Delray Beach Florida Condominium Purchases AED to treat Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Delray Beach Florida - Recently I delivered an AED Automated External Defibrillator to a condominium in Delray Beach. This gated Palm Beach County Florida community currently has several AEDs on property but the distance between the AEDs was greater than the 3 minutes recommended by the American Heart Association. Below are a list of the questions I am frequently asked by condo owners, board members and property managers.

1. Should we have an Automated External Defibrillator?

My answer is always "Yes". I say yes as long as the association is willing to implement the program correctly. According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac arrest claims about 340,000 lives each year – or around 1,000 every day in the United States. Sudden cardiac arrest, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Cardiac arrest kills more people than breast cancer, lung cancer, and AIDS combined. Currently 95 percent of all cardiac arrest victims die.

Simply put, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) save lives. Would you vote in favor of spending $2,000 if it saved a friend or family member´s life? The answer is obviously yes. You have smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, security cameras and other systems to save your property why not put something in place that saves lives.

2. What is an AED and how does it work?

An Automated External Defibrillator or AED is a portable, battery operated electronic device about the size of a laptop computer. The AED automatically diagnoses the potentially life threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia in a victim and is able to treat the patient with an electrical shock which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to re-establish an effective rhythm. AEDs are designed to be simple so that anyone can use one. So simple that I often start my classes by selecting someone from the class that has never seen an AED and I ask them to demonstrate how to use an AED by following the AEDs voice instructions. To date, the youngest person to effectively demonstrate the AED in one of my classes was 9 years old.

3. How expensive is an AED Program?

There are several manufacturers of AEDs for sale in the United States. These AEDs range in price from about $1,225 to about $1,800. Although AEDs are not inexpensive they are invaluable if they save your life or the life of a family member, friend or neighbor.

In addition to the AED you will need purchase an AED cabinet ($200 - $300), the rescue ready kit ($40 - $50), and training of your staff and residents. Don´t cut corners on training! Hire a qualified instructor. Training is the single most important part of your AED program.

You should also budget for new batteries and electrode pads. Typically batteries last 2-4 years and electrode pads generally need to be replaced every 2 years.

4. What are the benefits of owning an AED?

Without the AED the chances of surviving Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) outside of a hospital setting are very small – less than 5%. However, if the AED is applied to the victim quickly their odds increase to about 70% - 90%.

5. What type of training is required to use an AED?

AEDs are designed to be very simple to use. However, this is a race against time. For every minute we delay shocking our victim their chance of survival drops 10%. Training increases speed, confidence and efficiency. I suggest working with a professional trainer that has real life experience using CPR and AEDs on real people. An instructor that can work with your staff and your residents to answer any and all questions. Someone that can create realistic training scenarios to use during class and most importantly someone that can make your staff and residents comfortable using their new skills. You don´t want an instructor that scares or confuses the students. Look for a full time, insured professional that knows AEDs, CPR and understands the legal issues associated.

My Delray client schedules multiple CPR AED and First Aid classes throughout the year so that all staff and residents have the opportunity to attend. Even though the certification cards are good for 2 years, many residents take the class annually to keep these life saving skills fresh in their minds.

6. What does OSHA indicate about AEDs?

"Because the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) can save the lives of workers who experience cardiac arrest while on the job, OSHA today encouraged employers to consider making this equipment available in their workplace."

US Department of Labor, Office of Public Affairs, Dec. 17, 2001

7. What about Federal Laws regarding the use of AEDs?

The Cardiac Arrest Survival Act (CASA) of 2000 is our nation's first legislation recognizing the lifesaving role played by automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The law highlights the need to make AEDs accessible to anyone who has had proper training, not just professional medical personnel. The law protects trained AED users from liability, and also protects any person who has maintained the device, provided training, tested the device or acquired it. The law also augments existing state "Good Samaritan" laws by ensuring federal liability protection for trained users and purchasers of AEDs.

8. Liability - Am I safer with or without an AED?

Florida is a very litigious state. Attorneys are advertising everywhere and many people view filing lawsuits as hitting the lottery. But not having an AED may put you at greater risk than owning one. The increasing number of AEDs in public places, coupled with the fact that AEDS dramatically increase cardiac arrest survival rates may establish a standard of care. If the property down the road has an AED program in place to save lives, why doesn´t your property offer the same protection?

9. Are you aware of any other sources of information on AEDs and Condos?

I recently read a very good book by Peter M. Dunbar. The book titled "Condominium Concept: A Practical Guide for Officers, Owners, Realtors, Attorneys, and Directors of Florida Condominiums." In his book, Dunbar, a Florida lawyer states "The condominium association is permitted to maintain an automated external defibrillator device in the community for use in medical emergencies, and the association is immune from liability when the device is used as long as it is properly maintained, appropriate training has been provided to association employees, and the local emergency medical services director has been notified of the placement of the device in the community." If you are trying to implement an AED program you may wish to pickup a copy of Peter Dunbar´s book.

10. Where can we purchase an AED?

There are many internet sites that sell AEDs but often times they are selling you what has the highest profit margin. They often fail to ask where you will be placing the AED, who will be using the AED, and what is your budget. Another disadvantage to buying from the internet or over the telephone is placement. Where are you going to place the AED? When a customer purchases an AED from my company, I personally walk the property with the customer. We look at traffic patterns, distance between AEDs, accessibility, exposure to the elements and various other factors. We also offer training and run different emergency scenarios. Training, needs evaluations and site surveys are very important and unlikely possible for mail order companies to perform.

In summary, having AEDs on property is a very good idea. AEDs are designed only to shock someone in cardiac arrest. If someone were to apply the device to a person that was not in cardiac arrest it would not shock them. The key to a good AED program is AED placement, training and maintenance. Place the AEDs where they can be easily retrieved in a medical emergency. Train both your staff and residents how to use these. Educate everyone where they are located and how to use them. Inspect the AEDs per the manufacturer´s guidelines and replace batteries and electrode pads as indicated.

Based in Palm Beach County Florida, The CPR School will travel to your Florida condominium, homeowners association, gated community or business to perform an AED needs evaluation as well as implement an AED program. We are able to assist with all aspects of the AED program from planning to implementation to maintenance.

AED, CPR and First Aid Safety Training. AED Sales, Service and AED Program Management. To learn more about how we can help you please visit http://www.TheCPRSchool.com or call The CPR School at 561-762-0500.