School Defibrillators

Because many children do not exhibit signs of sudden cardiac arrest, having an AED nearby and ready to go is of the utmost importance. Preparing schools and training teachers and other school workers to be ready in an SCA emergency is necessary. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) alone cannot restart (defibrillate) an SCA victim’s heart. Only an AED can do that. Therefore, making sure that teachers and school staff are CPR certified and AED trained is a life-saving necessity.

Modern automated external defibrillators are lightweight and easy to use. Most are portable and have sensors that tell the emergency first-responder if a shock is needed, and when it should be done. AEDs have become so easy to use that even a minimally trained sixth grader can correctly operate the device. Having AEDs in schools not only ensures that the students are protected but that staff and school visitors are too.

The number of AED trained first responders should be based on the size of the school. And everyone should know where the AED or AEDs are placed. Just having one in the school’s heath office might not be enough if the school has a large building, more than one floor, or if the SCA occurs outside on the playground. Remember, brain damage can occur if defibrillation does not happen within three to five minutes and sudden cardiac death is practically a given if more than seven minutes passes.

Equipping schools with automated external defibrillators is an important health care concern and it need not be difficult to set up an AED program. Reaching out to local physicians’ organizations, the local EMS system or other heath care organizations may be all that is needed to get the program off the ground. Some of these organizations donate equipment to the schools and help with the training of first responders. And there is usually no need to be worried about legal liability issues. Many states have laws that protect schools, and there is a federal law, the Cardiac Arrest Survival Act, that preempts state laws. This protects users or providers of AEDs from lawsuits unless gross negligence or reckless behavior is suspected or proven.

Automated External Defibrillators can cost over $1,000 and training and other materials are not free either. However, the cost need not be a stumbling block. Many resources are available to help pay for these costs. Donations from local donors, such as hospitals, churches, local businesses, and groups like the Elks, Kiwanis Clubs, Lions Clubs or Rotary Clubs may be willing to help. And don’t forget to ask parents of the children who attend the school. Safety for their children while at school is a huge concern and many parents won’t hesitate to donate when they hear how important it is to have an AED in their child’s school.

Grants from foundations are another way to cover the cost of starting an AED program. There are foundations that serve communities in the health and fitness arena and they may be the perfect partners. Local government agencies can be an option as well; they may have funds available for school health and safety programs.

Once an AED has been purchased or donated to a school, it’s important to make sure that everyone knows where they are and that there are enough trained first responders on staff. Having an AED with no one available to use it in an emergency is a tragedy waiting to happen. Training staff, teachers and older students in the use of an AED can help ensure that when sudden cardiac arrest happens, it will not be followed by sudden cardiac death.