Campus Connection

Five honored for resuscitation efforts on campus

UW-L staff and students who responded quickly to two separate instances that led to successful resuscitations of a faculty member and student on campus last September and January will be honored for their life-saving efforts. The two campus police officers, two students and one faculty member who responded during incidents in Centennial Hall and Eagle Hall will be given awards for their courage in handling the cardiac arrests. The ceremony begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, in the Ward Room, Cartwright Center. Light refreshments will be served. “It’s very unusual for us to have two incidents like this in a semester, much less that both ended positively,” says UW-L Police Chief Scott Rohde. “It’s really remarkable that it worked out the way it did.” In Centennial Hall on Sept. 20, faculty member Michelle Pinzl came to the rescue of Lecturer David Phipps when he collapsed. Pinzl began CPR before university Police Officer David Pehl arrived and assisted with an AED. Phipps was revived and transported to the hospital by paramedics. In Eagle Hall on Jan. 26 students Eric Schepp and Peter Velikanov aided a former student who collapsed in the hallway while unlocking his door. Officer Leandra Batien assisted with an AED on the downed student before paramedics arrived. While many campus buildings have AEDs, these two halls don’t — but the university squad cars do have them. In both instances, the officers trained in AED operation arrived quickly with AEDs for resuscitation. “When these life-threatening incidents happen, teamwork is almost always needed for favorable results,” notes Rohde. The five will be given the Extraordinary Personal Action Award for their courage and quick action and use of lifesaving skills. Janie Ritter, director of the Wisconsin Safety Council, will be on hand for the event. Rohde says it’s important to recognize those who have done courageous acts. And, he says, it provides a reminder of how important CPR and AED training is.