AED use at camp

kampnurse817 · Mar 28, 2007

No one has any advice for me at all? There must be someone out there that has an AED at camp.

Well, camp time is almost here. I am looking forward to it and dreading it at the same time. Hope all is well with everyone! It's beautiful in upstate New York today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:balloons: :monkeydance:

BonnieSc · Mar 28, 2007

Sorry, I don't know anything about it... I would have thought you only needed to have people trained to use it--if that. After all, they are designed for the untrained person to use. Don't even know who you would ask--maybe the Red Cross? Good luck!

Editorial Team / Admin · Mar 28, 2007

I'm not sure, but these links might provide the information you are needing, kampnurse:

http://www.health.state.ny.us/

http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/ems/policy/06-03.htm

In my state, we must be pre-approved by the state department of health.

Hope this helps.

burn out · Mar 28, 2007

I was under the impression that an AED was intended for the lay person to even use that is why they are in malls and other public places until emergency care arrives. The machine tells you everything to do and will not even deliver a shock unless it is hooked up correctly. Legally I think anyone can use it in an emergency. Could you may be feeling uncomfortable with the machine if so you need to get it out and test it and become familiar with it and seek information from other nurses or Paramedics. I know when my mother went into sudden cardiac arrest I would have given everything I own to have an AED around. It would be terrible to have one around with a child in arrest and not be able to use it. I think every school, nursing home and public building and walmart need an AED available, it can make the difference.

kampnurse817 · Mar 28, 2007

No, I am comfortable with them. We have two different ones - thanks to the generosity of our donors! I just thought that I read somewhere that in NY you had to do some kind of paperwork with the state. It is New York - they have special rules for everything these days!

All of our leadership team and administration staff are trained in first aid, cpr and aed.

I just wanted to ensure that we are covered with the state in case we ever had to use them.

I will try those web sites, and thank you for your help.

Thank you all again!

Columnist · Mar 28, 2007

Here is a link regarding AED laws in all states.

http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/aed.htm

"State Legislators have become actively involved with this issue in the past six years. Most commonly, the recent state laws encourage broader availability, rather than creating new regulatory restrictions. Most of the bills enacted from 1997 to 2001 included one or more provisions to:

Establish legislative intent that an "automatic external defibrillator may be used by any person for the purpose of saving the life of another person in cardiac arrest."
Encourage or require training in the use of AED devices by potential users.
Require AED devices to be maintained and tested to manufacturer's standards.
Create a registry of the location of all such defibrillators, or notification of a local emergency medical authority.
Allow a "Good Samaritan" exemption from liability for any individual who renders emergency treatment with a defibrillator.
Authorize a state agency to establish more detailed requirements for training and registration."

You need to check on the laws specific to your state regarding AED's in order to meet the requirements of owning/operating/maintaining an AED. We have 2 AED's in our church and I am responsible for keeping up to date with this information. There is a state bill which has just been introduced to the House and the Senate that will change some of our state AED law if it is adopted. So be sure to check on new bills/laws as well.