CSULB worker taken to hospital

A Cal State Long Beach employee, complaining of chest pains, dizziness and shortness of breath, was taken to the emergency room at the Long Beach Community Medical Center Tuesday morning.

Ed Wendt, a grounds worker for Facilities Management, was collecting trash and weeding in the Parkside Commons housing area when he alerted his supervisor of his condition, said Jeff Riggs, grounds manager for Facilities Management. University Police and the Long Beach Fire Department responded to the call.

"He was doing really well when we picked him up," said Fire Station No. 22 Captain Bruce Balbirnie. "It was his choice to go to the hospital, but our suggestion. He was doing minor exertion at the time of the incident."

Although fire department paramedics transported Wendt to the hospital, campus police are still sent as the first response to any medical emergency because they are trained in first aid and CPR, said Greg Pascal, University Police communications supervisor.

Wendt, who is in his 50s, remains in stable condition, said a hospital spokesman, but will stay overnight for further observation and heart tests if he is not transferred to Long Beach Memorial Hospital.

"He looked fine when I visited him at 11:30," Riggs said.

Cynthia Tom contributed to this story.