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We
have complied our most frequently asked questions about AED's and AED
programs to help you better understand the importance of AED's.
What is an AED?
Why are AED's important?
Isn't CPR good enough?
Why put AED's in schools?
How likely is it that we would use our AED?
What is my liability for using a AED?
Do I need to be trained in order to use an AED?
What is the process for setting up an AED program?
What laws do I need to know about when setting up an AED program?
Is there grant money available for an AED program?
What is the best AED?
Do I need to maintain the AED once I have it?
Can AED's be upgraded?
What is an AED?
AED
stands for Automated External Defibrillator. An AED is a small
electronic device used to treat sudden cardiac arrest. Most of the time
when someone has experienced cardiac arrest their heart is in a
condition called "ventricular fibrillation" or uncontrolled electrical
chaos. A defibrillator is designed to wipe out the chaos in hopes
that the hearts own intrinsic pacemaker is strong enough to start again
in a more organized rhythm. In the past CPR is all we had to help
someone who was in Cardiac Arrest. We now know that by starting early
CPR and defibrillation the victim within the first 3-5 minutes we can
significantly increase the victims chances of survival.
Why are AED's important?
Many
studies tell us that the out of hospital cardiac arrest survival rates
are around the 4% mark, mostly due to the lack of early intervention of
CPR and defibrillation. The persons chances of survival during cardiac
arrest are directly related to the time it takes for CPR and
defibrillation to arrive with the chances of survival decreasing by
about 10% every minute without a defibrillator. The average response
time in the US is around 8-1/2 minutes and even longer in rural areas
and congested cities. By making AED's available to bystanders and
people who get there first, the chances of survival can be increased
significantly. As the public becomes more aware of AED's and their
importance, there is going to be a greater expectation of AED's in
public places.
Isn't CPR good enough?
CPR
is still a very important piece in the chain of survival, especially in
children. CPR alone is not enough in adult victims suffering cardiac
arrest. CPR provides victims with oxygenated blood to their brain and
heart muscle and keeps them somewhat "viable" until a defibrillator
arrives. CPR helps "buy you some time". Keep in mind that the heart is
typically quivering chaotically and if you are able to quickly wipe out
the electrical chaos, hopefully the hearts own pacemaker is still
strong enough to start again normally on its own. CPR should not be
minimized though. During cardiac arrest, defibrillation is indicated
about 60-80% of the time, however CPR is indicated 100% of the time.
How do you know? An AED will tell you. It is important to know good CPR
and how to use an AED.
Why put AED's in schools?
It
is difficult to imagine too many other places that get the use of a
school. Schools are typically gathering places for students (of
course), teachers, parents and visitors. Schools are often designated
disaster shelters in the event of emergency and are widely used for
sporting events, community events and other large community gatherings.
Children are not immune from cardiac arrest, in fact there are many
studies that suggest that nearly 1 in 500 children have undiagnosed
heart conditions. One death of a student or teacher can have a
devastating effect on a school and a community. AED's are becoming
standard equipment for schools and some states are mandating that AED's
be placed in all public schools. AED's have been used successfully in
many schools across the US. So why put AED's in schools? Not just for
the students, but for the teachers, staff, parents and the community
also. Why put AED's in schools?
How likely is it that we use our AED?
We
hope you never have to use your AED but, we have had customers who have
used their AED 3 times in 3 years. Studies show 34% of facilities that
have implemented an AED program have used their AED. 13% of all
workplace fatalities are due to cardiac arrest. We hope that your AED
collects dust, but it is a good feeling know that you are better
prepared for the unexpected emergency.
What is my liability for using an AED?
All
50 states have legislation that protects users for using an AED. Most
states provide conditional civil immunity as long as the user has
appropriate training. As a company you should evaluate your risks and
benefits of implementing an AED program. Many legal experts agree that
companies that provide AED's as part of an overall health and safety
program are at a lower legal risk then those who don't provide AED's.
To date there have been numerous legal judgements against companies for
not providing "adequate emergency care" during cardiac arrest
incidents. To date we are not aware of any lawsuits involving AED's
that were used to save a life. For more information visit our AED laws
by state page or our AED implementation section.
Do I need to be trained to use an AED?
Yes,
although AED's are very easy to use, you should be training in CPR and
the use of an AED. There are many studies out now that suggest that
untrained responders are "capable" of using the AED to save a life.
Using an AED is only half of the battle, the other half is providing
good CPR, which takes practice. Most state AED laws provide immunity
for "trained" AED rescuers. CPR and AED training is worth the time and
usually cost between $30 and $50 every 2 years. Practice makes perfect!
What is the process for setting up a successful AED program?
We have outlined the AED implementation process in our AED implementation page.
What laws do I need to know when setting up an AED program?
You can visit our AED laws by state page or our AED implementation page for more information.
Is there grant money available for AED?
There
are some resources available for AED grant funding. Check out our AED
Grants page for more information and other funding ideas for your AED
program.
What is the best AED?
All
AED's are great and all are approved by the FDA. While we don't
recommend one AED over another. The type of AED you purchase will
depend on various factors. We have complied a AED Buyers guide to help
you navigate which AED is best for your situation.
Do I need to maintain my AED?
The
maintenance required to maintain an AED is minimal but it is important.
AED's have built in self checks to help assure readiness. It is
important to check AED's at least monthly or more frequently to verify
readiness. You should checkout our AED maintenance page for specific
infomation about how to check your AED.
Can AED's be upgraded?
Yes. For more information about AED Upgrades visit our AED Upgrades page.
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