Bedford’s Board of Health: AEDs – Automated External Defibrillators Located in Schools and Public Buildings

By Ann Kiessling, Ph.D.

Each year, U. S. emergency personnel respond to approximately 300,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests, according to the Centers for Disease Control, but fewer than 8% survive.  This number is doubled or tripled if a bystander applies an automated external defibrillator (AED) while waiting for emergency personnel.

However, bystander applied AED use is less than 10% of observed cardiac arrests.  This is thought to be largely due to lack of public familiarity with AEDs. The Cardiac Arrest Survival Act of 2000 established federal guidelines for AED placement in federal facilities and provides immunity from civil suits to any person who uses an AED in an emergency.  https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2012/11_0196.htm

The Bedford Board of Health maintains 12 Defibtech AEDs:  one each at Davis School, Lane School and the John Glenn Middle School; two at Bedford High School; two at the Department of Public Works; two at Town Center; one at Town Hall; and two in the Library.  Many Bedford companies also have AEDs located on their premises.

AED training is available at many locations, redcross.org, and the Bedford Board of Health has basic instructions and encouragement posted on its website: www.bedfordma.gov/bedford-board-of-health/news/aed-public-service-announcement.

Without or with AED training, people are encouraged to call 911— then access the closest AED if someone appears to have stopped breathing — and follow AED instructions while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive.  You just have to ignore the loud siren that will go off when the AED case is opened.

In 2006, the American Heart Association recommended that states adopt a legislative approach to support community lay rescuer “public access defibrillator” (PAD) programs. As a result, states have enacted laws to increase the availability and use of AEDs, to limit liability from AED use, and to require businesses, schools, and others to implement PAD programs.

Nonetheless, although the federal Survival Act of 2000 and the American Heart Association clearly encourage bystander use of AEDs, laws in Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey require persons who operate an AED to have taken a training course.  https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2012/11_0196.htm    This clearly limits the bystanders eligible to respond, although good samaritan responders have been exempted from liability by Massachusetts statute without or with AED training (Chapter 112, Section 12V).

AEDs are produced by several manufacturers:  Philips HeartStart, Cardiac Science, Medtronic Physic-Control, Zoll, Defibtech, HeartSine and Welch Allyn.  Software advancements actually talk the rescuer through exactly what to do, including whether or not the victim needs resuscitation.

Editor’s Note: The AEDs located in public places around Bedford are intended for emergency use. Calling 911 will bring the Bedford Fire Department whose ambulances, EMTs and paramedics. Click bit.ly/1R8n86T to read about the Bedford Fire Department’s recently adopted Cardio-Cerebral resuscitation standards.