AUB is committed to the health and safety of its students, faculty, staff, members of the community and visitors. CHAMPS Fund, Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management, the Office of Facilities and the Office of Development are collaborating together to turn AUB campus into a Heart- Safe Facility i.e. a facility well equipped to address sudden cardiac arrest incidents.
For this reason, Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) were procured and installed in several locations on Campus to help prevent sudden cardiac arrests. AEDs were placed in accessible location and will be inspected in accordance with the operational guidelines of the manufacturer.
The AEDs, where available and accessible, may be used in emergency situations when sudden cardiac arrest occurs by individuals, who have been designated by the department or administrative unit, and trained by the Lebanese Red Cross in the use and operation of the device.
Program Oversight
The AED program at AUB is managed and supervised by EHSRM department. EHSRM is responsible to secure budget for the maintenance of the AEDs and replacement of the pads once they have been used or have expired. EHSRM is responsible for providing training, through the Lebanese Red Cross for member of the community who are interested in the CPR and use of AEDs.
Individuals nominated by their Deans or Directors are responsible for routine readiness checks of each assigned AED and ensure that all AEDs are inspected according to manufacturer guidelines. Perform and document weekly inspections to assure that the assigned AED is in a state of readiness.
Location of AEDs on Campus
Fifteen AED Plus were installed along with their protective casings in 15 buildings on Campus as indicated in the below Table. At least two persons from the selected buildings were nominated by their Deans/Directors to act as responsible for the AED in their location and were trained by the Lebanese Red Cross on CPR and the use of the AEDs.
Locations of AEDs in buildings
| AED # | Building | Location |
| 1 | Kerr Hall | Main Entrance, next to Fire panel |
| 2 | Fisk Hall | Main Entrance Hall |
| 3 | Nicely Hall | Next to connection between two wings, close to evacuation sign |
| 4 | West Hall | Next to TV screen facing building supervisor's office |
| 5 | Ada Dodge Hall | Inside Cafeteria, next to Fire Panel |
| 6 | Jafet Library | Main Entrance Hall, below TV |
| 7 | Van Dyck Hall | Main Entrance Hall, next to TV |
| 8 | Boustani Hall | Main entrance, behind column |
| 9 | Corporation Yard | Main Entrance Hall |
| 10 | Bechtel | In corridor in entrance hall |
| 11 | Olayan School of Business | Main Entrance Hall, next to elevators |
| 12 | Agriculture | Main entrance, between TV screen and evacuation plan |
| 13 | Faculty Apartment II | In Protection office at Sea Gate |
| 14 | Chemistry Building | Main Entrance Hall, next to fire panel |
| 15 | IOEC | Main entrance Hall |
It is to be noted that 3 AEDs were previously installed in the Athletics department (Charles Hostler Student Center) and one AED is present in the Ambulance present on AUB Campus and operated by the Protection Office. Charles Hostler staff and Protection Office staff have been trained on the use of AEDs by the Lebanese Red Cross.
How to use the AED?
The AED Plus used on Campus is an automated external defibrillator (AED) that uses voice prompts and visual indicators to guide the rescuer through a resuscitation sequence that may include defibrillation and/or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
The AED Plus supports both adult and pediatric defibrillation electrode pads, and automatically adjusts the defibrillation energy based on the type of electrode pads connected to it. Following attachment of electrodes to a victim's chest, the defibrillator monitors the electrocardiographic (ECG) rhythm of the victim's heart, analyzes that rhythm, and determines whether the rhythm is shockable or non-shockable. When needed, defibrillation energy is delivered through these same electrodes by pressing on the flashing button. The rescuer will then be prompted to perform CPR for a period of two minutes, after which the unit automatically initiates a new ECG analysis.
The AED Plus contains also disposable accessories (razor, barrier mask, scissors, and a towel) and is powered by ten commercially available consumer brand lithium-manganese dioxide batteries.
The AED Plus monitors the depth and rate of CPR chest compressions. It provides a CPR metronome function designed to encourage rescuers to perform chest compressions at the American Heart Association / European Resuscitation Council recommended rate of 100 compressions per minute (CPM) as well as voice and visual prompts to encourage a compression depth of 1½ - 2 inches for adult victims.
Other AEDs present on Campus (in CHSC and in the Ambulance) follow the same principle and are easy to use but do not have the same voice prompts.