Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) proposed plan for the BRRA by John Karpovich
INTRODUCTION
At the January Board meeting I introduced a proposal to equip open common areas within the BRRA with AEDs as a proactive approach to saving the lives of neighbors and loved ones. Throughout this article I will address issues of concern along with explaining the program and what is involved.
Some buildings and facilities are already equipped with AEDs (Beach Cabana, Residents Clubhouse, Pickleball / Tennis Courts) to name a few. These facilities require key-card or a code for entry. The goal of this program is to educate the community and recruit residents to be trained in CPR and use of the AEDs. Training is straightforward and only requires one evening.
Some sections of this article will be repetitive but informative. What better use of our 1% fund than proactively looking out for the wellbeing of our residents and their guests? To my knowledge and research, there are currently no resorts in our region that provide this type of proactive medical care.
Our emergency services are excellent but are NOT exclusive to Barefoot needs. Understand, time is of the essence to treat a patient.
I have provided video links below to help those not familiar with the equipment and its application for life saving. Some of the links provided are by Zoll. Zoll is the AED brand that I have researched and believe would be the best fit for our type of needs. Minimal maintenance (five-year battery with replacement batteries available in local stores among other benefits).
TRAINING WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
One thing that must be made very clear; a simple training course for residents is necessary to make this program work. The more trained volunteers, the faster the response time to your location. That being said, a significant number of residents would need to volunteer for training to move the program forward. Details of training would be discussed when warranted.
PLACEMENT OF AED UNITS
The number of AED units and placement location would be discussed and determined once it is determined that a significant number of residents are committed to joining the program. In open sight, easy access, well-lit areas and pre-existing surveillance cameras are few things to consider.
I HAVE THE TRAINING; HOW WILL I KNOW IF SOMEONE NEARBY MAY NEED AED ASSISTANCE?
Notifications to nearby first responder residents are sent by a third-party company such as ReadyAlert™ as to where the patient is located and where the nearest AED unit is. This notification system is incorporated with the 9-1-1 emergency services and does NOT require separate calls for help to be made.
THEFT / VANDALISM
Theft and vandalism are always a concern. However, most studies reported low rates (<2%) of theft/missing/vandalism, including AEDs that were accessible 24/7. One study comparing unlocked and locked cabinets showed a minimal difference in theft and vandalism rate (0.3% vs. 0.1%). Conclusion: Vandalism and the loss of AEDs are rare but can occur in locked or unlocked cabinets.
WHY ARE AEDs NEEDED IF A FIREHOUSE IS CLOSE BY?
Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are safe and effective for treating ventricular fibrillation when used by professional rescuers and trained volunteers in community public access defibrillation (PAD) programs. The Public Access Defibrillation Trial included 1900 volunteer responders from 993 community units in 24 North American regions. In this study, volunteers trained and equipped to provide early defibrillation in a structured response system increased the number of survivors to hospital discharge after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in public locations. While PAD programs can improve survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest caused by ventricular fibrillation, the effectiveness of defibrillation does diminish over time, making the availability of the device and the time it takes to bring it to the side of the patient very important considerations when establishing PAD programs.
WHY AEDs ARE NEEDED
While EMS providers will bring a defibrillator to the scene of the emergency, they may not always be able to reach the patient quickly enough. The cardiac arrest victim’s chances of survival decrease by 5 to 10% with every passing minute between the beginning of victim down and arrival of EMS. In most communities, the time interval between placing the phone call to 911 and arrival of EMS at the side of the 21 victims is 7 minutes or longer. If you do the math, you can easily see why so many victims die. Help simply did not arrive in time.
Because early defibrillation can be lifesaving, modern defibrillators have been designed specifically for use by the public. Anyone can successfully save lives with the use of an AED simply by following the voice prompts from the machine. AEDs can be found in many locations in your community including grocery stores, airports, shopping malls, and public buildings. The devices are most useful if they are conspicuously placed in the open, much the same as fire extinguishers.
IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE BOX
The challenge with public access defibrillation programs lies in ensuring that potential rescuers are aware of AED locations and understand their role in using the devices. Having an action plan is critically important to the successful use of AEDs. That action plan should be tailor-made for the area it serves. For example, security guards at the entrance to a public building should know the location of the closest AED and respond with it when an emergency occurs within the premises. The designated responder at the location should be trained in CPR regularly and be familiar with the basics of the AED at that site. Without designated responders, the victim may not receive necessary aid in time.
A PAD program can be directed by any responsible party. Some programs are overseen by the local EMS Director. In others, the employee health or building security service take the lead. Often there are not enough AEDs in public places to ensure they are available quickly when needed. Optimally, AEDs must be distributed so that the AED can be retrieved and placed on the victim within the first three minutes following collapse. The AED Implementation Guide (available at www.heartrescueproject.com) for business and industry contains many helpful tips including how to estimate the number of AEDs needed, where to place AEDs, how to address legal and training activities and how to promote your program.
Local EMS can pinpoint good locations for AEDs in conjunction with health departments, schools, local governments, churches, and local businesses. Church groups can purchase AEDs for their congregations. Business owners should invest in the devices for their offices and stores. Each of these groups should have a PAD program with designated responders and should report the location of the AEDs to local EMS providers.
An AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is crucial in your community because it allows bystanders to deliver a life-saving shock to someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), significantly increasing their chances of survival, especially when professional medical help might not arrive quickly enough; essentially, having an accessible AED can mean the difference between life and death in emergency situations where time is critical.
Key reasons why an AED is important in your community:
- Early intervention:
The first few minutes after a cardiac arrest are crucial, and an AED can be used immediately to attempt to restore a normal heart rhythm.
- Accessibility:
By placing AEDs in public locations anyone can access them during an emergency.
- Ease of use:
Modern AEDs are designed to be user-friendly with clear instructions, allowing even untrained individuals to use them effectively.
- Increased survival rate:
Studies show that having an accessible AED significantly increases the survival rate of people experiencing cardiac arrest.
As many as 30% to 50% of SCA victims would likely survive if CPR and AEDs were used within five minutes of collapse. The American Heart Association supports implementing the chain of survival to rescue people who suffer a cardiac arrest in the community.
Automated external defibrillators: Do you need an AED?
An AED may save your life during cardiac arrest. Weigh the pros and cons to see if you should get one.
An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable device that can be used to treat a person whose heart has suddenly stopped working. This condition is called sudden cardiac arrest.
When is an AED needed?
An AED is used to revive someone from sudden cardiac arrest. This usually happens when a problem with the heart’s electrical activity causes a dangerously irregular heartbeat. The irregular heartbeat prevents the heart from pumping as it should and causes the heart to stop.
When this happens, the brain and other organs don’t get the blood and oxygen they need. Treatment is needed within minutes to prevent death. The sooner the heartbeat is restored, the greater the chance there won’t be permanent damage to the brain and other organs.
CLOSING:
This is a collaborative program that will only work with residents’ commitment and involvement. Are you willing to join the team of Neighbors saving Neighbors?
About John Karpovich:
I am currently BRRA Board Secretary, Neighborhood Watch Single Family Coordinator and Oak Pointe Voting Member. My wife Maryanne and I have owned in Barefoot since 2012 and have resided full time since 2018. My expertise is in traffic engineering and crash reconstruction however, I am a former first responder and Emergency Medical Technician (Police Officer and Heavy Rescue Squad).
Video Links: