Officials at Binghamton University are currently working toward a March 2010 deadline in order to comply with a New York state law requiring all public buildings to be equipped with defibrillators.

There are currently defibrillators in athletic facilities such as the Events Center and the East and West Gyms, as well as some academic buildings, like Lecture Hall, the Fine Arts Building and Student Wing.

The University is still in the process of installing defibrillators in residential buildings, dining halls and other facilities.

“Our plan is going according to schedule, and we’re mounting them as fast as we can,” David Hubeny, Binghamton’s New York State University Police emergency manager, said.

Each defibrillator on campus is being equipped with a special alarm system to alert University police of the time and location when one is used, according to Hubeny.

“Installing the alarm system is the most time-consuming part of the process,” he said.

Other SUNY campuses are in the process of placing defibrillators in their buildings as well, but are nearing completion at different rates.

According to Hubeny, some schools chose not to equip their defibrillators with alarm systems and have fewer buildings to install than BU does.

In addition to training campus police in CPR and defibrillator usage, Hubeny said, officers also carry a defibrillator in each police car.

According to Hubeny, Binghamton’s environmental health and safety department is constantly training students and staff on campus how to operate defibrillators.

Last Friday morning an employee from the department assisted in saving the life of an elderly man in the University Union with a defibrillator, according to William Dunn of Binghamton’s New York State University Police.

The man was visiting his friend, the director of the Union, and showed symptoms of cardiac failure while in the director’s office, Dunn said.

The employee was over at the New Union during that time inspecting fire extinguishers, and heard the 911 call the director had made over a radio.

Two officers and the employee arrived at the scene and attached a defibrillator to the man’s chest in case its use became necessary.

The defibrillator gave a read-out of the man’s heart rhythms, which signaled signs of cardiac distress. The officers and the employee then gave the man a resuscitating shock, which brought him back to consciousness.

Harpur’s Ferry then transported the man to a local hospital, where he was treated. Dunn said he is currently in good condition.

Defibrillators are designed for easy usage by the public for situations like these, he said.

“The display on the device gives warnings if a shock needs to be issued, so no one gets hurt,” Dunn added.