AEDS

Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDS) Recommended

Cardiac Science in partnership with Code Red | American Red Cross of Greater Chicago

The American Heart Association and the American Red Cross both recommend that automatic external defibrillators (AEDS) be placed in all public buildings. The synod office has purchased an AED and has provided training to the entire staff and recommends that all congregations consider placing AEDS in their buildings. The reasons are outlined below.

Each year in the United States alone, an estimated 350,000 victims die from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The majority of these people have no warning, since they show no prior symptoms. And, sadly, fewer than 5% survive, often because emergency medical services cannot reach them in time. Sudden cardiac arrest can strike virtually anyone – man or woman, young or old – anywhere, anytime and often without warning.

When sudden cardiac arrest strikes, the electrical system of the heart short-circuits, most often causing an abnormal rhythm known as ventricular fibrillation. Lacking proper blood flow, the person loses consciousness, becomes unresponsive, has no detectable pulse, and stops breathing. The person will die unless promptly treated.

CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) can help a person in cardiac arrest, but it alone cannot save lives. The only definitive treatment to restore an effective heart rhythm is a "shock" from a defibrillator — defibrillation therapy. A victim's best chance of surviving SCA is to receive that shock within 5 minutes of collapse. Each minute of delay decreases an SCA victim's chance of survival by 10%. After only 10 minutes, more than 90% of SCA victims will die if they have not been defibrillated. An automatic external defibrillator (AED) is the device used to deliver an electrical shock to the heart (defibrillation) of a victim of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The American Heart Association estimates that an additional 40,000 lives could be saved each year with widespread access to defibrillators.

The lifesaving benefits of AEDS, the relatively manageable cost of implementation, and the complete lack of other treatment alternatives present a compelling argument that organizations might have a duty of care toward their employees, members, visitors, etc. who may suffer sudden cardiac arrest. Recently, the Cardiac Arrest Survival Act was passed in the United States Congress. This legislation provides a model that states can adopt to allow widespread use of AEDS and other lifesaving devices and provide immunity for those who give emergency care. In the meantime, Good Samaritan laws, to enable a range of non-traditional emergency responders to use AEDS, have been passed in over 40 states and are pending in others. Illinois is one the states with a Good Samaritan law on the books.

On June 16, 2008, Good Morning America aired a segment on heart disease and AEDS titled; “What happened to Tim Russert?” You can view this segment at http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=5174948&affil=wftvCarol.

To help our congregations place AEDS in their buildings, the synod office arranged for discounted pricing with two quality vendors – Cardiac Science in partnership with Code Red and the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago. A flyer from each vendor outlining their program may be downloaded at www.mcsecla.org/AEDS. The synod office is not recommending one program over the other. It is our recommendation that you download both flyers and do your own due diligence before deciding which vendor, if either, makes sense for you. The synod decided to use Cardiac Science in partnership with Code Red.
 

1420 W. Dickens Ave. ~  Chicago, IL 60614-3004 ~ Ph: 773-248-0021