AED Guidelines for Parishes and Schools

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) occurs when ventricular fibrillation takes place or when the heart stops beating altogether. Without medical attention, the victim collapses, loses consciousness, becomes unresponsive, and dies. Many victims have no prior history of heart disease and are stricken without warning.

Children and adolescents can suffer from SCA, especially athletes. The American Heart Association reviewed 158 cases of death in athletes due to sudden cardiac arrest from 1985 to 1995. Sixty-eight percent of the deaths occurred in players with an average age of 17 years. Sudden death in young athletes occurs most commonly in male basketball and football players. The New England Journal of Medicine states that 90 percent of sudden death in athletes occurs during practice or competition; it is thought that intense physical activity can trigger sudden death when certain cardiovascular diseases are present. For this reason, the National Athletic Trainer’s Association recommends that high school and college athletic programs formulate a planned response to incidences of SCA which includes access to a portable AED and training.

Another cause of sudden cardiac death results from a blunt blow to the chest. The medical name for this is commotio cordis. The blow to the chest, usually with an object such as a baseball or hockey puck, can trigger ventricular fibrillation if the blow strikes at exactly the wrong time in the heart’s electrical cycle. Young athletes are especially at risk because of the pliability of their chest walls. Time is a critical factor after the onset of the event. Early defibrillation in conjunction with CPR is essential.

Today’s AEDs are designed to be used by individuals with minimal or no training. In an OSHA study of mock cardiac arrest, the mean time to defibrillation was 67 seconds for trained emergency service technicians while only 90 seconds for untrained sixth-grade students, indicating that even the untrained can use these devices successfully. However, the American Heart Association and the Office of Risk Management recommend training for anyone who works in a facility that has AEDs available for lay rescuers. Trained rescuers will be able to respond more quickly, reducing valuable response time, and will be better able to manage emergency situations. Because AED and CPR go hand in hand, it is best if personnel in your school or parish are trained in both CPR and AED use.

Schools may want to consider establishing a CPR/AED program for teachers and students alike. The American Heart Association provides a variety of options for schools who want to train their students, teachers and staff in CPR, AED use and first aid. For more information, go to their website page: CPR in Schools.

As with any piece of equipment, appropriately maintaining AEDs is vital to ensure a continuous state of readiness. Most malfunctions in AEDs are caused by improper maintenance or battery failure. Life Support Systems and companies like them provide the oversight and maintenance required by the Federal Food and Drug Administration. Life Support Systems charges a yearly maintenance fee of only $285. If you have an AED onsite already but it has not been serviced, you can contract with Life Support Services to perform the yearly maintenance and oversight.

It is important for the local EMS system to know where AEDs are located in the community. In the event of a sudden cardiac arrest emergency, the 911 dispatcher will know if an AED is on the premises.

Placement of AEDs is critical; the location of the AED will determine the speed at which the device will be delivered to the victim’s side in the event of a collapse. It is best to place the AED in areas where large numbers of people assemble, such as the school gym or cafeteria. The AED should be placed in a visible location so that rescuers will always be able to locate the closest device. When possible, an AED should be located near a phone so that the EMS system can be activated simultaneously with the retrieval of the AED.

Since the athletic field is often a distance from the school building, it is good practice to transport an AED to sporting events. Consider including a portable AED as part of the athletic team equipment that your athletic director or coach carries to the field on practice and game days. Make sure everyone – faculty, staff and students – knows the locations of AEDs in your school.

Check the scene first, then the victim. Always check the scene first for safety, and for bystanders who can assist. Do not use an AED on a victim who is in water or lying on a conductive surface.

Check the victim for life-threatening conditions, including:

• Unconsciousness
• Persistent chest pain or discomfort
• Not breathing or trouble breathing
• No signs of circulation
• Severe bleeding

While each location will have its own documented protocol in accordance with their resources, training and staffing, the following steps should be considered:

After checking the scene and the victim, immediately call 911 for assistance, or have someone else call while you attend to the victim.

If there are bystanders available to do so, have one notify the school nurse, if applicable.

Someone trained in AED and CPR should attend to the victim; however, if there are no trained personnel present, it is important to utilize the AED immediately by reading the directions on the machine and following the prompts while someone calls 911 for help. Remember, early defibrillation is the most critical of all the steps. Do not worry about using an AED on a victim who does not need it; if the person does not need an AED, then the machine will tell you so.

If you have further questions about AEDs, please contact David Huskins at the Office of Risk Management at telephone 617-746-5742; email David Huskins.

The Office of Risk Management has contracted with Life Support Systems to provide AEDs to our locations at a substantial discount. To purchase an AED, to inquire about a maintenance agreement, or to schedule AED training, please contact Bret Smith at Life Support Systems, telephone 781-320-0030.

https://www.sca-aware.org/sca-news/aha-releases-latest-statistics-on-sudden-cardiac-arrest