CPR-AED Program
Overview
Learning to use an AED is easier than learning CPR
Cardiovascular disease is the single greatest cause of death in the United States. Every year more than 480,000 adult Americans die of a heart attack or its complication. About half of these deaths (250,000) result from sudden cardiac arrest, a complication of heart attack. Ventricular fibrillation (a chaotic electrical heart rhythm that does not circulate blood) is the most common cause of cardiac arrest and can only be corrected by an electrical defibrillation shock. The success of defibrillation diminishes rapidly with each passing minute, decreasing the chance of successful return of normal heart rhythm by 10% for each passing minute.
Since the early 1960s, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performed by lay rescuers has been responsible for a significant improvement in the survival of cardiac arrest victims. Establishing an Enhanced 9-1-1 system has reduced the response time for EMS. Developments in AEDs now makes it possible for this potentially life saving treatment to be administered quickly by lay rescuers.
•60% of sudden cardiac arrest deaths occur outside the hospital.
•85% of these sudden cardiac arrests have a chaotic heart beat called Ventricular Fibrillation (VF); untreated the victim will die.
•Defibrillation is the only thing that stops VF. Recently, AEDs have been placed on airlines resulting in life saving successes.
•A new law allows lay-persons access to an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
The 1998 Washington State AED law grants immunity from civil liability for a person or entity who acquires a defibrillator. The Public Health – Seattle & King County, EMS Division in partnership with the Seattle Fire Department and fire departments in King County has developed the Seattle-King County Community Responder CPR-AED Program.
The goal of the Seattle-King County Community Responder CPR-AED Program is to improve survival from sudden cardiac death in Seattle-King County by reducing the time to defibrillation by having community responders use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) before EMS arrives.
Community Responder CPR-AED Program
In 1998, the Washington State Legislature enacted a specific law (RCW 70.54.310) to facilitate implementation compliance of a citizen defibrillation program. Public Health – Seattle & King County, EMS Division in partnership with Seattle King County fire departments has established a Community Responder CPR-AED Program to assist individuals and businesses in developing an AED program at their worksite.