Frequently Asked Questions

We know that you may have some questions about AEDs, we hope that you find this list of frequently asked questions and answers helpful. 

What is an AED and when is it needed? 

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is used to deliver an electrical shock to the heart (defibrillation) of a victim of the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart’s electrical impulses suddenly become chaotic, causing the heart to abruptly stop pumping blood effectively – known as ventricular fibrillation. The victim becomes unresponsive, has no detectable pulse and stops breathing. The only definitive treatment to restore an effective heart rhythm of the most common cause of SCA is defibrillation.

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Does sudden cardiac arrest really happen in schools?

Yes--sudden cardiac arrest can strike virtually anyone-man or woman, adult or child- anywhere, anytime and often without warning.  7000 children per year die of cardiac arrest,¹ often from congenital defects they are not even aware of.  Also, schools often serve as community gathering places for adults, come of which may be at risk for cardiac arrest.  And schools also sserve as the workplace for teachers, administrators, and staff.  Thirteen percent of workplace fatalities are from sudden cardiac arrest.²

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If sudden cardiac arrest does occur in schools, isn’t it the responsibility of emergency medical services ?

Helping to save lives is a shared responsibility. A school’s emergency response program should complement, not replace, the existing 9-1-1 structure. Working in partnership with EMS, teachers, school nurses, other staff members, even students, can help keep a victim alive for EMS personnel to treat when they arrive. Training staff members in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and in the use of AEDs can minimize time-to-defibrillation. For the best chance of survival, a shock to the heart should be delivered within the first 5 minutes. The likelihood of successful resuscitation decreases by approximately 10 percent with every minute that passes. After 10 minutes without defibrillation, few attempts at resuscitation are successful. Sadly, the average response time for emergency medical services in a typical community is nine minutes. AEDs can be strategically placed within a school, similar to the convenience of fire extinguishers, so that responders have immediate access to this potentially lifesaving equipment.

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Why should a schools purchase defibrillators?

Any death in the public space and workplace is tragic.  The death of a child is devastating.  Each year, deaths are reported in schools due to cardiac arrest, frequently during athletic endeavors; deaths that might be prevented through implementation of an early defibrillation program.  Studies demonstrate dramatic increases in survival as a result of the broad deployment of defibrillators. The American Heart Association estimates that 40,000 more lives could be saved annually in the U.S. alone if defibrillators were more widely available and could reach victims more quickly.&178; Additionally, several states require AEDs in schools, and in December 2001, the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an advisory statement to urge employers to deploy defibrillators in the workplace. Considering that people spend the majority of their time at work, school or within their communities, the broad availability of defibrillators within these locations offers tremendous potential to save lives. Early defibrillation programs established in shopping malls, airports, businesses, health clubs, casinos, and across entire towns and cities have already been successful in saving lives from sudden cardiac arrest. According to a 2003 survey of workplaces by the American College of Environmental and Occupational Medicine (ACOEM), 34% of those who have implemented an AED program have used their AED at least once in order to help save a life.

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How safe are AEDs?
AEDs are designed to deliver a shock only to someone who is suffering from the most common cause of cardiac arrest. When used properly and with appropriate precautions, AEDs are very simple to operate and pose no risk to either the rescuer or the victim.

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Who in our school would use the AED?

Philips HeartStart Defibrillators require minimal training. Often school nurses and sports coaches are designated as responders.  But in fact teachers, staff, and even teenage students are potential responders. If you are old enough and capable of learning and performing CPR, chances are you can also be trained to use a Philips HeartStart defibrillator.  Philips provides comprehensive training solutions through a network of qualified training organizations to assist with preparing employees to use AEDs.

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Is maintenance time-consuming? 
Philips HeartStart automated external defibrillators (AEDs) have long-life batteries and perform comprehensive daily, weekly and monthly self-tests to help ensure readiness. Visual and audible status indicators allow responders to immediately see whether the device has passed its last self test and is ready for use. 

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Are AEDs expensive?

Training and equipping targeted responders with AEDs represents an efficient use of existing resources and is an effective means of enhancing in-house emergency medical services. Through technological advances in defibrillation design, circuitry and battery technology, purchasing an AED for your corporation is more affordable.  Many schools, districts, and parent-teacher associations perform a variety of fundraising activities or solicit donations from local benevolent organizations to pay for AEDs.  In some states, the government funds AED purchase.  So lack of budgeted funds may not be a barrier to implementing an early defibrillation program in your school.

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Is there an increased risk of liability for using an AED?
All schools must evaluate the relative risks and benefits when considering the implementation of any program that affects employee welfare. According to the American Heart Association, to date, no known judgments have been rendered against the operator of an AED for negligent or improper use of AEDs. According to an article on AEDs and legal liability published in Air & Space Lawyer (a publication of the American Bar Association), “liability claims associated with the negligent operation of AEDs are mitigated by the difficulty in establishing that the operator proximately caused harm to the victim…The AED operator is attempting to resuscitate an individual who, absent the AED, will likely remain dead.”

By contrast, recent news indicates that schools may face liability for failing to have an AED available to treat a victim of sudden cardiac arrest. For example, in June 1996, a Florida jury found Busch Gardens negligent for not properly training its employees to provide emergency care and for failing to have essential medical equipment, including a defibrillator, on the premises. The plaintiff was awarded $500,000 in damages for the death of her teenage daughter at the amusement park.

The Cardiac Arrest Survival Act passed by Congress in 2000 provides a model that states could adopt to encourage widespread use of AEDs and other lifesaving devices and provide immunity for those who give emergency care. And Good Samaritan laws enacted by nearly every state enable a range of non-traditional emergency responders to use AEDs. In further support of these legislative efforts, Philips offers customers an indemnification program to protect Philips AED users.

In summary, the benefits of AEDs, the relative manageable cost of implementation and the lack of other effective treatment alternatives can present a compelling argument that schools and other organizations might have a duty of care toward their employees, students, etc. who may suffer sudden cardiac arrest. Failure to purchase and use AEDs could conceivably subject these schools to an increasing liability risk in this rapidly evolving legal arena.

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Are Philips HeartStart AEDs Optimized for AHA Guidelines?

At Philips, we are proud of the extent to which our AEDs are optimized for the AHA recommendations. We believe we are uniquely faithful to the intent of Guidelines 2005. 

To start, Philips AEDs have a single shock protocol, followed by 2-minute CPR intervals.  But Philips recognized early the importance of minimizing interruption to chest compressions, and delivering a shock as quickly as possible after CPR.  As a result, Philips HeartStart AEDs feature Quick Shock, the ability to deliver a shock in under 8 seconds (typical) after the end of CPR.  Other defibrillators take 2 or 3 times that amount of time to deliver a shock after compressions.  Guidelines 2005 recognize the importance of minimizing the time to shock after CPR to improve shock success. 

Philips also gives responders on-demand CPR coaching to encourage the performing of CPR, and help responders recall their training, helping to improve CPR quality.

In addition, the Philips HeartStart FR2+ is the only device with SMART CPR, the ability to assess a shockable rhythm and automatically determine if the patient is best served with an immediate shock (in the case of a rhythm typical of the first few minutes of cardiac arrest), or CPR first, followed by a shock (which may better serve patients who have been in cardiac arrest longer then 4-5 minutes). 

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Is financing available?
Philips realizes that schools may need support when making the initial financial commitment to purchase AEDs. We are pleased to provide a broad range of financing options to purchase AEDs. For more information contact us at 800-453-6860.

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How can I buy a Philips HeartStart Defibrillator?
Click here to purchase online or contact us at 800-453-6860.  You may need a prescription from a doctor to purchase a HeartStart FR2+, a HeartStart FRx and other accessories to complete your order.

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How do I learn more?
Call us at 800-453-6860.   Philips can schedule a visit, discuss implementing an AED program, and demonstrate the latest in AED technology.

Outside the US

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References:

1. Albert CM, et al. "Triggering of Sudden Death from Cardiac Causes by Vigorous Exertion."  N Eng J Med 1999;343:1355-1361

2. American Heart Association. 2004 Heart and Stroke Statistical Update. Dallas, Texas:  American Heart Association, 2004.