AEDS FOR SPORTS/OUTDOORS

Some states require an AED for sports organizations, sports complexes, and schools. Many more states are even requiring AEDs in public gathering places such as fitness centers, gyms, and public parks. However, even if your state does not require it, keeping an AED nearby during any type of athletic event is absolutely critical. Cardiac arrest can be triggered by physical activity or direct impacts to the chest, which can occur even in non-contact sports. Sudden cardiac arrest doesn’t only affect the elderly; SCA is actually the #1 killer of student athletes.

For athletic organizations, sports teams, athletic trainers, and parks, we recommend the Zoll AED Plus, Cardiac Science G5, and the Philips FRx AED. These AEDs are durable and can survive outdoor placements in a wall cabinet or even the wear and tear of a coach’s bag. The price of a new unit is an investment, but the industry-leading warranty, long lifetime of pads and battery life means the low cost-of-ownership pays off quickly.

AED cost can be a barrier for many parks, schools, trainers, and athletic facilities. But studies show keeping an AED can improve survival rates by over 7x, saving thousands of lives every year in the US. Strategies for funding the purchase of AEDs for your team, park, or athletic facility include

• Pursuing grants from local children’s safety organizations or Heart Health organizations. There are many foundations around the U.S. whose primary focus is helping schools, parks, and youth athletic programs afford AEDs and teach CPR.
• Look for help from local Rotary Clubs, many of which make tangible local investments in schools
• Partner with local retail stores and set up a donation program at checkout
• Many local health systems/hospitals help fund school AED programs
• Hold a local fundraising event, and teach the importance of CPR and quick response in a cardiac emergency

For every minute that passes after an SCA without a defibrillating shock, survival odds decrease by 10%. Because time is so precious, AEDs should never be more than three minutes away from any given point.The exact number of AEDs in a facility depends on several factors, including the shape and layout of your park and/or buildings and how many athletic fields are on the premises. In many parks with multiple fields, spread out locations, hiking trails, thousands of seats, or large land areas, one AED is just not enough. Time how fast it is to retrieve the AED from different locations in your facility. If the time between emergency and deployment is more than three minutes, you may need to invest in more AEDs.

To ensure your AED is working and ready to save a life, the AED must be stored and maintained properly. Many AEDs perform regular self-checks and will signal when something is wrong. Check on your AED monthly and keep a record of annual maintenance, self-check history, and expiration dates for essential components.Send your AEDs to a biomedical service provider like ReNew Biomedical for an annual Preventative Maintenance check-up. Trained and certified technicians will clean your device, ensure it passes all tests, and alert you to any needed repairs or issues.