View Cart
My Account
AED Site Assessment Data Collection Tools
The site assessment tool is designed to provide a rational process for determining the optimal quantity and placement locations of AEDs required to provide a timely response to a sudden cardiac arrest.
The American Heart Association recommends defibrillation in 3 to 5 minutes - ideally in less than three minutes. Every additional minute lowers the rate of successful resuscitation by 7 to 10 percent. To achieve a good response time, there must be enough AEDs in the right places, a clear communications pipeline, and enough people trained to respond quickly.
When performing this assessment, you should consider all the steps that need to take place within a 3-minute window of survivability. These steps include:
The American Heart Association recommends defibrillation in 3 to 5 minutes - ideally in less than three minutes. Every additional minute lowers the rate of successful resuscitation by 7 to 10 percent. To achieve a good response time, there must be enough AEDs in the right places, a clear communications pipeline, and enough people trained to respond quickly.
When performing this assessment, you should consider all the steps that need to take place within a 3-minute window of survivability. These steps include:
- Recognizing the event as a cardiac emergency
- Communicating the emergency
- Activating the internal responders
- Retrieving the AED
- Responding to the victim’s location
- Attaching the AED and delivering the shock
Communication systems within a facility will greatly impact the time to respond. Precious time can be saved with automatic notification systems. Ideally, AEDs are stored in a monitored wall cabinet that automatically notifies building security or other designated responders when the cabinet is opened.
Secured areas can present special problems in terms of response time. You should consider locating units within secured areas unless the likely responders can easily transcend security check-points. Alternately, personnel at the security check points can serve as members of the ERT (Emergency Response Team). When security personnel are members of the ERT, internal policies must address whether security personnel can leave their post to respond to medical emergencies. If these alternative strategies are not feasible, you should make sure time measurements include the worst-case delay the ERT will encounter when required to pass through a security check-point.
Special attention should be paid to areas where large numbers of people visit or assemble, such as cafeterias, auditoriums, gymnasiums, and sports facilities. Other locations of concern are high-traffic areas such as hallways near restrooms, reception areas and main entrances. Other considerations that should be noted:
- Areas which are more difficult for emergency medical system teams to reach (such as deep inside a facility, high in a tall building, inside secured areas or remote locations).
- Areas where people may be subject to strenuous activity, including exercise.
- Areas with high percentage of elderly people, who are at higher risk for sudden cardiac Arrest.
- AED and wall cabinet placement should meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines.
Once it is decided who will likely respond, what communications will be relied upon, and which areas to protect, you can determine the number of AEDs and their specific locations. There is not one simple formula that applies to all facilities. Walking the facility while carrying a stopwatch and a building diagram is the best way to determine the optimal number and placement of AEDs. You should consider the ideal “drop to shock” time of no longer than 3 minutes.
Consider locating AEDs so they are:
- Highly visible, such as in wall mount brackets or glass cabinets on building walls in general view, similar to fire extinguishers
- Near expected responders, such as a security or first aid station
- Close to where the largest number of people spend their time
- Protected from tampering, theft or damage (Wall cabinets are alarmed)
- Accessible during all hours of facility operation and activities
The availability of trained personnel greatly impacts the effectiveness of an AED program. Security, safety, fire and medical personnel should be considered as the primary source of responders. Other “natural” responders include “Hall Monitors,” “Floor Captains” or other personnel designated to assist or respond to various medical and non-medical emergencies. Finally, volunteer responders should be offered training. More personnel trained in a given facility increases the likelihood of a more timely and effective response. The goal of an AED program is to have multiple responders and multiple AEDs arrive at the scene of a medical emergency.
The worksheets below are intended to provide the data necessary to design a rational plan regarding the optimal number of AEDs to be placed, the specific placement locations, and enhancements to existing policies, communication systems, and personnel training policies.
