Public Access to Defibrillators a Life-Saving Move

As defibrillators have become increasingly affordable and incredibly easy to use, these life-saving devices are becoming more common in public buildings. When every second counts, the public should have immediate access to defibrillators in order to stabilize a heart attack victim in the moments before the emergency medical teams can arrive.

This new technology offers one of the most important inventions in public health. As people become more familiar with the new technology, we can expect to see the rate of sudden heart attack fatalities drop significantly. Locally, the public was introduced to the life-saving effectiveness of defibrillators on September 14, 2002, when a referee collapsed after suffering a heart attack on the Wellesley High School football field. Fortunately, an automatic external defibrillator (AED) was on hand, along with an athletic trainer who knew what to do; the referee's life was saved. Additionally, the defibrillators made headlines in the spring of 2000 when a spectator at the Ryder Cup collapsed. Using an AED or automatic external defibrillator, the Fallon paramedics saved his life. Following the incident, the Brookline Country Club purchased two automatic external defibrillators and trained their staff to use them. Many local country clubs have followed their lead.

Chicago's O'Hare Airport has installed the AEDs every 25 feet, next to emergency phones and fire extinguishers. When a device is taken from the wall, a call immediately goes out to an emergency medical team, enabling a quick medical follow-up.

The devices cost between $1,500 and about $4,000 and companies are currently developing smaller, cheaper versions for possible use in private homes. The AEDs are so easy to use they actually talk people through the process. Once the device is turned on, electro pads are attached to the victim's chest. A microprocessor inside the defibrillator determines whether the heart rhythm is abnormal, a condition known as ventricular fibrillation. If the heart rhythm is abnormal, the device automatically sends a series of electrical jolts through the chest wall to shock the heart. If the rhythm is normal the device won't work. Consequently, there is virtually no chance of administering a shock accidentally.

With minimal training, the newest devices are so simple to use that manufacturers claim they are designed to be used in an emergency by a sixth-grader. Training with the AEDs is now part of the curriculum for basic CPR. As far as liability, businesses and individuals alike should understand that Massachusetts, along with most other states, has a Good Samaritan law that protects individuals acting in good faith who help victims.

In the United States alone, greater than 350,000 adults die from sudden cardiac arrest each year. Sudden cardiac arrest is not preventable and can occur in cardiac patients as well as those lacking signs of cardiac illness.

In sudden cardiac arrest, the most frequently, and successfully, used emergency life-saving method is the use of the external defibrillator, which corrects cardiac ventricular fibrillation through the application of electrical shock. Since the most successful response to sudden cardiac arrest is rapid, immediate application of shock by defibrillator, every minute of delay reduces the chances of success by 10 percent.

Even with the best emergency response teams on alert, it can take emergency personnel 3 to 5 minutes to reach a patient once they've entered a commercial building. The concept of defibrillators has clearly caught on, with public buildings, stadiums and casinos adding this to their standard first aid competence. A number of aircrafts have also added defibrillators. As the devices become more commonplace, it makes sense for buildings with large numbers of people to install them. It is particularly prudent to employ the devices in areas that are more difficult to access, such as high rises or large complexes.

For further information on automatic external defibrillators and defibrillator training in your community, you may contact your local police or fire departments, the American Heart Association or your local ambulance service.

Fallon Ambulance Service was founded in 1936 by James R. Fallon, Sr., and has remained a family operated business to this day. The founder’s son, James R. (Ray) Fallon, Jr., and five of his children have all played an integral role in the company’s operation and growth. Fallon Ambulance employs more than 400 personnel, and operates 115 vehicles. The company provides 9-1-1 service to Milton, Quincy, Brookline, Weymouth, Braintree and Dedham as well as primary backup to Boston and Randolph. Fallon Ambulance Service also provides medical transportation for a number of nursing homes, hospitals, and HMOs throughout Greater Boston. Headquarters are at 111 Brook Road, Quincy, MA 02169, and Fallon Ambulance operates satellite offices in Weymouth, Allston and Quincy, MA. A new state-of-the-art headquarters is slated for opening in Quincy in the Fall, 2004. Fallon Ambulance Service is a several-time recipient of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce’s “Success Profile,” and the “local heroes” award by the South Shore Community Action Council. For additional information about Fallon Ambulance services or programs that the company offers, contact Peter Racicot, Senior Vice President of Business Development, at (617) 745-2100, ext. 117 or visit www.fallonambulance.com.