Heart disease is a significant health problem that, according to the American Heart Association, affects nearly 8 percent of all Americans and results in nearly 350,000 deaths each year. While several electrical abnormalities can result in sudden cardiac arrest, the majority begin with ventricular fibrillation. Rapid treatment of ventricular fibrillation, through the application of a controlled electrical shock, is essential to the victim’s survival.

Purpose

The University AED Program was established to meet appropriate portions of ACOEM’s Guidelines for the Use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in Workplace Setting and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Guidelines for Public Access Defibrillation Programs in Federal Facilities, and satisfies New Jersey state laws pertaining to AED acquisition and use.

Criteria for Placement of AEDs and Supplies

The ACOEM recommends placement, when practical, of AEDs in sufficient workplace locations to allow initiation of resuscitation and use of the AED (the so-called “drop to shock” interval) within 5 minutes of recognized cardiac arrest. AED units have been placed in Public Safety vehicles, certain athletic facilities, and other approved locations.

AED Locations and Contacts

Written requests for AED units must be submitted for approval to the University AED Program Administrator, who will consider such requests in consultation with the AED Program Medical Advisor, Assistant Vice Presidents of Environmental Health and Safety, Public Safety, and Risk Management, and their designees.  Placement of AEDs and supplies will be considered by utilizing, in part, the following criteria:
 

• Departments or other functional areas that are staffed with trained and certified first responders, such as security officers in the Art Museum (when open on campus) or Firestone Library, or athletic trainers, or
• Locations considered to present a higher than normal risk for occupants to suffer sudden cardiac arrest, such as athletic facilities, or
• Departments or other functional areas where students, faculty, or staff are anticipated to work on or near exposed electrical circuits as part of their study, research, or job responsibilities, or
• Wherever mandated by regulatory requirements.

To learn more contact Derek Ziegler, University AED Program Administrator.