Ambulances without AEDs or defibrillators?

[Guest guest]

I'd think that would depend on state laws, state regulations, and local

protocols.

-Wes Ogilvie

In a message dated 3/15/2006 9:54:40 PM Central Standard Time,

kim@... writes:

Question for the ones who know: Is the copied-and-pasted info below from

the aedhelp.com website even remotely true anywhere, even in other states?

I keep reading it over and over (hey, I need a life), and it seems to say to

me " not all ambulances carry defibrillators " . Am I reading too much into

it, or is Medtronic (our beloved LifePak manufacturer) really trying to use

scare tactics to sell more AEDs to the general population? If scare

tactics, I offer no brownie points for the marketing guru who thought this

was the best way to educate the importance of early defibrillation, in my

humblest of opinions.

I don't know if Fire Departments stock AEDs as first responders, but the

sentence that reads, " So, even if an EMS team does have a defibrillator, the

response time may not be fast enough to save a victim's life. " really

bothers me. *IF* we have a defibrillator???

Curious, and do appreciate the information you have to offer.

Kim

-------------------------------------------

From Medtronic's website at http://www.aedhelp.com/aeds/aeds_911.cfm

Isn't calling 911 enough?

Emergency medical service (EMS) professionals and firefighters save many SCA

victims each year, but a lack of equipment and time delays keep them from

saving many more.

Lack of equipment

Unfortunately, not every emergency vehicle carries a defibrillator, the only

device that can treat sudden cardiac arrest.

Lack of time

In some large metropolitan areas, an ambulance may not even get to the

scene in less than 10 minutes due to traffic. And, on average, it takes EMS

teams in the U.S. 6-12 minutes to arrive. So, even if an EMS team does have

a defibrillator, the response time may not be fast enough to save a victim's

life.

Survival rates are highest for patients who receive a defibrillation shock

within three minutes of collapse. This almost requires that an AED be

on-site anywhere groups of people gather and that trained responders are

available.

Remember, 90-95 percent of all SCA victims die. Documented AED programs have

shown that survival rates can rise to 70 percent or more when an AED program

is in place.

Waiting for medical professionals when someone is in sudden cardiac arrest

could delay treatment - and could cost the person his or her life.

[Guest guest]

Question for the ones who know: Is the copied-and-pasted info below from

the aedhelp.com website even remotely true anywhere, even in other states?

I keep reading it over and over (hey, I need a life), and it seems to say to

me " not all ambulances carry defibrillators " . Am I reading too much into

it, or is Medtronic (our beloved LifePak manufacturer) really trying to use

scare tactics to sell more AEDs to the general population? If scare

tactics, I offer no brownie points for the marketing guru who thought this

was the best way to educate the importance of early defibrillation, in my

humblest of opinions.

I don't know if Fire Departments stock AEDs as first responders, but the

sentence that reads, " So, even if an EMS team does have a defibrillator, the

response time may not be fast enough to save a victim's life. " really

bothers me. *IF* we have a defibrillator???

Curious, and do appreciate the information you have to offer.

Kim

-------------------------------------------

From Medtronic's website at http://www.aedhelp.com/aeds/aeds_911.cfm

Isn't calling 911 enough?

Emergency medical service (EMS) professionals and firefighters save many SCA

victims each year, but a lack of equipment and time delays keep them from

saving many more.

Lack of equipment

Unfortunately, not every emergency vehicle carries a defibrillator, the only

device that can treat sudden cardiac arrest.

Lack of time

In some large metropolitan areas, an ambulance may not even get to the

scene in less than 10 minutes due to traffic. And, on average, it takes EMS

teams in the U.S. 6-12 minutes to arrive. So, even if an EMS team does have

a defibrillator, the response time may not be fast enough to save a victim's

life.

Survival rates are highest for patients who receive a defibrillation shock

within three minutes of collapse. This almost requires that an AED be

on-site anywhere groups of people gather and that trained responders are

available.

Remember, 90-95 percent of all SCA victims die. Documented AED programs have

shown that survival rates can rise to 70 percent or more when an AED program

is in place.

Waiting for medical professionals when someone is in sudden cardiac arrest

could delay treatment - and could cost the person his or her life.

[Guest guest]

Wes {grin}, you really need to step out of Texas every once in awhile so you

can handle my spur-of-the-moment questions for the other non-Texas areas

;-). Do appreciate the response though.

I at least know we had to have one on each unit for licensing with TDSHS as

an ambulance service, no matter the level of care (BLS, MICU, etc.). Texas

First Responder Organizations must adhere to their medical director's

requirements, per TDSHS' website ( " medical equipment, supply and medication

list approved and signed by the FRO by the medical director(s). " (

http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/hcqs/ems/fro%20app%20cklst%20guide.doc ), but

says nothing more that I saw related to AEDs or defibrillators.

Any experience to offer with other states maybe? Just curious... such web

site information that appears to degrade our profession to " taxi-service "

quality really irks this yankee, especially when it's a company that enjoys

a significant number of defibrillator sales out of EMS pockets.

Kim

Re: Ambulances without AEDs or defibrillators?

>

> I'd think that would depend on state laws, state regulations, and local

> protocols.

>

> -Wes Ogilvie

>

> In a message dated 3/15/2006 9:54:40 PM Central Standard Time,

> kim@... writes:

>

> Question for the ones who know: Is the copied-and-pasted info below from

> the aedhelp.com website even remotely true anywhere, even in other

> states?

> I keep reading it over and over (hey, I need a life), and it seems to say

> to

>

> me " not all ambulances carry defibrillators " . Am I reading too much

> into

> it, or is Medtronic (our beloved LifePak manufacturer) really trying to

> use

> scare tactics to sell more AEDs to the general population? If scare

> tactics, I offer no brownie points for the marketing guru who thought

> this

> was the best way to educate the importance of early defibrillation, in my

> humblest of opinions.

>

> I don't know if Fire Departments stock AEDs as first responders, but the

> sentence that reads, " So, even if an EMS team does have a defibrillator,

> the

> response time may not be fast enough to save a victim's life. " really

> bothers me. *IF* we have a defibrillator???

>

> Curious, and do appreciate the information you have to offer.

>

> Kim

>

>

> -------------------------------------------

>

> From Medtronic's website at http://www.aedhelp.com/aeds/aeds_911.cfm

>

> Isn't calling 911 enough?

>

> Emergency medical service (EMS) professionals and firefighters save many

> SCA

> victims each year, but a lack of equipment and time delays keep them from

> saving many more.

>

> Lack of equipment

>

> Unfortunately, not every emergency vehicle carries a defibrillator, the

> only

> device that can treat sudden cardiac arrest.

>

> Lack of time

>

> In some large metropolitan areas, an ambulance may not even get to the

> scene in less than 10 minutes due to traffic. And, on average, it takes

> EMS

> teams in the U.S. 6-12 minutes to arrive. So, even if an EMS team does

> have

> a defibrillator, the response time may not be fast enough to save a

> victim's

> life.

>

> Survival rates are highest for patients who receive a defibrillation

> shock

> within three minutes of collapse. This almost requires that an AED be

> on-site anywhere groups of people gather and that trained responders are

> available.

>

> Remember, 90-95 percent of all SCA victims die. Documented AED programs

> have

> shown that survival rates can rise to 70 percent or more when an AED

> program

> is in place.

>

> Waiting for medical professionals when someone is in sudden cardiac

> arrest

> could delay treatment - and could cost the person his or her life.

[Guest guest]

Actually, what it says is that not all emergency vehicles (a category including

police and fire vehicles as well as ambulance) carry defibrillators. That's

true, whether in Texas or any other state.

Their choice of words about " even if " an EMS team has a defibrillator was

perhaps poor, but if what they were saying was that even if a defibrillator is

used doesn't work if it isn't used soon enough, then that's true also.

Remember one of the things that generally gets taught in the CPR/AED classes -

many large buildings, offices, malls, etc., are acquiring AEDs to have them

available as quickly as practical if they are needed. In other wors, what they

seem to be trying to target is the " stationary installation " market, not the

professional/rescuer market.

Make sense?

ExLngHrn@... wrote:

I'd think that would depend on state laws, state regulations, and local

protocols.

-Wes Ogilvie

In a message dated 3/15/2006 9:54:40 PM Central Standard Time,

kim@... writes:

Question for the ones who know: Is the copied-and-pasted info below from

the aedhelp.com website even remotely true anywhere, even in other states?

I keep reading it over and over (hey, I need a life), and it seems to say to

me " not all ambulances carry defibrillators " . Am I reading too much into

it, or is Medtronic (our beloved LifePak manufacturer) really trying to use

scare tactics to sell more AEDs to the general population? If scare

tactics, I offer no brownie points for the marketing guru who thought this

was the best way to educate the importance of early defibrillation, in my

humblest of opinions.

I don't know if Fire Departments stock AEDs as first responders, but the

sentence that reads, " So, even if an EMS team does have a defibrillator, the

response time may not be fast enough to save a victim's life. " really

bothers me. *IF* we have a defibrillator???

Curious, and do appreciate the information you have to offer.

Kim

-------------------------------------------

From Medtronic's website at http://www.aedhelp.com/aeds/aeds_911.cfm

Isn't calling 911 enough?

Emergency medical service (EMS) professionals and firefighters save many SCA

victims each year, but a lack of equipment and time delays keep them from

saving many more.

Lack of equipment

Unfortunately, not every emergency vehicle carries a defibrillator, the only

device that can treat sudden cardiac arrest.

Lack of time

In some large metropolitan areas, an ambulance may not even get to the

scene in less than 10 minutes due to traffic. And, on average, it takes EMS

teams in the U.S. 6-12 minutes to arrive. So, even if an EMS team does have

a defibrillator, the response time may not be fast enough to save a victim's

life.

Survival rates are highest for patients who receive a defibrillation shock

within three minutes of collapse. This almost requires that an AED be

on-site anywhere groups of people gather and that trained responders are

available.

Remember, 90-95 percent of all SCA victims die. Documented AED programs have

shown that survival rates can rise to 70 percent or more when an AED program

is in place.

Waiting for medical professionals when someone is in sudden cardiac arrest

could delay treatment - and could cost the person his or her life.

[Guest guest]

Thank you Steve and Jim... not being in law enforcement or a firefighter, I

didn't know if there was any sort of AED required on these " emergency

vehicles " . Now I have a better idea on it. Now Truth or Consequences, New

Mexico (per a previous poster)... I need to visit there, lol!

Anyway, I guess that even though the web page's wording was technically

correct and/or plausable, the *way* it was worded left me thinking that EMS

folks may or may not even have an AED or defibrillator on board. That could

scare the begeezers out of someone in the general population.

Kinda like the way a shampoo company increased sales significantly by a

single word. Instead of " For best results, wash and rinse " , try " For best

results, wash, rinse, and repeat " . Words sure are powerful.

Re: Ambulances without AEDs or defibrillators?

> Actually, what it says is that not all emergency vehicles (a category

> including police and fire vehicles as well as ambulance) carry

> defibrillators. That's true, whether in Texas or any other state.

>

> Their choice of words about " even if " an EMS team has a defibrillator was

> perhaps poor, but if what they were saying was that even if a

> defibrillator is used doesn't work if it isn't used soon enough, then

> that's true also.

>

> Remember one of the things that generally gets taught in the CPR/AED

> classes - many large buildings, offices, malls, etc., are acquiring AEDs

> to have them available as quickly as practical if they are needed. In

> other wors, what they seem to be trying to target is the " stationary

> installation " market, not the professional/rescuer market.

>

> Make sense?

>

>

> ExLngHrn@... wrote:

>

> I'd think that would depend on state laws, state regulations, and local

> protocols.

>

> -Wes Ogilvie

>

> In a message dated 3/15/2006 9:54:40 PM Central Standard Time,

> kim@... writes:

>

> Question for the ones who know: Is the copied-and-pasted info below from

> the aedhelp.com website even remotely true anywhere, even in other states?

> I keep reading it over and over (hey, I need a life), and it seems to say

> to

>

> me " not all ambulances carry defibrillators " . Am I reading too much into

> it, or is Medtronic (our beloved LifePak manufacturer) really trying to

> use

> scare tactics to sell more AEDs to the general population? If scare

> tactics, I offer no brownie points for the marketing guru who thought this

> was the best way to educate the importance of early defibrillation, in my

> humblest of opinions.

>

> I don't know if Fire Departments stock AEDs as first responders, but the

> sentence that reads, " So, even if an EMS team does have a defibrillator,

> the

> response time may not be fast enough to save a victim's life. " really

> bothers me. *IF* we have a defibrillator???

>

> Curious, and do appreciate the information you have to offer.

>

> Kim

>

>

> -------------------------------------------

>

> From Medtronic's website at http://www.aedhelp.com/aeds/aeds_911.cfm

>

> Isn't calling 911 enough?

>

> Emergency medical service (EMS) professionals and firefighters save many

> SCA

> victims each year, but a lack of equipment and time delays keep them from

> saving many more.

>

> Lack of equipment

>

> Unfortunately, not every emergency vehicle carries a defibrillator, the

> only

> device that can treat sudden cardiac arrest.

>

> Lack of time

>

> In some large metropolitan areas, an ambulance may not even get to the

> scene in less than 10 minutes due to traffic. And, on average, it takes

> EMS

> teams in the U.S. 6-12 minutes to arrive. So, even if an EMS team does

> have

> a defibrillator, the response time may not be fast enough to save a

> victim's

> life.

>

> Survival rates are highest for patients who receive a defibrillation shock

> within three minutes of collapse. This almost requires that an AED be

> on-site anywhere groups of people gather and that trained responders are

> available.

>

> Remember, 90-95 percent of all SCA victims die. Documented AED programs

> have

> shown that survival rates can rise to 70 percent or more when an AED

> program

> is in place.

>

> Waiting for medical professionals when someone is in sudden cardiac arrest

> could delay treatment - and could cost the person his or her life.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

One AED on one of the trucks at my current work has a died or dying power

supply.

Kim wrote:

Thank you Steve and Jim... not being in law enforcement or a firefighter, I

didn't know if there was any sort of AED required on these " emergency

vehicles " . Now I have a better idea on it. Now Truth or Consequences, New

Mexico (per a previous poster)... I need to visit there, lol!

Anyway, I guess that even though the web page's wording was technically

correct and/or plausable, the *way* it was worded left me thinking that EMS

folks may or may not even have an AED or defibrillator on board. That could

scare the begeezers out of someone in the general population.

Kinda like the way a shampoo company increased sales significantly by a

single word. Instead of " For best results, wash and rinse " , try " For best

results, wash, rinse, and repeat " . Words sure are powerful.

Re: Ambulances without AEDs or defibrillators?

> Actually, what it says is that not all emergency vehicles (a category

> including police and fire vehicles as well as ambulance) carry

> defibrillators. That's true, whether in Texas or any other state.

>

> Their choice of words about " even if " an EMS team has a defibrillator was

> perhaps poor, but if what they were saying was that even if a

> defibrillator is used doesn't work if it isn't used soon enough, then

> that's true also.

>

> Remember one of the things that generally gets taught in the CPR/AED

> classes - many large buildings, offices, malls, etc., are acquiring AEDs

> to have them available as quickly as practical if they are needed. In

> other wors, what they seem to be trying to target is the " stationary

> installation " market, not the professional/rescuer market.

>

> Make sense?

>

>

> ExLngHrn@... wrote:

>

> I'd think that would depend on state laws, state regulations, and local

> protocols.

>

> -Wes Ogilvie

>

> In a message dated 3/15/2006 9:54:40 PM Central Standard Time,

> kim@... writes:

>

> Question for the ones who know: Is the copied-and-pasted info below from

> the aedhelp.com website even remotely true anywhere, even in other states?

> I keep reading it over and over (hey, I need a life), and it seems to say

> to

>

> me " not all ambulances carry defibrillators " . Am I reading too much into

> it, or is Medtronic (our beloved LifePak manufacturer) really trying to

> use

> scare tactics to sell more AEDs to the general population? If scare

> tactics, I offer no brownie points for the marketing guru who thought this

> was the best way to educate the importance of early defibrillation, in my

> humblest of opinions.

>

> I don't know if Fire Departments stock AEDs as first responders, but the

> sentence that reads, " So, even if an EMS team does have a defibrillator,

> the

> response time may not be fast enough to save a victim's life. " really

> bothers me. *IF* we have a defibrillator???

>

> Curious, and do appreciate the information you have to offer.

>

> Kim

>

>

> -------------------------------------------

>

> From Medtronic's website at http://www.aedhelp.com/aeds/aeds_911.cfm

>

> Isn't calling 911 enough?

>

> Emergency medical service (EMS) professionals and firefighters save many

> SCA

> victims each year, but a lack of equipment and time delays keep them from

> saving many more.

>

> Lack of equipment

>

> Unfortunately, not every emergency vehicle carries a defibrillator, the

> only

> device that can treat sudden cardiac arrest.

>

> Lack of time

>

> In some large metropolitan areas, an ambulance may not even get to the

> scene in less than 10 minutes due to traffic. And, on average, it takes

> EMS

> teams in the U.S. 6-12 minutes to arrive. So, even if an EMS team does

> have

> a defibrillator, the response time may not be fast enough to save a

> victim's

> life.

>

> Survival rates are highest for patients who receive a defibrillation shock

> within three minutes of collapse. This almost requires that an AED be

> on-site anywhere groups of people gather and that trained responders are

> available.

>

> Remember, 90-95 percent of all SCA victims die. Documented AED programs

> have

> shown that survival rates can rise to 70 percent or more when an AED

> program

> is in place.

>

> Waiting for medical professionals when someone is in sudden cardiac arrest

> could delay treatment - and could cost the person his or her life.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

A HUGE problem in the AED world is DEAD AEDs. Since they're often

placed in places where there isn't any other equipment that needs

maintained, AND

since the AED salesmen really want to emphasize that there is NO

maintenance involved, many of these are sold and forgotten. In one

recent survey we conducted, 3 out of 4 AEDs were dead!

Our company has been trying to sell maintenance as a service to

potential clients. But it's not well received ( " the salesman said

there is no maintenance required, why should I pay you to do something

that's not needed?? " .

I don't know the answer, but it's a problem.

=Steve , LP, RIT=

wrote:

>One AED on one of the trucks at my current work has a died or dying power

supply.

>

>

>Kim wrote:

> Thank you Steve and Jim... not being in law enforcement or a firefighter, I

>didn't know if there was any sort of AED required on these " emergency

>vehicles " . Now I have a better idea on it. Now Truth or Consequences, New

>Mexico (per a previous poster)... I need to visit there, lol!

>

>Anyway, I guess that even though the web page's wording was technically

>correct and/or plausable, the *way* it was worded left me thinking that EMS

>folks may or may not even have an AED or defibrillator on board. That could

>scare the begeezers out of someone in the general population.

>

>Kinda like the way a shampoo company increased sales significantly by a

>single word. Instead of " For best results, wash and rinse " , try " For best

>results, wash, rinse, and repeat " . Words sure are powerful.

>

>

>

> Re: Ambulances without AEDs or defibrillators?

>

>

>

>

>>Actually, what it says is that not all emergency vehicles (a category

>>including police and fire vehicles as well as ambulance) carry

>>defibrillators. That's true, whether in Texas or any other state.

>>

>> Their choice of words about " even if " an EMS team has a defibrillator was

>>perhaps poor, but if what they were saying was that even if a

>>defibrillator is used doesn't work if it isn't used soon enough, then

>>that's true also.

>>

>> Remember one of the things that generally gets taught in the CPR/AED

>>classes - many large buildings, offices, malls, etc., are acquiring AEDs

>>to have them available as quickly as practical if they are needed. In

>>other wors, what they seem to be trying to target is the " stationary

>>installation " market, not the professional/rescuer market.

>>

>> Make sense?

>>

>>

>>ExLngHrn@... wrote:

>>

>>I'd think that would depend on state laws, state regulations, and local

>>protocols.

>>

>>-Wes Ogilvie

>>

>>In a message dated 3/15/2006 9:54:40 PM Central Standard Time,

>>kim@... writes:

>>

>>Question for the ones who know: Is the copied-and-pasted info below from

>>the aedhelp.com website even remotely true anywhere, even in other states?

>>I keep reading it over and over (hey, I need a life), and it seems to say

>>to

>>

>>me " not all ambulances carry defibrillators " . Am I reading too much into

>>it, or is Medtronic (our beloved LifePak manufacturer) really trying to

>>use

>>scare tactics to sell more AEDs to the general population? If scare

>>tactics, I offer no brownie points for the marketing guru who thought this

>>was the best way to educate the importance of early defibrillation, in my

>>humblest of opinions.

>>

>>I don't know if Fire Departments stock AEDs as first responders, but the

>>sentence that reads, " So, even if an EMS team does have a defibrillator,

>>the

>>response time may not be fast enough to save a victim's life. " really

>>bothers me. *IF* we have a defibrillator???

>>

>>Curious, and do appreciate the information you have to offer.

>>

>>Kim

>>

>>

>>-------------------------------------------

>>

>>From Medtronic's website at http://www.aedhelp.com/aeds/aeds_911.cfm

>>

>>Isn't calling 911 enough?

>>

>>Emergency medical service (EMS) professionals and firefighters save many

>>SCA

>>victims each year, but a lack of equipment and time delays keep them from

>>saving many more.

>>

>>Lack of equipment

>>

>>Unfortunately, not every emergency vehicle carries a defibrillator, the

>>only

>>device that can treat sudden cardiac arrest.

>>

>>Lack of time

>>

>>In some large metropolitan areas, an ambulance may not even get to the

>>scene in less than 10 minutes due to traffic. And, on average, it takes

>>EMS

>>teams in the U.S. 6-12 minutes to arrive. So, even if an EMS team does

>>have

>>a defibrillator, the response time may not be fast enough to save a

>>victim's

>>life.

>>

>>Survival rates are highest for patients who receive a defibrillation shock

>>within three minutes of collapse. This almost requires that an AED be

>>on-site anywhere groups of people gather and that trained responders are

>>available.

>>

>>Remember, 90-95 percent of all SCA victims die. Documented AED programs

>>have

>>shown that survival rates can rise to 70 percent or more when an AED

>>program

>>is in place.

>>

>>Waiting for medical professionals when someone is in sudden cardiac arrest

>>could delay treatment - and could cost the person his or her life.

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

True....We at Dallas County Security keep the AED's on all of our Security

Stations along with O2 bottles. The big draw back there is that I, as an

EMT-B, am the only one of 50 officers with training on the AED.

Quick question.....What is the opinion on non-trained/certified personnel

having O2 for use on patients. I am kinda leary of that. What do you folks

think?

>

>Reply-To: texasems-l

>To: texasems-l

>Subject: Re: Ambulances without AEDs or defibrillators?

>Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 05:52:26 -0800 (PST)

>

>Actually, what it says is that not all emergency vehicles (a category

>including police and fire vehicles as well as ambulance) carry

>defibrillators. That's true, whether in Texas or any other state.

>

> Their choice of words about " even if " an EMS team has a defibrillator

>was perhaps poor, but if what they were saying was that even if a

>defibrillator is used doesn't work if it isn't used soon enough, then

>that's true also.

>

> Remember one of the things that generally gets taught in the CPR/AED

>classes - many large buildings, offices, malls, etc., are acquiring AEDs to

>have them available as quickly as practical if they are needed. In other

>wors, what they seem to be trying to target is the " stationary

>installation " market, not the professional/rescuer market.

>

> Make sense?

>

>

>ExLngHrn@... wrote:

>

>I'd think that would depend on state laws, state regulations, and local

>protocols.

>

>-Wes Ogilvie

>

>In a message dated 3/15/2006 9:54:40 PM Central Standard Time,

>kim@... writes:

>

>Question for the ones who know: Is the copied-and-pasted info below from

>the aedhelp.com website even remotely true anywhere, even in other states?

>I keep reading it over and over (hey, I need a life), and it seems to say

>to

>

>me " not all ambulances carry defibrillators " . Am I reading too much into

>it, or is Medtronic (our beloved LifePak manufacturer) really trying to use

>scare tactics to sell more AEDs to the general population? If scare

>tactics, I offer no brownie points for the marketing guru who thought this

>was the best way to educate the importance of early defibrillation, in my

>humblest of opinions.

>

>I don't know if Fire Departments stock AEDs as first responders, but the

>sentence that reads, " So, even if an EMS team does have a defibrillator,

>the

>response time may not be fast enough to save a victim's life. " really

>bothers me. *IF* we have a defibrillator???

>

>Curious, and do appreciate the information you have to offer.

>

>Kim

>

>

>-------------------------------------------

>

>From Medtronic's website at http://www.aedhelp.com/aeds/aeds_911.cfm

>

>Isn't calling 911 enough?

>

>Emergency medical service (EMS) professionals and firefighters save many

>SCA

>victims each year, but a lack of equipment and time delays keep them from

>saving many more.

>

>Lack of equipment

>

>Unfortunately, not every emergency vehicle carries a defibrillator, the

>only

>device that can treat sudden cardiac arrest.

>

>Lack of time

>

>In some large metropolitan areas, an ambulance may not even get to the

>scene in less than 10 minutes due to traffic. And, on average, it takes EMS

>teams in the U.S. 6-12 minutes to arrive. So, even if an EMS team does have

>a defibrillator, the response time may not be fast enough to save a

>victim's

>life.

>

>Survival rates are highest for patients who receive a defibrillation shock

>within three minutes of collapse. This almost requires that an AED be

>on-site anywhere groups of people gather and that trained responders are

>available.

>

>Remember, 90-95 percent of all SCA victims die. Documented AED programs

>have

>shown that survival rates can rise to 70 percent or more when an AED

>program

>is in place.

>

>Waiting for medical professionals when someone is in sudden cardiac arrest

>could delay treatment - and could cost the person his or her life.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Most AED's I have dealt with either have a re-chargable or replacable

battery. The ones here at Dallas County have a changable battery. We carried

ones on our Navy Ambulances that plugged in to the inverter to keep charged.

>

>Reply-To: texasems-l

>To: texasems-l

>Subject: Re: Ambulances without AEDs or defibrillators?

>Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 11:11:44 -0600

>

>A HUGE problem in the AED world is DEAD AEDs. Since they're often

>placed in places where there isn't any other equipment that needs

>maintained, AND

>since the AED salesmen really want to emphasize that there is NO

>maintenance involved, many of these are sold and forgotten. In one

>recent survey we conducted, 3 out of 4 AEDs were dead!

>

>Our company has been trying to sell maintenance as a service to

>potential clients. But it's not well received ( " the salesman said

>there is no maintenance required, why should I pay you to do something

>that's not needed?? " .

>

>I don't know the answer, but it's a problem.

>

>=Steve , LP, RIT=

>

>

> wrote:

>

> >One AED on one of the trucks at my current work has a died or dying power

>supply.

> >

> >

> >Kim wrote:

> > Thank you Steve and Jim... not being in law enforcement or a

>firefighter, I

> >didn't know if there was any sort of AED required on these " emergency

> >vehicles " . Now I have a better idea on it. Now Truth or Consequences,

>New

> >Mexico (per a previous poster)... I need to visit there, lol!

> >

> >Anyway, I guess that even though the web page's wording was technically

> >correct and/or plausable, the *way* it was worded left me thinking that

>EMS

> >folks may or may not even have an AED or defibrillator on board. That

>could

> >scare the begeezers out of someone in the general population.

> >

> >Kinda like the way a shampoo company increased sales significantly by a

> >single word. Instead of " For best results, wash and rinse " , try " For

>best

> >results, wash, rinse, and repeat " . Words sure are powerful.

> >

> >

> >

> > Re: Ambulances without AEDs or defibrillators?

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >>Actually, what it says is that not all emergency vehicles (a category

> >>including police and fire vehicles as well as ambulance) carry

> >>defibrillators. That's true, whether in Texas or any other state.

> >>

> >> Their choice of words about " even if " an EMS team has a defibrillator

>was

> >>perhaps poor, but if what they were saying was that even if a

> >>defibrillator is used doesn't work if it isn't used soon enough, then

> >>that's true also.

> >>

> >> Remember one of the things that generally gets taught in the CPR/AED

> >>classes - many large buildings, offices, malls, etc., are acquiring AEDs

> >>to have them available as quickly as practical if they are needed. In

> >>other wors, what they seem to be trying to target is the " stationary

> >>installation " market, not the professional/rescuer market.

> >>

> >> Make sense?

> >>

> >>

> >>ExLngHrn@... wrote:

> >>

> >>I'd think that would depend on state laws, state regulations, and local

> >>protocols.

> >>

> >>-Wes Ogilvie

> >>

> >>In a message dated 3/15/2006 9:54:40 PM Central Standard Time,

> >>kim@... writes:

> >>

> >>Question for the ones who know: Is the copied-and-pasted info below from

> >>the aedhelp.com website even remotely true anywhere, even in other

>states?

> >>I keep reading it over and over (hey, I need a life), and it seems to

>say

> >>to

> >>

> >>me " not all ambulances carry defibrillators " . Am I reading too much into

> >>it, or is Medtronic (our beloved LifePak manufacturer) really trying to

> >>use

> >>scare tactics to sell more AEDs to the general population? If scare

> >>tactics, I offer no brownie points for the marketing guru who thought

>this

> >>was the best way to educate the importance of early defibrillation, in

>my

> >>humblest of opinions.

> >>

> >>I don't know if Fire Departments stock AEDs as first responders, but the

> >>sentence that reads, " So, even if an EMS team does have a defibrillator,

> >>the

> >>response time may not be fast enough to save a victim's life. " really

> >>bothers me. *IF* we have a defibrillator???

> >>

> >>Curious, and do appreciate the information you have to offer.

> >>

> >>Kim

> >>

> >>

> >>-------------------------------------------

> >>

> >>From Medtronic's website at http://www.aedhelp.com/aeds/aeds_911.cfm

> >>

> >>Isn't calling 911 enough?

> >>

> >>Emergency medical service (EMS) professionals and firefighters save many

> >>SCA

> >>victims each year, but a lack of equipment and time delays keep them

>from

> >>saving many more.

> >>

> >>Lack of equipment

> >>

> >>Unfortunately, not every emergency vehicle carries a defibrillator, the

> >>only

> >>device that can treat sudden cardiac arrest.

> >>

> >>Lack of time

> >>

> >>In some large metropolitan areas, an ambulance may not even get to the

> >>scene in less than 10 minutes due to traffic. And, on average, it takes

> >>EMS

> >>teams in the U.S. 6-12 minutes to arrive. So, even if an EMS team does

> >>have

> >>a defibrillator, the response time may not be fast enough to save a

> >>victim's

> >>life.

> >>

> >>Survival rates are highest for patients who receive a defibrillation

>shock

> >>within three minutes of collapse. This almost requires that an AED be

> >>on-site anywhere groups of people gather and that trained responders are

> >>available.

> >>

> >>Remember, 90-95 percent of all SCA victims die. Documented AED programs

> >>have

> >>shown that survival rates can rise to 70 percent or more when an AED

> >>program

> >>is in place.

> >>

> >>Waiting for medical professionals when someone is in sudden cardiac

>arrest

> >>could delay treatment - and could cost the person his or her life.

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >>