Sean Morley, 13Saved June 13, 2001At baseball fieldDeerfield (IL) Police Department

Mitzi McGee, 67Saved October 23, 2000At homeDormont Borough (PA)Police Department

Jerome Fuentes, 56 Saved October, 1998At golf tournamentHouston (TX) Bike Medics

Amanda Redicott, 20(with son Cody)Saved December 1, 1999 At school (while pregnant)Nestecca (OR) firefighters

Christine Hammond, 53Saved February 1998In casino Las Vegas (NV) Bally’s Casino Security

Chief Lee Donohue, 57Saved September 1999 At P.D. headquarters Honolulu (HI) Police Department

Bystander: One present at an event who does not participate in it.Responder: One who reacts.Catalyst: A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction; a person who precipitates an event

More than 250,000 people dieeach year in the United Statesfrom sudden cardiac arrest

(SCA), despite the efforts of the finest car-diologists and coronary care units. Morethan 650 people die every day of SCAdespite the finest emergency departments,physicians and nurses. More than 25 peo-ple die every hour from SCA, despite thefinest prehospital care systems and per-sonnel, from fire department first respon-ders to paramedics. (And these numbersare probably conservative—a new reportfrom the Centers for Disease Controlsuggests that the incidence of SCA mayactually be twice as high, affecting asmany as 450,000 each year.)

We also know how to significantlyreduce these deaths, as symbolized by theChain of Survival: 1) early notification of9-1-1; 2) early CPR (which can doublethe chance of survival if started withinthe first few minutes); 3) early defibrilla-tion (survival rate decreases about 10%every minute until the shock is deliv-ered); and 4) early advanced care.

But what we need to understand is thatin most instances emergency careproviders can’t get there fast enough tomake a difference—by themselves. Weoften talk about the importance of“bystander CPR.” But look at the abovedefinition of bystander: someone who“does not participate.” The purpose ofthis supplement is to challenge all pub-lic safety responders to encouragewould-be bystanders in their communi-ties to react appropriately—to becomecitizen responders.

Promoting citizen, fire department,and law enforcement response to suddencardiac arrest remains an under-appreci-ated yet critically important responsibili-ty of public safety agencies. We musthelp everyone in the community see thatwhat they do in the first few minutesafter witnessing someone’s collapse hasproven to be the most important determi-nant of whether the victim lives or dies.EMS, law enforcement, fire department

and other public safety person-nel should champion the adop-tion of systems in the communi-ty that ensure immediate care bylay citizens and those publicsafety personnel most likely tobe first on the scene. These menand women are ideally posi-tioned to become catalysts forchange in citizen bystanderresponse.

This supplement provides you the toolsto become the catalyst in your communi-ty and your organization. It offers infor-mation you can use to convince yourorganization, local leaders and the gener-al public about the importance of beingprepared and willing to respond whenSCA strikes. It includes stories of modelAED programs and resources for devel-oping successful programs. It was creat-ed by the National Center for EarlyDefibrillation (NCED), a new resourcecenter based at the University ofPittsburgh. NCED was established inJanuary 2000 as an academically-based,manufacturer-neutral clearinghouse ofinformation on the subject of early defib-rillation. Our mission statement says itbest: To foster optimal immediate carefor victims of sudden cardiac arrest byproviding leadership, expertise and infor-mation related to early defibrillation.

The NCED website (www.early-

defib.org) is a comprehensiverepository of all things relatedto early defibrillation, includ-ing state and federal laws,funding suggestions, and thelatest research and news relat-ed to SCA management. Youcan read about SCA survivorsand the best practices of othersuccessful early defibrillationprograms. NCED also pro-

vides consultation (via e-mail, phone orsite visit) to assist with local programdevelopment.

Needed: Community ChampionsBe the champion of AED programs to

government and to private organizationsalike. Be the innovator who stimulates cit-izens to move from being mere bystandersto being effective responders. The life yousave may be a neighbor, a father or agrandfather, a brother or a sister, a motheror a grandmother. Or it could very well bea colleague. We know the solution—nowwe must act.

Vincent N. Mosesso, Jr., M.D., is medical director ofNCED. He is assistant professor of emergencymedicine at the University of Pittsburgh School ofMedicine and medical director of prehospital carefor UPMC Health System. He has focused much ofhis academic research on prehospital care includ-ing the role of police and first responders in theuse of AEDs.

ON BYSTANDERSBy Vince Mosesso, MD

Be the Catalyst Transforming the bystander into a citizen responder

2 Transforming Bystanders by Vince Mosesso, MD

3 D is for Defibrillation by Mary Newman

5 National Center for Early Defibrillation

6 Court Review: Liability No Barrierby Richard Lazar

6 The Value of Medical Direction

7 Program Checklist/Funding Resources

8 How an AED Saves a Life

10 Corporate Profiles

13 Community Champions by Keith Griffiths

14 AED Deployment Guide

15 The Next Frontier by Paul Paris, MD

2-S SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | EARLY DEFIBRILLATION

The Life You Save ...

C O N T E N T S

This supplement was prepared by theNational Center for Early Defibrillation forinsertion into Fire-Rescue Magazine, JEMS(Journal of Emergency Medical Services),911 Magazine, Law and Order, and The PoliceChief. Copyright 2002 National Center forEarly Defibrillation, which is solely responsiblefor its content. For more information aboutthis supplement, or to receive additionalcopies, call NCED at 1-866-AED-INFO (233-4636). Published by KGB Media, LLC.Design: A LiL Design, Inc.

ABOUT THE COVER: An AED save is demonstrated at Pinehurst Country Club in North Carolina. Photo by Ken Kerr.Pictured are actual survivors of sudden cardiac arrest. Go to www.early-defib.com to read their complete stories.

There is nothing more painful thanlosing a child. And when one diesunexpectedly from sudden car-

diac arrest (SCA), the loss can be particu-larly severe. Kids aren’t supposed to diethis way, the family thinks, and could thedeath have been prevented if rapid defib-rillation was available? Perhaps it is thisdeep anguish—and the need to drawsome good out of it—that has motivated agrowing number of parents to becomechampions for AEDs in schools.

Parents/Friends Who CareKaren Acompora of Suffolk County,

Long Island, was inspired to create theLouis J. Acompora Memorial Found-ation, in memory of her son, Louis, whodied suddenly on March 25, 2000 at theage of 14. Louis, a lacrosse goalie atNorthport High School, had been struckin the chest during a game. Although hewas wearing a chest plate and was in oth-erwise good health, he died instantly fromcommotio cordis leading to cardiac arrest.The Foundation, whose motto is “Takingour children out of harm’s way,” devel-oped a comprehensive educational pack-age that includes a book, video and Power

Point presentation on AEDs in theschools. It has been widely distributedfree of charge to increase awarenessamong parents and coaches about com-motio cordis and the need for improvedscreening of athletes along with access todefibrillation in schools and athleticfields. Thanks to Acompora’s efforts, 20AEDs have been installed in area schoolsand more than a thousand kits have beendistributed nationwide. Louis’s storytouched the hearts of millions more whenKaren appeared with Oprah Winfrey.

John and Rachel Moyer, from Shawneeon Delaware, Pennsylvania, lost their son,Gregory, a 15-year-old high school stu-dent, when he collapsed and died onDecember 2, 2000 during a basketballgame. The couple established the GregoryW. Moyer Defibrillator Fund, which hasraised more than $100,000 to place AEDsin area schools. In addition, they workedtirelessly with state legislators to developthe first bill in the nation that providesstate funding for AEDs in schools(General Assembly of PennsylvaniaHouse Bill 996). The program, sponsoredby Rep. Kelly Lewis, R-Monroe andsigned into law by then Governor Tom

Ridge, provides $2.4 million in funding.Eligible school districts can get two defib-rillators free and can buy additionaldevices at a discounted rate.

For Linette Derminer, tragedy struckon June 7, 2000, when her son Kenneth,17, died suddenly during football prac-tice. She has since created the Ken HeartFoundation, dedicated to the preventionof sudden cardiac arrest and death inyouth and athletes. The Foundation web-site, www.kenheart.org, features a hall offame that honors young people who havelost their lives to sudden cardiac arrestand the few who have survived. Dermineralso has been active in promoting legisla-tion in Ohio that would provide fundingfor AEDs in schools. She also is develop-ing a database of young victims of SCA.

In November 2000 the lives of Chrisand Tammy Shipler changed forever.That’s when their 14-year-old son, Sean,experienced sudden cardiac arrest whilerunning on the track at Inglewood JuniorHigh School in Sammamish, Washington.Bystanders provided CPR until para-medics arrived 10 minutes later andrevived him with a defibrillator. AlthoughSean survived, he suffered neurological

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | EARLY DEFIBRILLATION S-3

The GrassrootsMovement to Place

AEDs in SchoolsBy Mary Newman

Chris Shipler (left) with son Sean

}

impairment. Determined that this shouldnot happen to other young people, ChrisShipler began a crusade to get AEDs intoarea junior and senior high schools.Shannon Bulger, a fellow student whowas deeply touched by Sean’s accident,and her father, Scott, joined in the effort.They were guided by Alidene Dougherty,a defibrillation advocate from theUniversity of Washington.

At first the group met with resistance.“Schools really need to be educated onthis issue,” said Bulger. “It’s so frustratingthat all too often a child has to die beforeanything happens.” To increase publicawareness and raise funds for AEDs in theschools, Bulger arranged for the SeattleMariners to sign autographs at one of theirgames in exchange for $20 donations. Heinvited the families of five other youngSCA victims in the area and several otherschool-site AED advocates from aroundthe country, including the Acomporas,Moyers and Derminers, to participate inthe fundraiser. He enlisted the help of theIssaquah and Redmond Rotary Clubs,which provided volunteers to collectdonations from fans and whose 501(c3)status enabled contributions to be taxdeductible. Thanks to donations and addi-tional funds from the Rotary, more than$50,000 was raised, making it possible for19 schools to be equipped with defibrilla-tors. Bulger created www.heart-safeschools.org to help spread the word.

Project ADAM, a Milwaukee, Wis-consin initiative was created in memoryof Adam Lemel, a 17-year-old student atWhitefish Bay High School who col-lapsed on January 22, 1999 during a bas-ketball game. Adam, an avid athlete whoenjoyed many sports, had a rare form ofcardiomyopathy that was previouslyundiagnosed. The day after Adam died,David Ellis, a close friend of Adam’s,channeled his grief into action, beginninga crusade to get AEDs into all 12 schoolsin his high school conference. Mean-while, Karen Bauer, Becky Hirschy-Wolkenheim, and Stuart Berger, MD, ofthe Children’s Hospital of Wisconsinwere planning an initiative to get AEDsinto high schools across the state. Theyjoined forces with David and created“Project ADAM” (Automated De-fibrillators in Adam’s Memory). In thefirst 20 months of operation, ProjectADAM provided defibrillators and train-ing in 40 Wisconsin high schools, usingbake sales, tailgate parties and can collec-tions to raise funds. To date, Project

Adam has distributed more than 150 pro-gram manuals. It works closely withMasonic Lodges, which partner withschools to provide matching funds.

The far-reaching effects of these grass-roots efforts are making a tangible differ-ence. After the sudden death of highschool soccer player Louis Savino, 15, theCouncil Rock School District in BucksCounty, Pennsylvania allocated $42,000to buy defibrillators for all its buildings.Prompted by the sudden death of a 16-year-old baseball player who was struckin the chest with a baseball, the Board ofEducation in Jackson County, WestVirginia, initiated the Ripley Project,which was endorsed by the State Board ofEducation and funded by the WestVirginia legislature. It enabled the countyschool system to be among the first in theU.S. with a comprehensive program.

The good news is that some young vic-tims have become survivors. In October2001 sixth-grader Daniel Golden, 11, col-lapsed at the bottom of a staircase at the

Monsignor McHugh School in Cresco,Pennsylvania. School nurse TheresaO’Malley and a crisis response teamrushed to his side with the school’s newAED. After several shocks, Daniel’sheartbeat was restored; he was taken to anearby hospital to recuperate. The AEDhad been donated to the school less thantwo weeks earlier.

In November 2001, another school-sitesave occurred—but this time it was anadult who was resuscitated. Terry Art-man, 54, assistant cross-country coach atGlenbard High School in Glen Ellyn,Illinois, was at a pep rally honoring theteam for winning the state championshipwhen he suddently slumped to the floor.School nurse Jean Karris and securityguard Jim Kolzow, a retired paramedic,along with parent Barbara Mac Taggart,became the resuscitation team. “Terrywas awake and alert before EMS arrived,”said Harris. The school had implementedan AED program 18 months earlier,thanks to the proactive efforts of WilliamLeensvaart, principal, and the districtadministration who wanted to prepare forthe possibility of athletes who may sufferfrom hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Should AEDs Go To School?Some experts caution that the inci-

dence of sudden cardiac arrest in youngpeople is rare and that putting AEDs inschools are not a high priority. Othersargue that school populations include notonly low-risk young students but alsohigher-risk middle-aged and elderly teach-ers, parents and visitors. Further, schoolsusually serve as community gathering sitesand places of refuge during crises. What’smore, by placing AEDs in schools andtraining (and retraining) students, in time, awhole generation of adults will be com-fortable with the devices. They’ll begrounded in a new response culture inwhich quick, effective “bystander” actionis the norm, not the exception.

For parents who are grieving, the needfor AEDs in schools is self-evident. “Wedon’ t know if having one (an AED) therethat night would have saved Greg,” saidRachel Moyer. “But we do know that wewant to make sure that no other parent willhave to wonder.”

Mary Newman is the Executive Director of theNational Center for Early Defibrillation and isnationally recognized as an advocate, author andeducator in public safety for more than 20 years.She created the “Chain of Survival” metaphorwhich is used worldwide to graphically show theimportance of a quick and comprehensiveresponse to victims of sudden cardiac arrest.

Causes ofSudden CardiacArrest in Kids

4-S SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | EARLY DEFIBRILLATION

Commotio cordis is arrhythmiaor sudden death from

low-impact, blunt trauma to thechest without apparent heart injury.Ventricular fibrillation is the mostcommon associated arrhythmia.Commotio cordis occurs most com-monly in baseball but has alsobeen reported in hockey, lacrosse,softball and other sports.Researchers at the U.S. CommotioCordis Registry studied 124 casesand found the average age of deathwas 14. Only 18 victims in thestudy (14 percent) survived, usuallybecause of prompt CPR and early defibrillation.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM) is a congenital (born

with) heart (cardio) muscle disease(myopathy). The muscular walls ofthe left ventricle become abnormal-ly thickened (hypertrophy). As HCMprogresses, it can alter the structureof the heart and impair its function-ing, sometimes causing sudden cardiac arrest. About one in 500people have HCM; many areunaware they have it.

http://www.early-defib.orgLL oo cc aa tt ii oo nn For Resources for School-Site AED Programs

D is for Defibrillation continued from s-3

NCED advisors include notedexperts Lance Becker, MD, AllanBraslow, PhD, Jim Christenson,MD, Mickey Eisenberg, MD, KeithGriffiths, Richard Lazar, Esq., JoanMellor, Joseph Ornato, MD, andRoger White, MD. Mary Newmanserves as executive director.

NCED was initiated with a majorgrant from The Medtronic Founda-tion. It has since secured fundingfrom the Asmund S. Laerdal Foun-dation and five AED companies,including Medtronic Physio-Con-trol, Laerdal Companies World-wide, Philips Medical Systems, ZollMedical Corporation and CardiacScience. NCED also has receivedfunding from several AED trainingorganizations including the Ameri-can Heart Association, the AmericanSafety & Health Institute and EMPInternational/Medic FirstAid. NCED is neutral withregard to defibrillation prod-ucts, training and services,working collaboratively withall interested organizationshaving a common interest inimproving survival from sud-den cardiac arrest.

NCED’s primary resourceis its website, www.early-defib.org, which offers com-

prehensive information on suddencardiac arrest and early defibrilla-tion. Sections address such topics as

newsand events,conducting communi-ty assessments, program im-plementation, scientific literature,state and federal AED laws, legalliability issues, funding, medicaldirection, training, device optionsand demonstrations, model AEDprograms and survivor stories.

NCED also provides consultationservices by phone or by e-mail andprovides AED medical directionservices in Western Pennsylvania.

One of NCED’s key interests is toidentify and address obstacles to defib-rillation access. Toward that goal it regu-larly hosts special issue forums. Topicshave included: Police AED Issues Forum(Jan. 2001); AEDs on the Golf Course: ARoundtable Discussion (May 2001);Risk Management, Insurance and AEDIssues Forum (Jan. 2002). Each of theseforums reflect the latest research andexperience by experts in the field and aredesigned to stimulate dialogue, resolu-

tion and community action.Written summaries of eachForum will be available on theNCED website.

If you are interested in pro-moting access to defibrilla-tion in your community, con-tact the National Center forEarly Defibrillation, 200Lothrop St., Pittsburgh, PA15213; (toll free) 1-866-AED-INFO; info@early-defib.org.

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | EARLY DEFIBRILLATION S-5

The National Center forEarly Defibrillation

Emergency physicians Vince N. Mosesso, Jr.and Paul M. Paris established the NationalCenter for Early Defibrillation (NCED), a

not-for-profit information resource center basedat the University of Pittsburgh, in January 2000.NCED’s mission is to foster optimal immediate care for vic-tims of sudden cardiac arrest by providing leadership,expertise and information related to early defibrillation.

Community Resources to Help Save Lives

For a free copy of the “ChallengingSudden Death” guidebook or“Championing Early Defibrillation in Your Community” video visit www.early-defib.org(One per person, while supplies last.)

National Center for Early Defibrillation

NCED Issues ForumThe LEAD RecommendationsNCED regularly hosts forums to addressspecific topics. In January 2001 it con-vened a diverse group of public safetyand medical experts to review theresearch and experience related to theuse of AEDS by law enforcement per-sonnel. The results are a manuscript onthe proceedings and a position state-ment in press. A practical implementa-tion guide is in development. Includedin the Guide will be detailed checklistsand practical recommendations to helpagencies create effective programs. Formore information about these docu-ments go to www.early-defib.org.

Perceptions and fear oflegal liability continue toserve unnecessarily as

barriers to large-scale adoptionof public access defibrillation(PAD) programs in out-of-hos-pital settings. I’ve written else-where about general legal stan-dards applicable to early defib-rillation. Following are some of the few earlydefibrillation lawsuits that have arisen inrecent years. One clear lesson emerges from areview of these cases: Businesses that adoptearly defibrillation programs using automatedexternal defibrillators (AEDs) appear toreduce their risk of legal liability resultingfrom sudden cardiac death when compared tobusinesses that do not.

One important point deserves mention atthe outset. In the year 2000, nearly 40,000AEDs were sold, and the market for themappears to double about every 18 months.Notwithstanding the widespread distributionof AEDs, there are no reported instances oflay users or their employers being sued forthe use of an AED. Rather, all PAD casesrevolve around the failure to have or use anAED. Here are some examples.

Airlines/Theme Parks/Health ClubsThe airlines faced AED related lawsuits

before any other industry. In one case,United Airlines got sued by the widow of aman who suffered sudden cardiac death ona 1995 domestic flight. The widow allegedthat United was liable “because it failed toequip its aircraft with certain medicalequipment, including an automatic externaldefibrillator, and because her husbandwould have survived if the in-flight emer-gency medical kit had contained suchequipment.” (Our italics.) The case recentlysettled after United unsuccessfully attempt-ed to have the case dismissed on technicalgrounds.

In another case, Northwest Airlines gotsued by a woman alleging her husband haddied from sudden cardiac arrest because theairline failed to have a defibrillator onboarda 1995 flight. The case got dismissedbecause the woman could not produce anexpert who would testify that the airline hada duty to carry a defibrillator at the time of

the incident, an outcome notlikely to occur again.

In another early case, aFlorida jury found the BuschGardens theme park companyliable for the death of 13-year-old girl who had collapsed andsuffered sudden cardiac deathafter a roller coaster ride. The

jury awarded $500,000 in damages, in largepart because the park failed to have an AED.

A recent target of AED litigation has beenthe health and fitness club industry. In onecase, a tennis club got sued for failing tohave an AED on-site to treat a victim of sud-den cardiac arrest. Interestingly, the courtheld that Pennsylvania’s emergency medicalservices laws contain “no prohibition or lim-itation on first-aid efforts performed by laypersons” and sent the case back to a lowercourt for trial. Most importantly, the courtnoted that the state’s AED Good Samaritanimmunity law makes clear “the legislatureanticipated the use of AEDs by lay personsand accorded these persons immunity.”Good Samaritan immunity will likely play arole if the case goes to trial.

In another recent case, Florida’s “The QSports Club” got sued for damages resultingfrom failure to have an AED on-site to treata victim of sudden cardiac arrest. The 42-year-old engineer plaintiff remains in acoma with virtually no brain function. Thecase settled for $2.25 million.

All of these cases support my long-heldview that certain types of businesses canreduce their negligence liability exposure byadopting AED programs. The notion held bymany companies that buying and deployingAEDs increases risk is not borne out in thecourts. Moreover, liability risks impactingbusinesses that implement AED programscan be further reduced by Good Samaritanimmunity laws, insurance and indemnifica-tion contracts with manufacturers. To sum up,early defibrillation programs are the rightthing to do for many business and may offerlower legal risk than going without.

Lazar is a Portland, OR attorney and authority onlegal, regulatory and public policy issues of publicsafety and the law. For references and a copy ofLazar’s “Understanding AED Legal Issues” visitwww.early-defib.org.

COURT REVIEWBy Richard A. Lazar, Esq.

Liability No Barrier AED Programs Can Reduce Legal Risk

6-S SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | EARLY DEFIBRILLATION

The Value of MedicalOversight

http://www.early-defib.org

Successful community AEDprograms come in all shapes

and sizes but they generally haveone thing in common: an activehands-on medical director whoserves as the program’s champi-on, planner, teacher and guardianof quality. The physician medicaldirector is an ideal communityadvocate who can appeal to localdecision-makers to enlist supportfor the AED program, emphasizingits potential life-saving impact. Heor she also ensures that medicalinformation provided to teammembers is accurate and up-to-date and that the response planyields rapid, effective treatment inthe case of actual emergencies.The role of the oversight physicianis to:

1. Provide overall medicalleadership including coordination with localpublic safety and EMS.

2. Develop a responseplan and guidelines forresponder actions.

3. Provide guidance inequipment selectionand deployment.

4. Provide guidance intraining and re-trainingof program responders.

5. Review responses to allmedical emergenciesand provide feedback to the responders.

6. Assume overall responsibility for allpatient care activities.

Finding a Medical DirectorThe Medical Director often is an

emergency physician or someonewho has formal training in or previ-ous experience with emergencymedical services. However, physi-cians from other specialties, includ-ing family medicine, internal medi-cine, cardiology and occupationalhealth, also can serve in this role.To find a medical director for anAED program, contact your localEMS system for recommendations.In well-designed programs, servingas a Medical Director requires alimited time commitment, butyields tremendous professionaland personal benefits.

LL oo cc aa tt ii oo nn For more on Medical Direction

PROGRAM ✔ LISTFrom the National Center for Early Defibrillation

Starting an AED Program Ten Steps To Success

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | EARLY DEFIBRILLATION S-7

1Establish an AED task force: Gatherall potential stakeholders up front

and form a task force. At a communitylevel, this means the EMS director, firechief or training officer, police chief ortraining officer, corporate leaders,elected officials, and representatives oftraining organizations, civic groups,senior citizens organizations and themedia.

2Review laws, regulations and advi-sories: Federal laws and advisories,

state laws and sometimes local ordi-nances all address AED use. All statesnow have AED laws. They provideimmunity from legal liability, but thedetails vary. Some states require train-ing by nationally recognized organiza-tions, coordination with EMS, medicaldirection and record keeping; others donot. (See www.early-defib.org for yourstate law.) The federal Cardiac ArrestSurvival Act (addressing AED place-ment in federal building) providesadditional immunity. Other federalactions supporting AEDs include anFAA ruling requiring AEDs on air-lines, an OSHA advisory recommend-ing AEDs at the workplace and a GAOreport regarding cardiac arrest datacollection. Every device on the markethas been cleared by the Federal DrugAdministration (FDA) as safe andeffective. The FDA requires a prescrip-tion for anyone who purchases anAED.

3Conduct a needs assessment: Doyou have a weak link in your

Chain of Survival? No matter howstrong your early defibrillation pro-gram is, its overall effectiveness can beundermined if early access, early CPRor early advanced care are not optimal.(For a complete assessment checklist,go to early-defib.org.)

4Cultivate public awareness: Deve-lop a public awareness campaign,

particularly if funding will be neededto support the program. This involvesframing the issues, developing a state-ment of need, promoting media cover-age, lobbying local political leadersand identifying and addressing poten-tial obstacles.

5Estimate program costs: To estab-lish an effective program, plan not

only for the cost of the devices but theinitial and refresher training, medicaldirection, program management andquality assurance, maintenance, docu-mentation, media coverage and com-munity-wide CPR training.

6Seek funding: Sometimes the costsof programs are incorporated into

agency budgets. Often, outside fundingis needed. There are many sources forAED program funding. Organizationsand individuals will be more likely tocontribute if your task force eitherforms a non-profit 501(c3) organiza-tion or aligns with one, so that contri-butions are tax deductible.

7Establish medical direction: Leader-ship here is essential. See story

opposite page.

8Select device: There are a variety ofAED models on the market with

additional products expected soon.

9Develop a response plan: To reachthe victim as quickly as possible

with optimum care it’s essential todevelop a response plan that inte-grates community AED programswith the local EMS system. Theplan, reviewed with the medicaldirector, should include written poli-cies and procedures for:

✔ Identification/training of the responseteam

✔ Specific roles of team members✔ AED placement ✔ Internal/external (9-1-1) notification sys-

tems✔ Response system function during opera-

tional hours✔ Periodic AED drills✔ Post-event review and feedback.

10Conduct training: AED trainingtakes two to four hours, includ-

ing CPR instruction. Initial coursescost about $50/person. Refresher train-ing, available through on-line pro-grams, should be conducted everythree to six months. See the AEDTraining Network at www.early-defib.org for a trainer near you.

Funds are readily available through manysources.Sometimes a simple letter or phone

call does the job; other times it’s helpful to usethe Common Grant Application, a single propos-al that can be sent to multiple grantmakers. It’swise to seek funding from multiple sources. Bepatient, persistent and positive. As you developyour application,keep in mind the questions thatgrantmakers will be asking:

✔ Does the program fit the scope ofthe foundation?

✔ Is there a need in the community?✔ Is the program unique and creative?✔ Is there a realistic budget?✔ Can program concepts be applied

elsewhere?✔ Will the program continue at the end

of the grant period?✔ Is the organization committed to the

program?✔ Is there evidence of collaboration?✔ Will the organization report on

progress?✔ Will the program make a difference

in the community?

Sources for AED Program Funding

1. Local corporations and corporate foundations. The Medtronic Heart RescueProgram (www.medtronic.com/foundation)provides AED training grants and thePrudential Helping Hearts Program(www.prudential.com/community/hearts)awards grants of $1,000 for AEDs for volunteer EMS squads.

2. Local civic organizations. They include:Elks Clubs (www.elks.org); Kiwanis Clubs (www.kiwanis.org); Lions Clubs (www.lions.org); Rotary Clubs (www.rotary.org).

3. Hospital foundations: Contact area hospital for funding opportunities and/orsearch the internet using “hospital ANDfoundations” as key words.

4. Public charities. See the NationalDirectory of Grantmaking Public Charities at www.foundationcenter.org.

5. Federal government grants. FederalRural AED Act (Authorized $25 million forrural AED programs; $12.5 million appropri-ated for FY 02; for info, call 301/443-0835.); S 1275 would authorize $55 mil-lion/year for five years for AED programs;HR 630/S727 would provide funding forCPR training in schools and AED training inschools with existing CPR training programs.

6. State government grants. Pennsylvaniagrants available for AED placement inschools; Texas grants available throughtobacco settlement funds. Additional billsproposing AED funding have been intro-duced in IL, NJ, OK, PA, RI and VT. Contactyour state EMS agency for opportunities in your state.

AED Funding

The Chain of SurvivalTo increase the chances of resuscitation, a system of care called the Chain of Survival must be in place, so that the following actions occur as quickly as possible: • early access (call 911) • early CPR • early defibrillation • early advanced careEarly defibrillation is the key factor associated with increased survival rates. AEDs were created to strengthenthis link in the chain and have been shown to be remarkably effective, with survival rates as high as 45 percent. Currently, the American Heart Association estimates 250,000 people suffer SCA each year in theUnited States. Only seven percent survive. If communities could achieve a 20 percent survival rate, as many as 50,000 lives could be saved each year.

Delivering a Shock to the HeartThe AED’ s internal computer can tell if the heart isin ventricular fibrillation, a treatable condition inwhich the heart quivers rapidly but does not pumpeffectively. If the heart is in a treatable rhythm, ashock is delivered. Current models deliver shocks of150 to 360 joules of energy and can be monophasic,low-dose biphasic or escalating energy biphasic. In monophasic devices, which generally use higherenergy levels, the electrical current passes throughthe heart once. In biphasic devices, which generallyuse lower energy levels, the current passesthrough the heart twice.

Every day an average of 685 people in the U.S. die from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), according to current statistics gathered by the American Heart Association.

Many of those deaths could be prevented if the heart could be shocked and returned to a normal heartbeat. The key is to quickly get a device that can deliver the shock to thepatient-every minute that passes reduces the chance for survival. The AED was developed to expand the potential pool of rescuers beyond medical professionals, to include public safety providers and lay citizens, so that victims are more likely to receive timely treatment.

Presented by:

• www.early-defib.org

Early Access Early CP

A Race Against TimeWhen someone collapses from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), damage to the brain and vital organs occurs in as little as fourminutes if untreated. SCA occurs when a person’s heart unexpectedly stopspumping blood. The heart can stop for a variety of reasons but most commonlyit is due to a blockage in one of the blood vessels that supplies the heart itself.Often the heart does not stop completely but goes into ventricular fibrillation,in which the heart quivers rapidly but does not pump blood effectively. A shockfrom an AED can reverse this condition and prevent permanent damage anddeath if it is delivered in the first few minutes after collapse.

Illustration by Wainwright Media.For more information about this illustration contact the National Center for Early Defibrillation at 1-866-AED-INFO orinfo@early-defib.org.

Pads Link Patient to AEDElectrode pads attached to the patient provide information to the deviceabout the patient’s heart rhythm. An electric shock delivered through thepads stops the heart from quivering, canceling the deadly rhythm and giving the heart a chance to resume a normal heartbeat. The pads are positioned so the electric current will pass from one pad through the heartto the other.

Using an AEDIf the victim is not showing signs of life, the responder:

1) Attaches the electrode pads to the victim’s chest.2) Presses the analyze button or allows the device to analyze automatically.3) Presses the shock button if advised.

Sometimes victims do not need to be shocked but do need CPR. It’s important toundergo AED training to understand when to use the AED and when and how toprovide CPR.

The DeviceA variety of manufacturers produce devices, all of which must receive FDAclearance before being sold. They are designed to be rugged, portable, reliableand simple to use. About the size a laptop computer, a typical device weighs lessthan seven pounds. All models have voice prompts that provide step-by-stepinstructions when the device is turned on. Some devices have visual displays designed to assist in coaching the user. Currently, devices cost about$3,500 for a single unit. Costs are expected to decrease as the use of AEDsbecomes more widespread and expands into the consumer market.

BatteriesMost current device models use long-lasting lithium batteries and do not have to be recharged. In the future some devices will offer the option of using standard batteries available in retail stores.

TrainingAEDs are simple, safe and effective—and easy to use with a minimum of train-ing. Two to four hour training programs are provided by organizations such asthe American Heart Association, the American Safety and Health Institute, theAmerican Red Cross, EMP International/Medic First Aid and the National SafetyCouncil. The programs teach students how to recognize the signs of suddencardiac arrest, the importance of quickly calling 911 to access the emergencymedical system, how to do CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), and how tooperate the AED and care for the patient until professional help arrives.

RespondersResponders may be medical (physicians, nurses, EMS) or public

safety personnel (fire, police), but increasingly include securityguards, lifeguards, flight attendants, office personnel,

fitness center staff, coaches—anyone likely to be on-site when an emergency occurs. The next decade

will likely see more AEDs placed in homes ofhigh-risk individuals and an increase in lay

citizens seeking training.

y CPR Early Advanced CareEarly Defibrillation

Recognized as a globalleader in the emer-gency care com-

munity, Laerdal Medical hasbeen a leading manufactur-er and provider of basic andadvanced life support train-ing solutions and emergencymedical equipment for morethan 40 years. Over thattime, Laerdal’s Resusci®Anne and her family of train-

ing manikinshave come to berecognized through-out the world and havehelped train more than

200,000,000 potentialresponders in the lifesav-ing skills of CPR.

As the growth in PublicAccess Defibrillation cre-ates an increasing needfor innovative and effec-tive approaches to trainand re-train the many new CPR-D responders,Laerdal continues itslegacy as an innovativeand high-quality manu-

facturer with the AED Little AnneTM TrainingSystem. The Laerdal AED Trainer 2 withremote control, combined with the AEDLittle Anne manikin, is the perfect link torealistic, cost-effective CPR-AED training.Now first responders, organizations andcommunities can learn defibrillation in arealistic, scenario-based training environ-ment that allows the student to practiceautomated external defibrillation withoutcompromise. In this way, Laerdal’s commit-ment to Helping Save Lives and the Chainof Survival grows even stronger.

Cardiac Science, Inc. (Nasdaq NM:DFIB)is a public US company that develops,manufactures and markets unique life-

saving bedside cardiac monitor-defibrillatordevices, AEDs, and proprietary disposabledefibrillator electrodes that monitor and auto-matically treat patients who suffer life-threat-ening heart rhythms in hospitals and publicareas. The merger of Cardiac Science andSurvivalink Corporation, with its biphasicAEDs, will create innovations across the com-bined product lines, beginning with the newPowerheart® AED. The Powerheart AED is thefirst product to come fromthe merger of CardiacScience and Survivalink,combining industry-leadingAED expertise with advancedcardiac software algorithms.

It is estimated that Sur-vivalink’s AEDs have savedmore than 3,700 lives. Theyare installed in police and firevehicles, companies, build-ings, public areas, and air-ports throughout the world.

The Survivalink® AED

incorporates an escalating, vari-able energy biphasic waveform,demonstrating 100 percenteffectiveness in clinical trials. Itis the only AED with patented,one-button operation and pre-connected, interchangeableelectrodes, making it theeasiest AED to use. Its patent-ed RescueReady® feature also makesthe Survivalink AED the most reliable andsafest AED on the market today. TheRescueReady feature ensures that the bat-

tery, circuitry and pre-con-nected electrodes are inworking condition andready for action. It is theonly AED with this capabil-ity, ensuring first-time,every-time reliability andconfidence when treatingsomeone in cardiac arrest.

The new PowerheartAED is the only AEDdesigned for peopleexhibiting symptoms ofsudden cardiac arrest. It

provides continuous monitoring of patientsboth before and after cardiac arrest, makingearlier intervention possible. The PowerheartAED and its proprietary and patentedRHYTHMxTM analysis algorithm offersadvanced features never before available.This algorithm is designed to follow theAmerican Heart Association’s guidelines foruse of an AED on a victim of cardiac arrest.Its advanced features include medical direc-tor programmable detection rates, synchro-nized cardioversion, and non-committedshock, making RHYTHMx effective, safe andthe most robust algorithm on the markettoday.

Cardiac Science Inc.

CORPORATE PROFILES

Michael GioffrediVP, Sales and Marketing mgioffredi@cardiacscience.comCardiac Science Inc.16931 Millikan AvenueIrvine, CA 92606Phone: 949/587-0357Fax: 949/951-7315

Web site: www.cardiacscience.com

The Survivalink AED and the new Powerheart AED

David JohnsonVP, Medical Education Laerdal Medical167 Myers Corners RoadWappingers FallsNY 12590Phone: 877/LAERDAL

(523-7325)

Web site: www.Laerdal.combusdev@Laerdal.com

The AED Trainer 2 acts like theHeartstart® FR2 defibrillator. TheAED Little AnneTM Manikinacts like the patient.Together they allow stu-dents to practiceAED scenarios with-out compromise.

Laerdal Medical Corporation

10-S SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | EARLY DEFIBRILLATION

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | EARLY DEFIBRILLATION S-11

These companies manufacture or distribute AEDs or provide training for AED programs.All AEDs must have FDA clearance before being sold. The descriptions here were provided by the companies.

Buffalo Grove, Illinois based MRL, Inc.(Medical Research Laboratories, Inc.)designs, manufactures and markets

sophisticated stand-alone defibrillators,multi-parameter defibrillator / monitors andautomated external defibrillators (AED) forthe treatment of cardiopulmonary emer-gency events and SCA (sudden cardiacarrest), a leading cause of death worldwide.Since MRL’s first defibrillator was releasedto market more than 30 years ago, MRLdefibrillators have beenused to save countless livesworldwide. Advanceddefibrillation technologiesand intuitive designs helpmake MRL “the first choicein resuscitation solutions.”All the features of theLifeQuest AED are essentialfor emergency resuscitationand in “Leading The QuestFor Survival.”

When a life is on the linemany turn to the MRLLifeQuestTM AED to deliverlifesaving performance -

simply and dependably. Theadvanced MRL LifeQuest AEDtakes the guesswork and worry outof the event by providing very sim-ple operation. Simplicity combinedwith concise voice prompts and alarge, easy-to-view display are thereto guide you throughout the event.

MRL LifeQuest AutomatedExternal Defibrillator features:

1) Simple operation for quickresponse and“no-hesitat ion”resuscitation; 2) Fastcharge for immediateresponse; 3) Compact,Lightweight, Design – only4.5 pounds. LifeQuest isone of the lightest AEDsavailable; 4) Automatedself-checks and batterystatus indicator; 5) Directconnect to most commer-cial printers without theneed for dedicated soft-ware; 6) Field Upgradeable- helping to reduce cost of

ownership; 7)Seamless DataTransfer to theMRL PIC, MRLPIC Rescuer orS m a r t V i e wData Manage-ment System;

8) Optional Monitoringand Manual Defibrillation capabilities foradvanced users

The LifeQuest AED is part of a complete“MRL AED Solution” which provides all thecritical components needed for successfulimplementation of a PAD (public accessdefibrillation) program. From medical direc-tion, legal indemnification, site selection, AEDmaintenance, training from a nationallyaccredited organization, integration withemergency medical services and the like, theprogram is designed to take the worry out ofimplementing the program. With MRL, “YouCan Save A Life.”TM

The LifeQuestTM

AED

William J. Smirles, EMT-PVP, Business Development Medical ResearchLaboratories, Inc.1000 Ashbury DriveBuffalo Grove, Il 60089 USAPhone: 847/462-0777or 847/520-0300Fax: 847/520-0303

Web site: www.aedsolutions.comwww.mrlinc.com

Nearly 50 years ago Physio-Controlpioneered the defibrillation technol-ogy that offers hope for the hun-

dreds of thousands of people who experi-ence sudden cardiac arrest each year.Hospitals, emergency medical services, tar-geted responders, and other trainedproviders rely on our LIFEPAK® productsevery day, in the most critical cardiac emer-gencies and the toughest situations.

Physio-Control joined forces withMedtronic, Inc. in 1998.Medtronic, the world lead-er in medical technology,provides lifelong solutionsfor chronic conditions suchas heart disease, neurolog-ical disorders and vascularillness. One major product,the implantable defibrilla-tor, helps protect patientsfrom future cardiac events,enabling them to return toactive and rewarding lives.

Many of our customerswant a total, scalable and

customizable solution, not just a device, sowe offer a full range of services and com-plementary products that uphold a tirelesscommitment to quality, innovation, relia-bility and service. Because we shareone passion with our customers—sav-ing more lives.

The LIFEPAK® 500 automatedexternal defibrillator is designed foruse by first responders to cardiacemergencies. Intuitive operation

makes it the idealproduct for infrequentusers. Offering the latestADAPTIVTM biphasic tech-nology, the 500 providesvoice and visual promptsthat guide users throughoperation. PreconnectedQUIK-COMBOTM dispos-able defibrillation elec-trodes help save valuabletime on-scene, and arecompatible with theLIFEPAK products used bymany U.S. emergency

medical services. At only seven pounds,the LIFEPAK 500 AED is extremelyportable. Automatic self-testing and analways-visible readiness display helpensure the device is ready to go.

Bob Stanbary, Heart SafeCommunitiesBill Pratt, Law EnforcementMedtronic Physio-Control 11811 Willows Road NEP.O. Box 97006Redmond, WA 98073-9706 USAPhone: 800/442-1142or 425/867-4000Fax: 425/867-4121

Web site: www.physiocontrol.com

Medtronic Physio-Control

LIFEPAK® 500 AED

Medical Research Laboratories, Inc.

Philips Medical Systems delivers a robustportfolio of medical systems for fasterand more accurate diagnosis and treat-

ment, including best-in-class technologiesin general imaging and cardiac ultrasound,X-ray, CT, MR, nuclear medicine, catheteriza-tion labs, patient monitoring and resuscita-tion, as well as information technologysolutions that address your needs in a widevariety of clinical domains.

Philips Medical Systems is a customer-centric organization comprised of 17,600people, 12 manufacturing sites, sales andservice operations in 63 countries, and rep-resentatives serving more than 100 coun-tries, to meet the product,service, educational andfinancial needs of its cus-tomers world-wide.

Philips resuscitationproducts, from our multi-function manual defibrilla-tors to our easy-to-useAEDs, are designed andmanufactured to enablecaregivers to administerthe best available treat-ment easily and effectively.

As breakthroughs indefibrillator technology,along with heightenedpublic awareness of theprevalence of sudden car-diac arrest, broaden thedemand for defibrillators bynon-traditional users suchas citizen responders, we respond with expertservice and support. For example, Philipsfacilitates the efforts of those individuals andorganizations planning and implementingPublic Access Defibrillation (PAD) andCommunity Early Defibrillation programs sothat emergency cardiac care is readily avail-

able in the places wherewe work, live and play. Ourclinical specialists andconsultants have helpedlaunch several communityprograms, placing AEDs inoffice buildings, shoppingmalls, sports and recre-ation facilities, transporta-tion terminals, and in thevehicles of public safetyproviders.

Running on a mainte-

nance-freelithium man-

ganese battery,Heartstream FR2 is designed for long

life and high-volume use. This lightweight,rugged and easy-to-use AED enables policeofficers, firefighters, EMS providers, andtrained citizen responders to quickly begintreatment upon reaching an SCA victim.On-screen text prompts and easy to followvoice prompts guide caregivers throughHeartstream FR2’s intuitive 1-2-3 opera-tion. The FR2 features Philips’ patentedSMARTTM Biphasic waveform and the SMARTAnalysisTM system, which determines if ashock is required and protects againstinappropriate shock delivery. The FR2 isalso the first AED to be cleared for use onadults and children of any age. The FR2’spediatric defibrillation pads reduce theAED’s delivered shock from 150 to 50joules, and can be safely applied toinfants and children.

ZOLL Medical manufactures automat-ed and manual external defibrillatorsfor all segments of the resuscitation

market. Founded in 1982 by the late PaulM. Zoll MD, Professor of Medicine atHarvard University and “father of moderncardiac electrophysiology,” the organiza-tion has rapidly grown to become one ofthe leading companies in the area ofdefibrillation and external cardiac pacing.Its products are used by health care pro-fessionals and other emergency careresponders throughout the world. Currentsales exceed $100 million dollars andZOLL employs more than400 individuals in research,development, production,sales, marketing and sup-port. It was recently namedone of America’s 100Fastest Growing Companiesby Forbes Magazine.

ZOLL has designed andmanufactured automatedexternal defibrillators since1995 focusing on combinedmanual and automated

devices for physi-cians, nurses,p a r a m e d i c sand EMTs. In1999 the com-pany completeddevelopment andbegan sales of aunique new low ener-gy rectilinear biphasicwaveform in its devices.This new waveform is theonly biphasic waveformwith FDA approved superiority claims over

conventional monopha-sic waveforms. It hasdemonstrated superiorperformance in highimpedance patients inventricular fibrillation,defibrillating some pa-tients at low energiesthat monophasic de-vices were unable toconvert with outputs ashigh as 360 joules.Recently the company

announced development of a new auto-mated external defibrillator, AED PlusTM,specifically designed for the infrequentuser, first responder and public accessprograms. The device provides a graphicalinterface incorporating all aspects of arescue, a simplified one piece electrode,feedback on CPR rate and compressiondepth, and operates from consumer lithi-um batteries. FDA 510K clearance isexpected in early 2002.

Wayne Reval Director of Marketing,Public SafetyZoll Medical Corporation32 Second AvenueBurlington, MA 01803 Phone: 800-348-9011 or 781-229-0020 Fax: 781-272-5578

Web site: www.zoll.com

Grace Day, Director ofCommunity ProgramsPhone: 206/664-2050grace_day@hsgmed.comPhilips Medical Systems3000 Minuteman RoadAndover, MA 01810Phone: 800/453-6860

Web site: www.medical.philips.com/cms

CORPORATE PROFILES

Philips Medical Systems

The new Zoll AED Plus (pending FDA clearance)

12-S SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | EARLY DEFIBRILLATION

Zoll Medical Corporation

Heartstream FR2 automated external

defibrillator

The photos of 24 sur-vivors of sudden car-diac arrest grace the

cover of this special supple-ment. Their life—and death—stories are as rich and varied asthe people who saved them:Chief Lee Donohue, 57, of theHonolulu Police Department,saved by his own officers afterchampioning AEDs for his department;Sean Morley, 13, saved by the quick pres-ence of the Deerfield, Illinois PoliceDepartment, after his heart stopped when abaseball struck his chest; ChristineHammond, 53, saved because of a remark-able program that uses security personnel atBally’s Casino in Las Vegas. They repre-sent the fortunate seven percent, the currentnational average for survival from suddencardiac arrest. The Chain of Survival intheir communities was strong, with earlydefibrillation quickly available. But statis-tics reveal that for every survivor picturedon the cover there are 15 people who werenot saved, 15 families who mourn. Whatwill it take to reach more victims with thelife-saving treatment of defibrillationquickly enough to make a difference?Sometimes, all it takes is one person—apassionate, persistent person—to transforma community.

Jay Frederick, of Columbus, Indiana, isone such community champion. As adetective with the Bartholomew CountySheriff Department Frederick learned ofthe lifesaving potential of AEDs. Heapproached the sheriff about gettingdevices for all patrol cars. “He said if Icould get the funding, I should just go for

it,” said Frederick, and so hedid. He approached leadersfrom the police department,sheriff department, firedepartment and the hospi-tal-based ambulance serv-ice to form a communityaction task force. “It waseasy to get their support,”said Frederick. “Once you

know what AEDs can do, it’s kind of hardto think it’s a bad idea.” They formed a non-profit organization, Bartholomew County(BC) HeartSavers, Inc., making donationstax deductible, critical for fundraising.They launched a website (www.bcheartsavers.org.) along with a PR campaignwhich gained extensive media coverage.

A widow presented the first donation,explaining she didn’t have much, but want-ed to contribute to a cause she consideredimportant. It was followed by generousdonations from local civic organizations,area residents and businesses. In two yearsthe group raised $100,000, enough to train61 deputies and equip all road patrolmen,seven volunteer fire departments and thetown marshall.

On November 1, 2000, WayneFleetwood, 56, pictured on our cover,became the first save from the program,after collapsing in his home. Sgt. T.A.Smith, an 18-year veteran of the BC SheriffDepartment, was first on the scene and usedhis new AED to deliver the lifesavingshock. As his wife and daughter looked on,Fleetwood regained consciousness. Whenparamedics arrived, he was alert and talk-ing. Just days later he went home from thehospital. continued next page

COMMUNITY CHAMPIONSBy Keith Griffiths

Ahighly publicized save on the golf courseat La Jolla Country Club in San Diego in

March 2001 sent the message home thatAEDs save lives. It came just nine monthsafter the club purchased a device andtrained several staffers. The 75-year-oldpatient fully recovered and in a bit of under-statement his wife told the local newspaperthat the purchase of the AED was “wellworth the investment.”

Paramedic Kevin Lyon of the San DiegoFire and Life Safety Service agrees. He’s avigorous champion of the AED effort hereand his informal role just became official.He was recently made Public AccessDefibrillation Coordinator for ProjectHeartbeat, the community AED consortiumthat represents the San Diego FireDepartment, Rural Metro AmbulanceService, the city, the county and the AHA.Project Heartbeat negotiated a marketingagreement with Cardiac Science Inc, adefibrillator manufacturer, allowing users topurchase a device at a highly discountedprice. In addition, the manufacturer alsoagreed to provide $100,000 in funding tohelp pay for Lyon’s position and to supportthe marketing arm of the consortium, calledthe Metropolitan Marketing PartnershipProgram. Now any group in San DiegoCounty that wants an AED, training andmedical direction can come to them forone-stop shopping. Lyon estimates thateach AED unit, including training, wouldhave cost $3,500. Purchases throughMetropolitan Marketing brings that costdown to $2,140. “Plus,” says Lyon, “Once225 units are purchased, $100 from eachadditional unit sold goes back to ProjectHeartbeat to offset training costs.”

Their goal is to raise $650,000 to estab-lish programs in city buildings and businesscenters. One city councilman allocated$100,000 from funds he controls to pur-chase 40 units for parks, libraries, seniorcenters and public pools (and challengedother council members to do the same).The San Diego County Supervisors gave$250,000 from tobacco funds to purchase100 units for public health buildings, coun-ty courts, and selected parks/recreationand library buildings. With full implementa-tion, Lyon estimates 200 lives a year couldbe saved in San Diego County alone.

So how does a community start an AEDprogram? Lyon notes three basics: Makesure your training component is sound,communicate your goals to the high volumeareas that would directly benefit from the pro-gram, get local government involved, for fund-ing and for their blessings. Of course, it helpsto have a champion like Lyon lead the way.

To get more information about SanDiego’s program, you can reach Lyon at619/533-3439 or 619/232-2237 (pagerID# 1329) or kgl@sandiego.gov

Project HeartbeatOne-Stop Shopping in San DiegoThe Power of One

Leadership through Passion, Persistence

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | EARLY DEFIBRILLATION S-13

“Community AED Champions” Forum DebutsSeptember 2002 Event to Feature Best Practices in ImplementationThe National Center for Early Defibrillation in cooperation with the Citizen CPR Foundation is spon-soring a special forum highlighting the work of early defibrillation champions in the community,to be held on September 5th at a pre-conference workshop prior to the Emergency CardiovascularCare Update in Washington,D.C.The event will feature “best practices” from community programsand provide a forum for AED advocates to share tips for success.There will be presentations fromselected model programs and NCED will present awards for “Achieving Excellence in AEDResponse.” For more information on attending, presenting or award nominations see www.early-defib.org or call 1-866-AED-INFO. Information on the ECCU conference September 5th-8th,spon-sored by the Citizen CPR Foundation, can be found at www.citizencpr.org.

Like most community champions,Frederick does not like to be singled outand is quick to credit others. Frederick,now with the Columbus Police Departmentand a volunteer firefighter, says the rewardsfor his efforts come from seeing survivorsable to enjoy the small pleasures of life, likethe time he was invited to the Fleetwoodhome for cake and ice cream—on the one-year anniversary of Wayne’s new life.

There are many such community cham-pions...Dr. Leon Anderson in Lancaster,Pennsylvania, who overcame initial skepti-cism among police in his area (“we’re notdoctors”) to launch a highly successful andpopular program there...Vincent Jones,III, emergency management coordinator inAtlantic County, New Jersey, who workedwith a variety of police, medical and politi-cal partners to train more than 1,110 policeofficers in the use of AEDs and provide atno cost two defibrillators for every patrolunit in their county...Dr. Ed Racht, EMSDirector in Austin, Texas who promotedthe use of AEDs and already has seen foursaves at the airport there, (including his col-league Gary Terry–pictured on thecover–former chair of the Texas Affiliate ofthe American Heart Association, whoworked for the placement of AEDs in pub-lic places in Texas)...Susie Martenson,RN and Dr. Pat Tinker, a cardiologistwith the BlueStem Medical Clinic,who created one of the earliest publicaccess programs in Bartlesville,Oklahoma...Wayne Currie, who’s taken

AED implementation to new levels with aninnovative neighborhood watch program inWindsor, Ontario... Scott Ben and ChiefLamonte Wilson, who led efforts for AEDplacement at Pittsburgh InternationalAirport and saw the program produce twosaves within three months of deploy-ment...Dr. David Persse, EMS director, inHouston, a persistent champion for inte-grating the community’s AED programwith the EMS system...Dr. Randall Wolffof Palm Beach County Florida, whose pas-sion resulted in AEDs throughout his com-munity and in one third of the high schoolsthere...Richard Hardman, PhD, EMT-P,EMS coordinator for the Clark County(NV) Fire Department, whose effortsresulted in AED placement in casinosthroughout Clark County, including LasVegas, and the training of thousands ofsecurity guards with dozens of saves.

This list goes on—and continues togrow. New champions are emerging everyday to find new ways to spread a simplemessage: Sudden cardiac arrest kills far toomany. There is a simple cure. Let us tell youabout AEDs.

Keith Griffiths is the founding editor of JEMS(Journal of Emergency Medical Services) and hasbeen an observer of the emergency care scenefor 25 years. He is a senior partner with KGBMedia, LLC, a public safety consulting and pub-lishing firm and serves as advisor on severalboards, including the National Academies ofEmergency Dispatch and the National Center forEarly Defibrillation. Mary Newman and RickMinerd contributed to this report.

The Power of One continued from s-13

Where’s the best spot to place anAED? The National Center for Early

Defibrillation created a comprehensiveand practical guide. Here’s a summary:

Are some locations at higher risk?The on-going multi-site clinical trialcalled the Public Access to DefibrillationStudy is designed to provide thisanswer. In the meantime, research indi-cates SCA occurs most often in thehome—thus, the increasing interest inAED placement in the homes of high-risk individuals. When SCA occurs inpublic places, it is often a singular, iso-lated event, making it difficult to predicttypes of high-risk locations and sup-porting a focus on first responder defib-rillation. Despite this, research shows ahigher incidence in airports, golf cours-es, gyms, private businesses, largeindustrial sites or shopping malls, sportsevents, nursing homes and other placeswhere high-risk people gather or live.

Should AEDs be placed at this site?If you can answer “yes” to one or moreof the questions below, an on-site pro-gram should be strongly considered:1) Is it unlikely that the existing EMSsystem would be able to reliablyachieve a “call-to-shock” interval of fiveminutes or less at this site?2) Has an SCA incident occurred at thissite in the past five years and have thedemographics of the population servedby this site remained constant?3) Do 10,000 or more persons regu-larly gather at this location?4) Does this site have a large concen-tration of persons over 50 years old?5) Is there a high probability of SCA atthis site? (See formula at www.early-defib.org.)

Where at the site is the ideal spot?AEDs should be placed in easily acces-sible, well-marked locations, near tele-phones, fire extinguishers, exits, elevatoror on the wall in a front lobby. Considerusing mobile units (e.g., golf carts) whenavailable. Ideally, AEDs should be locat-ed so that the response interval (timefrom collapse to arrival of the AED) is nomore than three minutes and the call-to-shock interval (the time it takes respon-ders to be notified, access the device,reach the victim, apply the electrodesand deliver the first shock) is no morethan five minutes.

Is AED placement enough?No. It’s critical to identify a medicaldirector, coordinate with local EMS,develop an on-site AED response plan,train designated responders and con-duct periodic AED response drills.

LL oo cc aa tt ii oo nn To Download the Complete Guide:

DeploymentGuide

http://www.early-defib.org

Kansas City Aspires to be Nation’s Model

Marcia McCoy, Community Coordinator with the Mid America Heart Institute, working withDavid M. Steinhaus, MD, launched a comprehensive AED program after a communi-

ty assessment showed 96 percent of those surveyed did not understand the treatmentoptions for sudden cardiac arrest. With initial funding provided by a grant from TheMedtronic Foundation, she worked hard to build consensus for an AED program, drawingsupport from business leaders, the mayor, the media and EMS. Her vision is no less thanto make her city’s “Heart Safe Community” program a model for the nation. Her recommen-dations to other aspiring champions:

✔ First explore the legal and political climate;address potential obstacles as you identify and cul-tivate key relationships.✔ Spend the time to educate all team members-building and energizing the internal team is key.✔ Be creative in seeking funding opportunities.✔ Build public awareness; one way to draw atten-tion is to donate an AED in a media event involvingpolitical leaders.

For more information on Kansas City’s program,you can reach Marcia McCoy at the Mid AmericaHeart Institute at 816/932-5784;email: mmccoy@saintlukes.org. Champions McCoy (right) and Dr. Steinhaus

14-S SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | EARLY DEFIBRILLATION

In 1967 in Belfast, North-ern Ireland, Dr. FrankPantridge became the

first to show that victims ofsudden cardiac death couldbe successfully resuscitatedoutside of the hospital envi-ronment. He did so by initiat-ing a unique program thatsent an ambulance staffedwith a resuscitation team to the scene ofthose suffering chest pain. An AC defib-rillator, powered by two 12-volt car bat-teries using a converted static inverter,weighed 150 pounds and was mountedin the ambulance. The first ten patientssuffering cardiac arrest while in thisexperimental vehicle were all success-fully resuscitated. As the project contin-ued and greater numbers were availablefor study, the Belfast inves-tigators took note that thetime it took from onset ofcardiac arrest to first defib-rillation attempt was thesingle most significant fac-tor in determining a suc-cessful resuscitation.

The innovative Belfastprogram was the catalystfor the development ofALS systems throughoutthe United States. Butdespite this legacy, over thepast three decades EMSsystems have struggled tooptimize sudden cardiacarrest survival rates. The national aver-age remains well below ten percent andin many large cities below two percent.The advent of automatic defibrillatorsprovided a potential solution. The newtechnology allowed defibrillation to beperformed by a wide variety of individ-uals with diverse backgrounds and train-ing. First EMT-Ps, then firefighters andnow police have all have shown theycan improve sudden cardiac arrest sur-vival rates using well-designed systems.More recently, improved survival rateson airlines and in casinos demonstratethat non-traditional responders can beeffective. All the successful programs

reconfirm Pantridge’s ori-ginal observation: time todefibrillation is the mostimportant factor inimproving save rates.

What’s next? Since themajority of cardiac arrestsoccur in the home, the ob-vious new frontier ishome defibrillation. As

defibrillators become smaller, less ex-pensive and even easier to use, the oncefuturistic idea of having defibrillators ascommon as fire extinguishers is nolonger idle fancy.

The initial programs in home defib-rillation actually began more than 15years ago. In 1985 Mickey Eisenberg,MD, PhD, renowned researcher fromthe University of Washington, wrote an

editorial “Automatic External Defib-rillation: Bringing It Home.” In this edi-torial and a subsequent one published in2000, he raised many insightful ques-tions. He concluded his 1985 editorialby asking “Will this sort of defibrillationbe in the hands of everyone, or will onlya few wield its power?” Small, easy-to-use automatic defibrillators will soonrival the cost of home computers. Andjust as it becomes increasingly rare tofind a household without a computer,eventually it may be equally difficult tofind a household that does not considera defibrillator a basic first-aid tool—noless important than a smoke detector or

fire extinguisher. We know with certainty that defibril-

lators save lives when properly appliedsoon after the onset of ventricular fibril-lation. There are still important academ-ic questions to be answered with evi-dence-based research: What is the cost-benefit ratio compared to other healthinterventions? How do we optimizetraining, education, and continuing edu-cation? What locations and methods ofdeployment bring the greatest benefitsat the lowest cost?

But with or without additionalresearch, market forces and media atten-tion are already prompting adoption ofthis new, exciting technology. In-dividuals can now buy a defibrillatoronline and they will soon become avail-able at your local discount store. Com-

mercial messages espousingtheir value are starting toappear in targeted marketsand will begin to proliferate,particularly as the emer-gence of less expensiveunits make personal defib-rillators an affordableoption. It’s conceivable thatmany individuals will owntheir own defibrillatorbefore these devices becomeroutinely available at shop-ping malls, restaurants,churches, physicians’offices, health clubs, golfcourses and other high-risk

locations. While academic issues aredebated, the next frontier is clear. Whatstarted from the ideas of Pantridge willsoon be adopted by the Smiths, theJoneses—and perhaps you.

As teacher, researcher, author and clinician, Dr.Paris has set the precedent for advancingemergency medicine through research, educa-tion, quality patient care and administrativeleadership. He is the Chairman of theDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Universityof Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

For the references to this article, NCED'sposition paper on home defibrillation and areport on a recent panel discussion on thetopic featuring top experts in the field, visitwww.early-defib.org.

THE NEXT FRONTIERBy Paul Paris, MD

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | EARLY DEFIBRILLATION S-15

Pushing the Envelope to Save More Lives From Pantridge to Smith, Jones and You

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The Life You Save ...Supported by educational grants from the following companies

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