Need a suggestion for getting involved in our Campus AED Program? In one afternoon you could learn CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED), two skills that can help save the lives of victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). That?s why the American Heart Association urges Americans to learn CPR and support community AED programs. The more prepared we are to treat sudden cardiac arrest, the more lives we can save. Take action for the people you love.
Every year about 220,00 people suffer from SCA and only about 5 percent of them survive. It can strike anyone. Even a seemingly healthy person can suffer a cardiac arrest without warning and death can occur instantly after the onset of symptoms. Most SCA’s occur outside of the hospital and the current survival rate outside of hospitals is approximately 1-5%.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the only definitive treatment for SCA is a defibrillation shock that restores a normal heart rhythm. The chance of an SCA victim’s survival decreases by 10 percent for every minute that passes. In order to be effective, defibrillation treatment must be administered within the first few minutes of SCA.
Automatic External Defibrillators (AED’s) provide the necessary defibrillation and improve the survival rate of an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victim. An AED’s presence reduces the critical time for treatment. The sooner defibrillation is started, the more likely the victim will survive. AED’s now on the market are safe and easy to use, making it possible for non-medical personnel to be trained to provide rapid defibrillation. More and more companies are taking this step since legislation providing limited liability for non-medical AED users was passed in the state recently. The American Heart Association recommends that any facility in which large groups of people congregate consider establishing a defibrillation program. It is estimated that establishing these defibrillation programs could help save as many as 40,000 lives per year.
In conjunction with the University Health Center, Environmental Health & Safety has implemented a campus wide AED Program which has placed AED’s at the following campus locations: Administration, Burdick Hall, Dowell Health Center, Towson Center, Unitas Stadium and the University Union. We have also placed a mobile unit with the University Police for response to other campus locations.
A major component of the program is providing CPR and AED training to campus employees. AED’s do not replace CPR and are used to supplement basic CPR skills. Therefore, everyone who has the potential to utilize the AED must be properly trained in basic CPR and AED skills.
Environmental Health & Safety offers American Heart Association approved CPR and AED training to campus employees at no cost. For additional information, go to our AED Webpage at {http://wwwnew.towson.edu/ehs/cpr.html} or contact Environmental Health & Safety at x4-2949 or at {safety@towson.edu.}
