RecWell Aquatics and Risk Management Program partners with VCU OHS to keep campus more safe
In Richmond, EMS response time averages 6 minutes for life-threatening emergencies, but survival chances drop 7–10% each minute CPR and defibrillation are delayed. Having trained responders nearby can significantly increase survival rates.
In January 2024, VCU Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) secured grant funding to expand the AEDs, naloxone, and bleeding control stations across campus, and provide First Aid/CPR/AED training to VCU faculty and staff. Since RecWell already offers this training to the VCU community, it made sense for the two departments to partner and expand outreach.
Mat Scott, RecWell’s Aquatics and Safety Coordinator, explains, “I’ve been training lifeguards since 2015. CPR training has been a huge part of my life, and at VCU, I’ve had more opportunities to connect with people and be able to spread that knowledge. RecWell has a lot of touchpoints across campus, both with students and other departments. When OHS reached out to me about the grant opportunity, it coincided with a serious cardiac event that happened in our building the same week. OHS was already working to increase the AED program, and they felt that training was an important part of that program. If we’re going to have the equipment on campus, it’s important that someone knows how to use it.”
OHS and RecWell provided 150 training vouchers to be redeemed for RecWell’s First Aid/CPR/AED training classes. RecWell has since connected with other VCU departments. Most recently, RecWell partnered with VCU Facilities Management to train more than 40 staff members. RecWell also trained four University Student Commons staff as CPR instructors so that they can continue to provide training for Commons staff.
RecWell now provides naloxone and Stop the Bleed (STB) training to their lifeguards. Additionally, Scott has worked with VCU Health to provide STB training to low-income communities within the city of Richmond. RecWell has collaborated with VCU Police, Rams in Recovery, and other campus departments to host Campus Safety Day events, which offer opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to learn more about the different safety resources available on campus. To learn more about RecWell FA/CPR/AED trainings for departments and groups, please contact Mat Scott at [email protected].