Shock Delivered: Rethinking

Summary: Cardiac arrests happen everywhere at anytime but public access defibrillation strategies make devices only available in some places at certain times. See how outdoor access to defibrillation improves AED availability for when it is needed.

Synopsis: Public Access Defibrillation programs have been utilized throughout the United States for over two decades. However, in many cases, devices are not truly accessible to the public when they are needed in an emergency. Hear evidence to support the placement of AED units in outdoor spaces utilizing systems that allow for 24-hour-a-day access to emergency equipment. We will share a case study out of Massachusetts of an athlete who was successfully defibrillated using a secure access defibrillator that was deployed in a public park.

Through interactive lecture, we will discuss the need for public hands-only CPR training and strategies for bringing public accessible AED units into open spaces so that they may be used to improve survival from cardiac arrest. Participants will be encouraged to share strategies that they have utilized in their own outdoor spaces, compare these with proven practices, and be an advocate to enact change at home.