As a school superintendent, one of your top priorities is the safety and well-being of your students and staff. One of the most critical investments you can make for emergency preparedness is an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). In this guide, we’ll discuss why AEDs are essential in schools and what superintendents need to know.
The Cleveland Clinic states that “sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States,” and it can happen to anyone, regardless of age. This includes students, teachers, and other staff members in schools. AEDs are designed to quickly assess the heart’s rhythm and deliver a shock, if necessary, potentially saving a person’s life.
Parent Heart Watch stresses that sudden cardiac arrest isn’t rare. In fact, it’s “the #1 killer of student athletes and the leading cause of death on school campuses. One in 300 youth has an undetected heart condition that puts them at risk.”
According to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, “in children, the survival rate of [sudden cardiac arrest] was 6.7% to 10.2%. In contrast, the survival rates of students in schools with AED programs who had shockable rhythms ranged from 64% to 72%.”
The American Heart Association recommends that AEDs be available in all public areas where large numbers of people gather, including schools. The chances of surviving cardiac arrest drop by about 7%-10% every minute that defibrillation is delayed, according to the American Heart Association Journals, and the average EMS response time in the US is about 7 minutes.
In addition to potentially saving lives, having AEDs in schools can also help reduce liability for school districts. If a sudden cardiac arrest were to occur on campus, having an AED readily available and properly used could prevent legal issues down the road.
Just over half of US states have laws regarding AEDs in schools. Some are more comprehensive than others, including mandates on placement and access, as well as training requirements.
Currently, many states have passed laws requiring AEDs in schools. Some states mandate a certain number of AEDs per school or per student population. It’s important to be aware of your state’s laws and regulations regarding AEDs in schools.
The number of AEDs a school should have depends on factors such as the size of the school, the number of buildings on campus, and the student population. According to the American Heart Association, “[e]ffective AED programs are designed to deliver a shock to a victim within three to five minutes after the person collapses. Use a three-minute response time as a guideline to help you determine how many AEDs you need and where to place them.”
AEDs should be regularly checked to ensure they are functioning correctly. Schools should have a maintenance plan in place, including regular inspections and checks. AED USA shares that maintenance specifications depend on the make and model of your AED, but the “batteries and pads for your AED need to be replaced every two to five years.”
You’ll also want to be aware of any state mandates related to AED maintenance. For example, California Health and Safety Code 1797.196 mandates that “an inspection is made of all AEDs on the premises at least every 90 days for potential issues related to operability of the device, including a blinking light or other obvious defect that may suggest tampering or that another problem has arisen with the functionality of the AED.”
Investing in AEDs can be costly, but funding options are available. Many schools have received funding through grants and donations. Additionally, some school board policies include provisions for AEDs, so it’s worth checking to see if your district already has a plan in place.
The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation also provides state-specific AED funding resources for school districts.
CPR and AED training is an essential component of emergency preparedness. Not only is it mandated in some states, but it’s important to ensure that staff members are properly trained on where AEDs are located in your schools and use the specific AED model provided by the school.
According to a recent interview with Lex18, one Kentucky family knows how important training and following an emergency action plan is. In 2020, their 16-year-old son suffered sudden cardiac arrest during soccer practice and subsequently passed away.
His father, Matt Mangine, tells Lex18, “There were 5 AEDs at the school that night. The closest one was 250 feet away, but no one got the AED, and his initial shock didn’t come until approximately 12 minutes after the ambulance arrived, and that was the first shock that was administered.”
In conclusion, AEDs are a critical investment in school safety and emergency preparedness. By understanding state laws and regulations, knowing how many AEDs to have on campus, implementing regular maintenance checks, exploring funding options, and properly training staff members, you can ensure your school is equipped to respond to any emergency.
With over 20 courses on AEDs and First Aid training, we can help ensure your staff is properly trained and educated on how and when to use an AED. We can also customize your courses with your school’s AED locations, so your staff knows where to go in case of an emergency.
