UVM’s Cat ECare Program Provides Life-Saving Supplies for Medical Emergencies

Cardiac arrest doesn’t just happen to adults who are middle aged or elderly. America was reminded of this fact on January 2, 2023, when 24-year-old Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field from a heart attack he experienced during his team’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Fortunately, Hamlin was resuscitated with CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED).Hamlin’s health scare -- which millions witnessed because the game was nationally televised – made  a lot more Americans aware of the risk of cardiac arrest in young people and how CPR and AEDs can save lives. It also prompted University of Vermont (UVM) administrators to take notice of the risk of cardiac arrest on campus, whether the victim is a young student or perhaps a staff member or visitor who is older. UMV Director of Emergency Management John Marcus and his team of student interns had already been developing a solution: Cat ECare. Hamlin’s medical emergency prompted the full roll-out of the program.Cat ECare emergency stations, which are distributed around campus, include AEDs. However,  Marcus and his team made the stations even more useful by adding bleeding control kits and Narcan. Additionally, embedded within the program are ongoing training opportunities for UVM students, faculty, and staff. Training covers CPR, how to use AEDs, bleeding control, and how to use Narcan. UVM now has 100 Cat ECare emergency stations located all around campus. The Cat ECare program was just one reason why Marcus was named a finalist in this year's Director of the Year program.In Campus Safety’s interview with Marcus, he describes:The origins of Cat ECare and what Cat ECare means: 1:13How he involved student interns and other campus partners to help develop the program: 3:04How he and his team expanded the program: 3:52Getting support and funding for Cat ECare: 7:17Results of the program: 16:01Maintaining equipment, supplies and support for Cat ECare: 18:52CAMPUS SAFETY SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSFacebook: https://facebook.com/CampusSafetyMagazineX: https://x.com/CampusSafetyMagInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/CampusSafetyMagLinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1836305YouTube: @CampussafetymagazineCAMPUS SAFETY SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Facebook: https://facebook.com/CampusSafetyMagazineX: https://x.com/CampusSafetyMagInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/CampusSafetyMagLinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1836305YouTube: @Campussafetymagazine