Automated External Defibrillators (AED) can save lives
January 4, 2024
This is reprinted from a post in February, 2023 with minor edits and an update at the bottom.
The country was transfixed a year ago when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest after a tackle in a Monday night football game with the Cincinnati Bengals. He likely had Commotio Cordis, suffering an external blow to the chest at the exact instant of the heart rhythm which could lead to a fatal abnormal heart rhythm. On-field medical personnel immediately began CPR, and he was given a shock using an AED (automated external defibrillator) which restored his normal cardiac rhythm. He was released from the hospital nine days later and his prognosis is good.
Fatal heart rhythms, often called sudden cardiac death, are much more commonly caused by a heart attack, and a rapid response makes survival much more likely. There are 350,000 cardiac arrests annually in the US, and about 40% of these get CPR, and only about 10% are treated with an AED. Many more lives could be saved if more people were treated with AEDs, which require no medical training. The responder applies two adhesive leads to the chest, and the machine detects existing rhythm and gives clear instructions about what to do. If the person has a heart rhythm and wouldn’t benefit from a shock, the machine will not administer a shock. Current resuscitation guidelines when someone has lost consciousness and has no pulse is to call 911, deliver CPR, and use an AED if available. Guidelines no longer prioritize mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Some states, including California, require AEDs in many public buildings. All states have “Good Samaritan” laws to protect responders from lawsuits based on their efforts to help resuscitate people in distress.
Implications for employers:
- Employers can help save lives by putting AEDs in common areas of their buildings.
- The cost of AEDs is not prohibitive, and AEDs generally require battery replacement only every 3-4 years.
- AEDs should be clearly marked in areas with high foot traffic, and generally should be on each floor of a building.
- AEDs will only help if employees know where they are and how to use them. Employers offering AEDS should communicate their location and their ease of use.
Updates:
The collapse of Bronny James, a college basketball player this summer reinforces the importance of rapid resuscitation.
Here’s a fascinating article about having AEDs at home. There are 1000 sudden cardiac deaths daily -but the machines are quite expensive and the likelihood of using them is very low.
The state of Minnesota has launched a program to distribute AEDs for public buildings
ECRI, which does medical technology evaluation, has offered this primer on cost and maintenance of AEDs.
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