Automated External Defibrillators
Are your AEDs compliant witht the 2010 guidelines?
Contact your manufacturer for confirmation.
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are an essential tool in the treatment of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Over the years, the devices have become safer, more reliable and more maintenance free. The new technologies used in these devices make them suitable for use by anyone who has had basic training in their use.
AEDs are most effective when implemented as part of an overall strategy which considers each link in the "Chain of Survival:"
- Early access to the emergency medical system (EMS and 9-1-1 system)
- Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- Early defibrillation when indicated
- Early advanced emergency treatment
In 1998 legislation was passed to redefine the use of an automated external defibrillator as a basic life support skill and provided, through the Good Samaritan Law, some immunity from civil liability to properly trained personnel who use AEDs in a resuscitation attempt and who activate the EMS system. The text of the statute is provided below.
Files
of interest (click to download):
Approved
Training Programs
In
Alaska's Good Samaritan Law (AS 09.65.090) "properly trained"
to use an AED means "that the individual has completed an automated
external defibrillator training course from the American Heart Association,
the American Red Cross, or another automated external defibrillator
training course approved by the Department of Health and Social
Services."
The
following programs have been approved by the Department of Health
and Social Services in accordance with 7 AAC 26.585:
- BLS
for Health Care Providers-American Heart Association
- CPR
for the Professional Rescuer-American Red Cross
- The
CPR component of Medic First Aid-Advanced
- Basic
Life Support for Professionals (BLSPRO)-EMP America
- CPR
for the Professional Rescuer-American Safety & Health Institute
- Respond
Systems AED/CPR
To
request approval of an AED Training program the applicant must submit
a written report that provides evidence of meeting the requirements
set forth in 7 AAC 26.585. Requests are sent to:
Department
of Health and Social Services
Division
of Public Health
Section
of Emergency Programs, EMS Unit
P.
O. Box 110616
Juneau,
AK 99811-0616