Automated external defibrillators in West Virginia schools.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Sudden death, particularly when occurring in children and adolescents, is a traumatic event not only for the victim's family, but for the entire community. It has been shown that school-based automated external defibrillator (AED) programs provide a high survival rate for both students and nonstudents who suffer sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) on school grounds. The use of AEDs is becoming increasingly more common in schools in the United States. In West Virginia middle and high schools, we analyzed the prevalence and use of AEDs, barriers to obtaining a device, and cases of sudden death on school grounds. METHODS: A mailed survey distributed to West Virginia high schools and middle schools collected general demographic data, AED data, and occurrences of sudden death on school grounds. Schools reporting a death were contacted to obtain details regarding the event. For schools with a device, the number of AEDs, length of possession, reasons for and means of obtaining the AED, personnel trained to operate the AED and the number of device uses were determined. For schools without an AED, barriers to and interest in obtaining a device were determined. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-five of 312 surveys (72%) were returned. One hundred and fifty-two schools (68%) currently have at least one AED and 73 schools (32%) do not have an AED. Public high schools had the highest prevalence of AEDs (76%) compared to public middle schools (62%) and private schools (67%). Sixty-nine percent of schools obtained their devices by donations or grants and 32% obtained them using school funds. Barriers to obtaining a device included cost (82%), lack of trained personnel (45%), unfamiliarity with AED (22%), and liability issues (19%). There were a total of 23 deaths on school premises reported by 20 schools. There was one reported occurrence of an AED being used to save a life. CONCLUSION: Over two thirds of West Virginia middle schools and high schools currently have at least one AED on their premises. An AED is an effective way of preventing death following sudden cardiac arrest, and has saved at least one life in a West Virginia school. While most schools without AEDs cite cost as the main deterrent, the majority of schools with a device received them via donation or grant. We submit that a number of sudden deaths on West Virginia school grounds could possibly have been averted by use of an AED.