHPD currently has four patrol cars equipped with AEDs, which are used to apply an electrical shock to a person’s heart during cardiac arrest. UH Police Chief Bob Wilson said six additional units would be installed in patrol cars in December. These devices would cost between $2,500 and $3,000 and would be funded by the Student Government Association.

Wilson said that operating AEDs would only require about two hours of training for UHPD officers. He added that all officers already are certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and trained in first aid by the American Red Cross. UHPD currently has four officers who are certified to provide CPR training to faculty and staff.

In addition to providing a shock to a person’s heart, AEDs are capable of determining whether the heart has received enough of a shock and at what level a shock should be rendered.

In regards to addressing hazardous materials, Wilson said UHDPS is researching resources that best suit its needs, but he anticipates obtaining at least three protective suits and a specialized van. At present time, Wilson did not have the cost of these resources, but said they would be purchased with funds from the UHDPS budget.

“We’ll be able to identify hazardous materials, but not mitigate them,” Wilson said. “We’ll be able to examine a substance and determine whether it is hazardous. If a substance is indeed threatening, UHDPS would alert City of Houston’s Hazardous Response Team.”

Among the individuals who would be trained to identify and handle potential hazardous materials are Bob Bowden, UH fire marshal, and Joe Tremont, safety specialist for UHFS.

The added resources to UHDPS are augmented by the upcoming addition of two “smart” cars to the police department. It was recently announced that these high tech vehicles will arrive at UH this winter and are made possible by a $1 million grant from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), as well as researchers from the Cullen College of Engineering, who will observe the new technologies in these vehicles. UHPD will assist in this research by testing the vehicles in its everyday patrols.

“I’m excited by the collaboration between our department and an academic aspect of this campus,” Wilson said. “It’s a great opportunity to participate in an educational program and perform our primary function, which is to keep campus safe.”

Mike Emery
memery@central.uh.edu