We lose about 7,000 young people to sudden cardiac arrest every year. School officials are helping to combat these tragic losses with automated external defibrillators, also known as AEDs. Automated External Defibrillators have saved thousands of lives and can increase the chances of bringing someone back to life whose heart has stopped beating.
AEDs and Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Sudden Cardiac Arrest could happen to a young person at any time, so why not prepare your schools, teachers and students to ensure they know what to do in an emergency? AEDs and CPR can increase a person’s chance of survival from SCA by as much as two or three times. While it’s typically recommend to teach AED training to faculty and school staff, it’s also very beneficial to teach CPR techniques to children as early as nine years old.
How Much Does an AED Cost?
The cost of keeping a full time EMT staff member is usually too cost prohibitive for small schools, save some particularly large universities that may have their own emergency response team on location. Other schools bring emergency personnel in for big events like football games. In order to reduce expenses, many schools turn to staff training and lifesaving equipment. The approximate price for an AED usually ranges anywhere between $1,200 and $2,500. Most kits include batteries, defibrillation pads, a carrying case, as well as the actually AED itself.
How Do We Raise Funds for AEDs?
If your child’s school doesn’t currently have at least one AED on site, your school can organize a fundraiser to help pay for these devices. The cost of a three or four AEDs is quite attainable for most traditional school fundraisers. You’ll likely find a great deal of support from fellow parents, but here are 50 fundraising ideas if you’re having trouble coming up with ideas.
Grants and other resources are also available. The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation provides a list of a few dozen funding sources for schools to obtain CPR and AED equipment and training.
Where Should Schools Place AEDs?
Schools can usually make due with three or four AEDs depending on the campus size and student population. Typically, it’s recommended that you place one or two AEDs in the athletic facilities, one in the cafeteria, and at least one in each of the buildings that house the majority of students.
We recommend AED and CPR training to all school staff, from the University level all the way down to nursery school. Contact us if you’d like to learn more about the CPR, AED and first aid classes we have available or check out our schedule of upcoming classes.
