Why AED training? AED stands for Automated External Defibrillator. CPR keeps oxygenated blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs and tissues. Early defibrillation with an AED administers a shock that can allow the heart to restore an effective rhythm. Having an AED available and the training to use it could mean the difference between life and death for a sudden cardiac arrest patient. In 1991 The American Heart Association published a paper called “Improving Survival from Sudden Cardiac Arrest: The Chain of Survival Concept”. The links within this “Chain of Survial” include:

• Early Access to the emergency response system;
• Early CPR to support circulation to the heart and brain until normal heart activity is restored;
• Early Defibrillation to treat cardiac arrest caused by Ventricular Fibrillation; and
• Early Advance Care by EMS and hospital personal.

AED units are becoming more and more common as we travel. You’ll often see them in airports, hotels, malls and other places where large numbers of people congregate.

When our Alaska motorcoach tours are traveling the remote highways of Alaska and Yukon Territory, they are often hours away from professional medical care. That’s why we feel it’s imperative that our tour managers are trained in First Aid, CRP, and Automated External Defibrillation (AED).

John Hall, the owner of the company, decided that he wanted AED units installed on each of his four motorcoaches as well as in his offices in Minnesota by the summer of 2007. He tasked me with doing the research and making the buying decision for 5 AED units. I found that the AED Superstore was an excellent resource for learning about the different kinds of units available, and after much research we decided on the ZOLL Plus. We feel ZOLL best met our needs for a variety of reasons. The one piece pad unit makes it impossible to make a mistake when applying the electrical leads to the patient’s chest. It also has a longer shelf life than some other models. The ZOLL display unit is visual as well as voice prompted, so even in a stressful situation, the operator has clear step by step instructions. Another important feature is that the shelf life the the batteries is longer than most others, and the batteries are available over the counter instead of being proprietary to the manufacturer.

So What’s the Take Away?

AED units are expensive to buy – especially when your underlying hope is that you NEVER have to use them. But if someone suffers a cardiac arrest and you have an AED available as well as the training to use it, they can save lives. And in my mind, that makes them worth every penny invested.

Knowing CPR/AED and first aid can and does save lives. We recommend everyone enroll in a CPR/AED training class on an annual basis. Classes are offered by the American Red Cross, The American Heart Association, and many local Fire Departments.