Automatic External Defibrillators in School -- A Necessity
Startling Statistics
We’ve all opened our Sunday paper’s only to be confronted with yet another tragic story about a high school athlete taken away from this world too soon. According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in young athletes and Americans in general. Every year, SCA causes the deaths of about 250, 000 people. In addition, the American Association of School Administrators report that every year, 7,000 to 10,000 die due to SCA every year. SCA is a highly serious matter. The U.S. News and World Report published statistics indicating that students who suffer from SCA only have a 1 in 10 chance of survival. A majority of these incidents occurred on school property.
While these statistics are startling, there is something that can be done. Automatic external defibrillators in school are one way to prevent deaths caused by SCA. The American Heart Association states that, the optimum time for reviving individuals suffering from SCA is within three minutes of the incident. Access to automatic external defibrillators in school is vital for survival. AED’s increase survival rates by as much as 80 percent. The survival rate drops to 2 percent for individuals left untreated after 10 minutes.
Good Samaritans
It is obvious that automatic external defibrillators in school are absolutely vital, so why don’t more schools have these devices? The main reason school officials are hesitant to install AED’s is due to fear of lawsuits. Many schools believe that if an AED is used improperly, then the school will be held responsible. However, there are Good Samaritan laws which protect bystanders who try to help during a medical emergency from being sued or prosecuted in the case of unintentional injury or death. It is important that school officials are educated about these laws so that they are able to make an informed decision as to whether or not an AED is installed at their school.
Preparing your School
Before installing automatic external defibrillators in school, school officials must determine the right unit, that key staff members are trained to use the AED, create an AED maintenance program, and choose the proper location for the AED.
There are several types of AED units on the market. Several AED systems offer voice activated prompts to guide the user. The process consists of, placing two pads on the patient’s chest, waiting for the pads to analyze the patient’s cardiac activity, if the machine determines that a shock is needed, then the user is instructed to press the shock button, finally, the user is instructed to begin CPR. Throughout this process the AED analyzes the individual.
Various members of school staff should be trained to use the AED. It is recommended that at least one person from each department including administration, security, and athletics should be trained in using the device. A communication system between staff members should also be established in the case of an emergency. Steps should include calling for help, providing emergency medical services, early CPR, early defibrillation, and early advanced care.
Many AED units include an online maintenance program. These programs help ensure that units are kept in working order. In some cases, the company from which the AED was bought will take care of updating training records and tracking when the AED should be replaced.
AEDs should be kept in large spaces used to host large events because these are the spots where an incident is most likely to occur. In addition, AEDs can be kept in the corridors linking said rooms. Whatever the location is, it is important that the unit is kept in an unlocked, alarmed cabinet that sounds when it is accessed. This is because; the AED must be accessed within the first three minutes of the incident in order for it to be successful. An AED should also be made part of the emergency-response bag taken to athletic events so that coaches and trainers can have it on-hand if necessary.
Having automatic external defibrillators in school are vital to the safety of students and staff members. It is vital that school officials understand the benefits of having an AED on school premises and take time to choose the right model for their school.
References:
asumag.com: Shocking Statistics
americanheart.org: AED Programs Q & A