There are three defibrillators available on the Old Aberdeen campus, all of which have teams trained in their use:

Zoology Building 

The defibrillator is located in a secure box on the wall in the south ground floor corridor adjacent to the student refreshment area. There is a key held within a break glass box for ease of access.

 Fraser Noble Building 

The defibrillator located in the Porters Bothy in the main entrance to the building.

University Office

The defibrillator is located behind the Reception desk at the Visitor's entrance to the building.

There are two defibrillators available on the Foresterhill campus:

 IMS Building 

The defibrillator is located within the First Aid room (1.56), lower ground floor of building.

Health Sciences Building

The defibrillator is located on the ground floor, within the Clinical Research Facility.    

Two additional University defibrillators, without teams, are available for use in the Suttie Building.

In addition to these, there are defibrillators available in the following locations:

One in the Aberdeen Sports Village (adult and paediatric), Old Aberdeen

One in the King's Pavilion, Old Aberdeen

Two in the Dental School, Foresterhill

These are not University controlled, but are available in the event of an emergency.

For the most effective response, defibrillators should be used in conjunction with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

We have a three tier approach to operating the defibrillators. In the first instance, we have teams of first aiders who have received additional training in the use of the defibrillators.

These teams are based in the areas where the defibrillators are located,

Whilst defibrillators are simple to use, and provide instructions to the operator at all times, having received additional training, these trained first aiders are able to provide a swifter response than those who have not received training. They also receive more frequent CPR refresher training, than untrained first aiders (annually as opposed to once every three years)

If a trained first aider is not available, an untrained first aider could operate the defibrillator.

If no first aiders were available, an untrained member of the public could then use the defibrillator.

It should be noted that we would not prevent an untrained person from having a go. The defibrillators monitor a person's heart rate, and you cannot shock a person who does not need to be shocked.

If a person is faced with someone suspected of suffering a cardiac arrest, the following steps should be taken:

1.     Assess the person; open their airway.

2.     Send someone to call 999 for an ambulance immediately, and send someone else to fetch the nearest defibrillator.

3.     Start CPR. Once the defibrillator arrives, follow the instructions given to you by the defibrillator. It will need one person to maintain CPR, and one person to operate the defibrillator.

4.     Send someone to the front entrance of the building to meet the ambulance.

Defibrillator Training

For First Aiders interested in joining one of the defibrillator teams, please contact Jerry Morse on ext. 7733 orjerry.morse@abdn.ac.uk