09:43:00 Automatic Defibrillators (AEDs)

Purpose

The purpose for this General Order and policy is to establish policy for the implementation, operation and training for use of Automated External Defibrillators (AED) on WSCC campuses as a potential lifesaving tool.

Policy

Discussion 

Walters State Community College, realizing a civic and emergency preparedness need, embarked in 2003 on the implementation of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program to provide AEDs as a potential lifesaving measure to a victim in cardiac arrest. This policy defines the purpose, responsibility, and methods by which Walters State Community College emergency responders will comply with the AED programs as defined by the State of Tennessee, Department of Health, and Division of Emergency Medical Services. WSCC staff will provide emergency care through the use of an AED as outlined in Tennessee AED Laws 68-140-404. These procedures apply to all WSCC responders who may utilize an AED. 

Definitions

AED – Acronym used to describe the Automated External Defibrillator. The AEDs in use at WSCC are Power Heart G5.

AHA – American Heart Association

CPR – Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a procedure designed to restore normal breathing after cardiac arrest that includes the clearance of air passages to the lungs, the mouth-to-mouth method of artificial respiration, and heart massage by the exertion of pressure on the chest.

RESPONDER – Any member of the College Emergency Management Team (CERMT), College Emergency Response Team (CERT), Campus Police and Safety officers, and designated Public Safety staff who are AED AHA certified.

AED Program coordination team and Responsibilities

Medical Director: Dr. Mark Harrell, Morristown, TN, Health Care System.

AED Program Coordinator: Dean of Public Safety and/or the Professor or Assistant Professor of Emergency Medical Services or the EMT program director.

AED Program Assistant Coordinator: Campus Police Officer responsible for Emergency Preparedness and Planning with oversight from the Chief of Campus Police.

AED Training Officer: Advanced EMT Program Director.

The College Emergency Response Management Team and/or sub-committee will serve as the governing review board for the AED program. The president of the college will have final approval of all appointments of the following positions:

Medical Director Responsibilities

The Medical Director is contracted through the Walters State Public Safety Department as having medical oversight of the division’s EMT classes.  Also included in this contract; the Medical Director agrees to assume the following responsibilities for the college:

1. Assumes responsibility for all medical control aspects of the program and issues a memorandum of program approval and prescription for AEDs and Oxygen tanks.
2. Reviews the defibrillation training program developed by the American Heart Association (AHA).
3. Approves the training process that instructs responders in how to perform CPR and use an AED.
4. Approves policies, procedures, and protocols for AEDs used by the lay responders at Walters State Community College.
5. Serves as an advocate and spokesperson for the program.
6. Works with the AED Program Coordinator to provide a quality improvement program that provides for:​

1. Early identification of system flaws.
2. Ongoing education.
3. Regular evaluation of the lay responders’ knowledge and skills to ensure that they stay prepared.

AED Program Coordinator Responsibilities

The AED Program Coordinator generally will be a member of the Public Safety staff with a medical or para-medical background. The AED program coordinator will be responsible for the following:

1. Provides guidance and assistance in the coordination and implementation of the AED program.
2. Maintains communication with the Medical Director, who provides oversight for the institution’s program, and other agencies including but not limited to local EMS, 911, and State Department of Health.

AED Assistant Program Coordinator Responsibilities

The AED Assistant Program Coordinator generally will be appointed by the President or a Vice President of the college. The designation lies with the Director or Assistant Director of Campus Police and Emergency Preparedness or an appropriate designee within this department with responsibility for emergency preparedness to include the following responsibilities: 

1. Keeps on file an up-to-date roster of all lay responders employed by Walters State who are AED trained.
2. Updates roster every three months to ensure that everyone operating an AED has a non-expired AHA card. 
3. Notifies all college personnel anytime an AED is temporarily out of service.
4. Ensures inspection/review of all maintenance logs each month.
5. Ensures maintenance of the AED emergency care kit according to manufacturer’s standards and prevailing medical practices.
6. Ensures corrective action is taken when a problem is found with any AED during the maintenance inspection of the AEDs — notifying appropriate department personnel for repair of replacement of the affected unit.
7. Ensures that semi-annual inspection of all AEDs is completed, documented, reviewed and signed.     
8. Ensures that assigned campus police and safety officers are trained on how to download the store data from the internal memory of the AED.
9. Ensures that assigned campus police and safety officers are trained to clear the stored memory from the AED after it has been used.
10. Orders new electrodes after each use of the AED and replacement of all one month prior to expiration date.
11. Orders new battery once a low-battery signal or warning has been given or one month prior to expiration date.
12. ​On a bi-monthly basis, ensures that the AED internal clock is checked or certified. 

One AED unit will be placed in each campus building in a prominent central location.

AED Training Officer Responsibilities

The AED Training Officer will be a member of the Public Safety staff certified to teach AED response.  The training officer’s responsibilities will include but not be limited to the following:

1. Establishes and maintains AED and CPR training programs for designated WSCC employees.
2. Holds a refresher AED course each spring and fall.
3. Completes a recertification course every two years comparable to AHA guidelines and requirements.
4. Prior to implementing the program, sends a list of everyone certified by the AHA to use an AED to the AED Program Coordinator.
5. Every six months, sends an up-to-date list of all responders who are AED/AHA certified to the AED Program Coordinator.
6. Maintains communication with the AED Program Coordinator and AED Medical Director.
7. Supplies training roster and certification cards to the Assistant AED Program Coordinator for documentation and distribution to responders who have successfully completed training.
8. Keeps on file an up-to-date roster of all lay responders employed by Walters State who are AED trained, and provide a copy of the roster to the AED Medical Director as needed.
9. Updates roster every three months to ensure that everyone operating an AED has a current AHA card and provide a copy of an updated roster to the AED Medical Director upon request or as needed.

Equipment

The following equipment is made available in the main lobby of all buildings owned/operated by Walters State Community College to be used for emergency response:

1. One Power Heart G5 Automated External Defibrillator per building
   1. 1-Operating battery
   2. 1-Adult pad/electrodes
   3. 1-Child pad/electrodes
   4. 1-Quick start tool kit programming CD
   5. 1-Computer cable
   6. Documentation forms

2. Ready Kit
   1. 1-Pocket mask
   2. 2-Pairs latex gloves
   3. 1-Pair scissors
   4. 1-Disposable razor
   5. 1-Antiseptic towelette
   6. 2-4”x4” gauze pads

Training Requirements

Any employee who is designated as College Emergency Response Team (CERT) member and who is expected to provide emergency assistance in an emergency situation will be trained in CPR and AED use according to T.C.A. 68-140-408. This training will conform to the American Heart Association (AHA) Heartsaver CPR/AED standards (for lay rescuers) for: Adult, Child, Infant CPR, and AED for Adult and Pediatric victims.

AED training will include professional CPR following the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines.  Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Healthcare Providers will be the minimal training acceptable for faculty and staff using AEDs at Walters State. First responder or greater level of training is preferred. American Health Association Fundamentals of BLS for Healthcare Providers (ISBN 0-87493-319-0) or the latest version will be used for training and retraining (or equivalent training with Medical Director approval).

The Campus Police Director/Assistant Director, Captain and/or designated Emergency Preparedness Officer will coordinate AED and CPR training/recertification training with the Public Safety Emergency Medical division and will send out communications relative to training availability.  Building Coordinators will be responsible for ensuring that their building CERT team members, as outlined in the college’s Emergency Preparedness Plan, participate in AED and CPR training. The AED training officer will maintain a training-attendance roster and will supply certification cards to trainees.

Protocol for Emergency Medical Response and activation

The emergency responder will dial and notify 911 if an emergency exists. The caller should supply the 911 operator with the following information:

1. Type of emergency.
2. Address of facility.
3. Location of emergency.
4. Phone number from which they are calling from.
5. Further information as requested.

Contact, or ask a bystander (if available), to contact Campus Police and inform them of the situation and that 911 has been contacted so that assistance can be given in directing emergency personnel to the appropriate location.

AED Protocol and Procedure

Assess scene safety

Is the scene free of hazards? Responders should use good judgment and assess if there are other hazards or dangers at the scene that would impede them from accessing the patient or that might impede further care. Responders should use caution if such hazards and dangers are encountered such as:

1. Electrical dangers (downed power lines, electrical cords, etc.).
2. Chemical (hazardous gases, liquids or solids, smoke).
3. Harmful people (anyone that could potentially harm you).
4. Traffic (make sure you are not in the path of traffic).
5. Fire, flammable gases such as medical oxygen, propane, etc.

Determining status of patient and application of AED

Is patient:

1. Conscious
2. Unconscious

Apply the Powerheart if:

1. Unconscious
2. Not breathing
3. 1-8 years old – pediatric pads
4. 8 years old and older – adult pads

Remove clothing from patient’s chest:

1. Ensure the skin site is clean and dry.
2. Dry the patient’s chest with gauze or other dry material that may be available and shave excessive hair if necessary.

Apply the Powerheart with caution if:

1. Patient has a medication patch already on chest (remove medication patch carefully, then apply Powerheart).
2. Implantable pacemaker (pacemaker may interfere with rhythm analysis).
3. Victim is in water (remove to dry area if safe to do so and dry the chest).

OPERATION OF THE AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR

Operation of the AED will be according to the prompts given upon activation.

HANDS ONLY CARDIO PULMONARY RESUSCITATION PROCEDURE

REPORTING

Responder must complete the personal Illness/Injury report form if assistance is given using the AED. Copies of the report form are available inside the AED carrier. A completed copy of the report form must be distributed in the following manner:

1. Original - Campus Police
2. Copy – Human Resources (employee involved)
3. Copy – Student Services (student involved)
4. Copy – Business & Finance (visitor involved)
5. Copy – President’s Office (Information purposes)

POST RESCUE

As quickly as possible after transferring a patient to advanced life support personnel, campus police and safety staff will prepare the AED for the next rescue:

1. The training director, campus safety officer, or campus police shift supervisor will download data using RescueLink software will be used to retrieve data from the AED.
2. RescueLink software CD will be contained in the AED carrier and may be installed on an available PC.
3. Once software is installed, open the lid of the AED.
4. Connect serial cable to the PC and to the AED’s serial port under the blue rubber data access cover. The voice prompt will say, “Communications Mode.”
5. Run the RescueLink software program.
6. On the RescueLink software program select: Communications, Get Rescue Data.
7. Once information is retrieved, erase the internal memory of the AED by selecting “Clear Data.”
8. Connect a new pair of pads to the AED.
9. Close the lid.
10. Verify that the Status Indicator on the Powerheart AED handle is green.
11. Notify the Program and Assistant Program Coordinator, Training Director and Medical Director.

LIABILITY

Tennessee’s Good Samaritan Law provides immunity to lay individuals who provide AED assistance to individuals during a medical emergency. In addition, the limitation on liability of entity responsible for program law provides immunity to entities that have AED programs. This immunity is not available to anyone who deliberately or willfully misuses the device or who is grossly negligent.

04/21