What is an AED?
An AED is a medical device designed
to "shock" the heart of a victim in cardiac arrest (no pulse or
breathing) back into a survivable electrical/mechanical rhythm. This is a time
sensitive treatment. For every minute a victim is in cardiac arrest, they
lose 10% chance of survival, and shocking the heart with an AED is the best
treatment for this life-threatening condition.
What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
Each year, 350,000 people die in the United States alone of sudden cardiac
arrest. The problem is an electrical disturbance in the heart that causes it to
"quiver" instead of beating normally. It's called ventricular
fibrillation (V-Fib). These are people who "just dropped dead."
The treatment - RAPID Defibrillation ("shock") LESS than five minutes from "DROP" (victim in
cardiac arrest) to "SHOCK" (AED on and able to defibrillate). Sudden
Cardiac Arrest is an indiscriminate killer. It kills no matter the age, race or
sex of its victim- including children!
What is a Public Access AED Program?
A Public Access AED Program (PAD) allows
the AED and other lifesaving equipment to be accessible to ANYONE who is
trained in its use, or any Good Samaritan who chooses to use the equipment to
save a life. This cuts down the time from "DROP" to "SHOCK"
and gives the victim a greater chance of survival. Public Access programs are
STRONGLY recommended anywhere the general public gathers, and in the workplace.
These programs are recommended by the American Heart Association, American
Safety and Health Institute, National Center for Early Defibrillation,
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and many other national
organizations.
EMS Training LTD Goal
The goal of EMS Training LTD as a member of the AED Instructor Foundation Tour
is to improve the survivability of sudden cardiac arrest victims by placing
defibrillators in: