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Concurrent Block #9

Special Interest

Location, Location, Location: What Have We Learned About Most Effective AED Placement

Ready. Set. Save! Placing a 24/7 Accessible AED that Saved a Life

Saturday, December 2, 2023
11:45 AM – 12:00 PM PST
Location: Sunset Rooms 1 - 3

    Co-Presenter(s)

  • Katrysha Gellis

    Partnerships Manager
    Action First Aid
    Toronto, ON, Canada

    Disclosure(s): Action First Aid: Employment (Ongoing)

    • Primary Presenter(s)

  • Kristy Brindley

    President
    Just1Mike Foundation
    Sonoma, California, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

Disclosure(s):
Katrysha Gellis: Action First Aid: Employment (Ongoing)
Summary: In North America AEDs have typically been placed inside and are not always accessible when buildings are locked. We’re challenging the status quo and demonstrating that 24/7 accessible AEDs are preventing deaths from sudden cardiac arrest.

Synopsis: In June of 2022, a 16-year-old boy was saved in Sonoma, California with the help of a 24/7 accessible AED that was placed by the Just1Mike Foundation.

Kristy and Bob Brindley founded the Just1Mike Foundation to honor their son Michael who passed away from a SCA at the age of 16. Their mission is to prevent any more deaths from sudden cardiac arrest. In 2021 they approached their local high school in Sonoma to ensure that there was adequate AED coverage to protect the student body. Their efforts resulted in the placement of four additional AEDs, one with full 24/7 accessibility to the community.

In June 2022, 16-year-old Michael Serbicki suddenly collapsed after 9pm while playing outdoor basketball. He had suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, but because of the immediate action taken by his friends and quick access to the nearby AED housed inside the 24/7 accessible SaveStation Tower, he is alive today.

In this presentation Kristy will share her experience placing the 24/7 accessible AED that ended up saving a young life. She’ll share the challenges she faced along the way and how she addressed them and ultimately persevered. Her story will inspire attendees and provide them with the confidence to navigate the process of placing a 24/7 accessible AED in their own communities. They’ll learn about important considerations and best practices to keep the AED “ready for rescue” and how to address common challenges and objections related to outdoor AED placements.

Learning Objectives:

  • In North America AEDs have typically been placed inside and are not always accessible when buildings are locked. We’re challenging the status quo and demonstrating that placing AEDs outside and making them accessible 24/7 is preventing unnecessary deaths from sudden cardiac arrest.
  • After listening to this presentation participants will be inspired to place a 24/7 accessible AED in their own community and will be able to navigate the process, apply best practices to help ensure the AED remains ready for rescue and address common challenges and objections associated with outdoor AED placements.
  • This presentation will discuss ways to advance Public Access AED placement and utilization.
  • This presentation will describe one or more survivor / rescuer stories that can be used to illustrate an effective chain of survival for cardiac arrest.