Making
the Case for AEDs on Campus
Recreational Sports & Fitness, March 2005
As more and more colleges and universities and high
schools launch automated external defibrillator (AED)
programs, many are still in the early stages of learning
about these life-saving devices and the importance
of having them on campus. And although public awareness
has increased significantly in recent years, there
is still a lot of work yet to be done to spread the
word.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA),
about 250,000 people die each year from sudden cardiac
arrest. That's about 700 per day. Cardiac arrest usually
results from some underlying form of heart disease.
Most cardiac arrests are due to abnormal heart rhythms
called arrhythmia. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is
the most common arrhythmia that causes cardiac arrest.
When sudden cardiac arrest occurs, the heart's pumping
action stops abruptly, the victim loses consciousness,
has no pulse and stops breathing normally. Death follows
within minutes without defibrillation.
"Defibrillation is the only known therapy for
VF," explains AHA. "This technique of giving
an electrical shock can restore the heart's normal
rhythm if it is done within minutes of the arrest.
For every minute that passes without defibrillation,
a victim's chance of survival decreases by 7-10 percent.
After as little as 10 minutes, very few resuscitation
attempts are successful.
"Traditionally, the ability to defibrillate was
solely in the hands of emergency medical personnel.
They were trained to interpret arrhythmia and determine
when a shock was needed. Survival depended on the
emergency medical services (EMS) system being contacted
and arriving quickly."
Unfortunately, quick EMS response isn't always possible,
explains AHA. "Even the very best EMS systems
experience delays from heavy traffic, secured buildings,
gated communities, large building complexes and high-rises.
For example, in one major U.S. city where emergency
response teams fight extreme traffic, the average
arrival time for emergency vehicles is about 12 minutes.
Not surprisingly, the cardiac arrest survival rate
is less than 2 percent.". Today a new generation
of defibrillators, called AEDs, makes it possible
for trained lay rescuers to deliver defibrillation.
The new AEDs are safe, effective, lightweight, low
maintenance, easy to use and relatively inexpensive
(about $1,250 - $3,000 each). Having trained lay rescuers
equipped with AEDs in settings where large numbers
of people congregate saves precious minutes and improves
survival rates for cardiac arrest victims.
"There really is an extreme need for AEDs,
and a long way to go in educating people about this
urgency," says Paul Mangino, director of medical
& safety products, Circle of Life, division of
America's Pride, Inc. With a degree in cardiopulmonary
science, and a history of working in hospitals throughout
Boston, Mangino feels passionately about his job of
educating people on the importance of choosing the
right AED and getting an AED program in place. "Unfortunately,
people usually wait for something to happen before
they realize the need for an AED. Also, we need to
make them aware of how easy AEDs are to obtain and
establish a program. Companies such as Zoll Medical
and Cardiac Science make a number of excellent models
that are user-friendly and guide people through the
entire process."
Paul Samide of Vital Ten, who reps Zoll's line of
AEDs, agrees on the importance of raising awareness.
"The statistics tell the whole story —
if you don't get to someone within a couple of minutes,
the odds of survival go way down. We have already
seen the high success rates of such places as casinos,
where AEDs are saving 60- to 70-percent of lives."
Samide points out that AEDs should not intimidate
people. "There is a study where a 6-year-old
was able to replicate the use of an AED, which is
a great illustration of how easy AEDs are to use."
The AHA strongly encourages establishing an AED
program as an important way to save the lives of thousands
of sudden cardiac arrest victims. To ensure that AEDs
outside the EMS are used safely and effectively, the
AHA recommends implementation of an AED program. The
elements of an AED program are:
- Training designated lay rescuers in CPR and use
of an AED.
- Having physician oversight to help ensure quality
control.
- Integrating with local EMS system.
- Using and maintaining AEDs according to the manufacturer's
specifications.
"It is vitally important to look into it more than
just buying an AED," says Tracy Byers, director
of business development, cardiac resuscitation, Philips.
"You need to develop a program and get the proper
people trained. That is an important part of our job
as manufacturers, to help facilities set up a program,
and get them in the right places."
Studies published have shown that AEDs save lives. Using
these studies the American Heart Association and other
supporters, have lobbied to enact changes in national,
state and local laws, allowing companies to put defibrillators
into employees' hands without fear of legal retribution.
In short, anyone (trained or untrained) who uses an
AED in an attempt to save a person's life receives immunity
from civil liability. Also, the company that acquired
the AED receives immunity from civil liability if the
company can prove it has done the following:
- Notified/registered the company's AED with the
local EMS medical director.
- Properly maintained the AED (check batteries,
operations, etc.).
- Trained select individuals in the company who
would most
likely be expected
to use the AED in the event of
a Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
The following are summations of the Florida statutes
(more information on these statutes can be found at
www.leg.state.fl.us):
768.13 is the Good Samaritan law. It cites that
any person, who gratuitously and in good faith renders
emergency care, without objection of the injured victim,
shall not be held liable for any civil damages.
768.1325 is known as the Cardiac Arrest Survival
Act (CASA) states that both the person who uses an AED
and the person who acquired the AED are immune from
civil liability.
401.2915 The Legislature states that "an
AED may be used by any person for the purpose of saving
the life of another person in cardiac arrest."
Anyone identified as a designated user of an AED in
a company must receive CPR-AED training and must call
9-1-1 if an AED is used. The state of Florida encourages
every company that buys an AED to register it with their
local EMS medical director.
The following is a summation of the national Cardiac
Arrest Survival Act (CASA):
H.R. 2498 (now public law 106-505) If a Good
Samaritan, building owner, or renter acts in good
faith to purchase or use an AED to save a life, this
law will provide protection from unfair lawsuits.
There have been numerous lawsuits awarded for an organization's
failure to have an AED at the time of a sudden cardiac
arrest. No lawsuit has ever been awarded for the attempted
use of an AED. |
