UO instructor and UODPS officer help save student’s life
Bystander and responder become life-savers after student collapses in front of EMU
EUGENE, Ore. -- (Dec. 5, 2011) – A University of Oregon instructor and an officer from the university’s Department of Public Safety helped save the life of a student who suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed on campus late last month.
“This was exceptional – actually extraordinary – work on our part, and it exemplifies the best skills and traits of our profession,” said UODPS Chief Doug Tripp.
Officer Andrew Johnson was dispatched at 3:42 p.m. on Nov. 21 to University Street and Johnson Lane, on a report of an injured student. Johnson arrived to find Mark Blaine, a senior instructor in the School of Journalism and Communication, administering CPR on the student, who had no pulse.
Johnson retrieved an automatic external defibrillator (AED) from his patrol vehicle and placed the AED’s pads on the non-responsive student’s chest. The AED advised a shock be delivered, and Johnson used the AED to administer the recommended lifesaving shock.
Eugene Fire Department medics arrived a short time later, and took over life-saving care for the student.
The student was transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend. He received emergency treatment for cardiac arrest and has since recovered.
Tripp, the UODPS chief, thanked Johnson for “being courageous under incredible stress, and for making the difference between life and death.”
About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon Department of Public Safety (UODPS) is a community-oriented and trust-based policing agency. UODPS plays an integral role in the university community by providing a safe, secure, and welcoming environment. Our mission is to foster a climate that encourages a free, open, and civil exchange of ideas, in support of the educational, research and public service goals of the university. We recognize and promote the value of diversity and tolerance consistent with a spirit of responsible citizenship within an international community.
