I recently contacted my local school district about their AED program. I was pleasantly surprised to find the following. I am copying and pasting their news release. My school district is the Northeast Independent School District in San Antonio, TX. The University Interscholastic League is an association of schools that participate in sports and other competitions throughout the State of Texas. I was told that there has been at least one life saved since inception. I think the word is getting around successfully!
Bill
"NEISD ahead of UIL requirement for Automated External Defibrillators
On October 16, 2006, the Legislative Council of the University Interscholastic League (UIL) ruled that every UIL member high school must have one Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on campus beginning in the 2007-2008 school year. North East ISD completed installation of AEDs at every campus during the 2004-2005 school year.
The district has gone beyond the UIL requirement and installed one AED at every elementary school, two to three AEDs at every middle school and four AEDs at every high school. In addition, North East has seven AEDs at Blossom Athletic Center and several others throughout the district at various facilities.
"We can never be too diligent when it comes to the health and safety of students and staff," remarked Superintendent Dr. Richard Middleton. "Early on, the district recognized the importance of having these life-saving devices for the well being of our community."
At the time of installation, North East's Health Services department trained close to 500 district employees on how to properly administer the live-saving shocks of the AED. Multiple employees at each AED location were educated on the devices.
Posted October 16, 2006
NORTH EAST ISD PRESS RELEASE
Community Relations Department
8961 Tesoro, Suite 605
San Antonio, TX 78217
news@neisd.net "
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What a Texas school district has done.
- By wbabab
- Posted May 17, 2007 at 10:00 am · 2 replies
- In Promoting CPR and AEDs
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- By bookworm1933
- Posted June 20, 2007 at 3:36 pm
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The hospital I work in has AEDs on every floor and in every department. One thing we have found is the importance of testing the AED on a daily basis and changing batteries as often as recomended by the manufacturer. We replace all equipment batteries every two years.
- By pdminc
- Posted June 21, 2007 at 8:38 am
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Frequently inspection your AED is a good thing to do, but following the manufactures recommendation is very important to assure the reliability of your unit and keep the operating costs as low as possible. Most defibrillators will self test automatically and provide a status indicator that they are ok. They will generally provide a visible or audible warning when they need attention. Batteries and pads have expiration dates as to when they need to be replaced, even if the unit status is OK.
I have made it a habit to look at AEDs when I see one in a facility. I have found they are
turned backward in cabinets so you could not see the status, beeping at me, status showing service required or no status, expired pads or dead batteries. When trying to report these problems, I generally find that the person responsible is no longer with the company, or no one knows who is responsible. I have found these defective units in schools, airports, factories, fitness clubs and offices.
We can all help in assuring that once AEDs are placed in service that they remain in service. Ask who inspects and maintains the unit. Ask if there is a written policy on who is responsible for the AED. Look and see if the defibrillator is easy to inspect and functional. I found that units stored in a hard case could not be inspected without opening the case and developed a method (patent pending) of inspecting the unit without opening the case and breaking the airtight seal.
Even if the AED is working, it is useless if nobody knows where it is or even if one is available. Fire exit maps showing AEDs, incorporation in new hire employee orientation, periodic employee reminders, adequate signage and markings are all things an organization should consider as a part of their safety program.
It is not that people don’t care, rather they just did not know they had a problem. Solutions are generally cheap and ease once the problem identified. We can all help by being a vocal advocate.
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