Why place Automatic External Defibrillators in schools?
Three reasons for AED programs in schools:
1. Although rare, sudden death in teenagers does occur.
Schools should be prepared to respond with proven treatment and care in the event of a student or employee suddenly
collapsing at our schools.
Even with the best EMS systems it may take 5-10 minutes for an ambulance to reach your school. The chance of surviving SCA
after 10 minutes with no treatment is less than 5%. Time is critical and every second counts.
2. Schools are community-gathering places.
Many community people attend events such as sporting events, concerts, plays, and many other community activities at
local school facilities. Usually those attending are at higher risk of SCA and AED's and emergency plans
that include immediate access to a public access AED should be available and a priority. In addition,
schools are usually identified in community emergency plans as sites for mass care and shelter during a disaster.
They should be minimally equipped with AED's and other first aid supplies.
3. We have an opportunity to teach a future generation how to save a life.
Placing AED's in schools will train approximately 18% of a community's population. Training our young people and school
employees in CPR and how to use an AED will create an increased community awareness and provide a potentially lifesaving
resource to a community. CPR and AED training should be a local requirement for graduation and the training should be
embedded into the health, fitness, science, and sports training in our high schools.
What is an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED)?
An AED is a medical device programmed with technology needed to analyze the
hearts electrical activity and provide the necessary electrical shock to the patient if needed. The device uses voice
prompts to direct the user through each of the steps. The device will administer an electrical shock to the patient through
the electrodes placed on the patients chest only if the device determines it is the appropriate treatment.
What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)?
Described by some people as "dropping dead". It is when a person suddenly collapses,
unconscious and unresponsive, and is one of the leading causes of death. It is not the same as a heart attack and usually is
caused by an electrical malfunction in the heart called ventricular fibrillation (VF). The treatment of VF is defibrillation.
VF is a quivering of the heart muscle rather than the normal organized pumping of blood. This chaotic, unorganized "firing"
of the cells in the heart requires immediate actions to convert the heart into an organized rhythm where the heart begins to
beat regularly and pump blood throughout the body. The chance of survival drops 7 to 10 percent each minute that the person
is not treated with CPR and an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED). After 10 minutes in cardiac arrest, a person's chance of s
urvival is less than 2 percent.
How common is Cardiac Arrest?
It is estimated that 250,000 people die annually in the US alone from SCA making this one of the leading causes of death.
Approximately 9,000 to 15,000 of them are people under 18 years old. Sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anywhere, any time,
although there are some medical conditions that can increase a person's risk of suffering cardiac arrest. Calling 911 and
providing CPR are not enough. Defibrillation is the most effective treatment and must be administered immediately.What is the
Treatment for Sudden Cardiac Arrest?The treatment of cardiac arrest is an immediate electrical shock to the heart called
defibrillation. The electrical "shock" usually will stop the heart and interrupt the ventricular fibrillation (VF), which a
llows the heart's pacemaker to begin an organized normal heartbeat again and pump blood throughout the body.
Time is critical and defibrillation is effective only if it is administered immediately or within minutes of the person collapsing.
Defibrillators typically were only available in hospitals and ambulance services in the past. Now there are automatic external
defibrillator (AED) which are safe, effective, and easy to use allowing more people to immediately deliver the potentially life-saving
defibrillation within the first minutes of collapse.
Who can use AED?
Anyone can use an AED. The sooner an AED is placed on a person who has collapsed, the better the chance of survival.
The units are being placed in federal, state, local government buildings, used by police, fire and first responder agencies,
and located in schools, universities, shopping malls and businesses in the US and around the world. Ideally we would like to see
everyone take a short course in CPR and the use of AED's. The AED will not save a persons life, but a person using the AED on
someone who has suddenly collapsed may save a life. The key is making everyone aware of the devices and not hesitating to grab the
device off the wall and apply the unit to a person who has collapsed suddenly.
People make AED Programs Successful
A local "Champion" is necessary to make an AED program successful. It can be the school nurse, a teacher, health educator, local ambulance director,
administrator, or athletic trainer. It helps to create a small working group to champion the effort and ongoing support needed to
teach students, staff, and the community on the life saving potential of AED's. AED's will not save a life without someone taking
the unit out of the case and attaching it to someone who has collapsed. AED don't save lives, people using AED will!
Develop your community champions for AED's by calling our office for more information or a presentation to your school
administration and school board.
Where can I get more information?
- Randy Fischer, Program Coordinator - EMSC. 1-800-660-7022 or 612-578-8690
- MN Project ADAM™ Brochure (link here)
- Basic Emergency Lifesaving Skills in Schools (BELSS) - (brochure link here)
- National Center for Early Defibrillation at www.early-defib.org
AED Resources and Links
General information about AED programs and training
