Objective
Automated external defibrillator (AED) installation has become commonplace in various public locations. However, AED retrievals involving actual shocks may still be very infrequent in many settings despite significant initial/ongoing costs for equipment acquisition, pad/battery expiry replacements and initial/refresher training for designated rescuers. The purpose here was to track frequencies of AED/CPR applications and shocks delivered following AED installations and related employee training throughout a multi-state retail store chain.
Design
Prospective 92-month observational study conducted across a large retail chain to document frequencies of AED device retrievals/applications, CPR performance, shocks delivered, and respective patient and scene characteristics.
Setting
1358 retail stores and two-dozen warehouses/offices located in multiple states.
Subjects
Persons collapsing with possible cardiopulmonary arrest on corporate properties.
Interventions
AED installation and on-going training of employees in CPR/AED use.
Results
Among 396 reported AED retrievals/applications (>4/month), 75 % occurred inside stores and the remainder in parking lots/sidewalks/other venues. Among these, 294 persons (ages 1–93 years; 74 % men) received basic CPR and/or AED shocks (>3 cases/month), performed most often by store employees. CPR-patient median age was 60 years (IQR:45–70) for men and 58 (IQR:38–68) for women. AEDs delivered 157 shocks during 112 events (>1 case/month); 71 % involved one shock, 20 % two, 9 % three and one involved four shocks. Documented ages for shocked patients (80 % men) ranged 32–90 years with men's median age 62 (IQR:55–70) and women's 61 (IQR:55–65). In one state's retrospective sub-analysis of shockable cases, hospital outcome records were matched to 37 patients with the majority (at least 19 confirmed) surviving to successful hospital discharge.
Conclusions
For this multi-state retail chain, AED installation and employee CPR/AED training appeared to be well-justified considering that AEDs were retrieved/applied frequently systemwide, quite often involving defibrillatory shocks that were associated with survival for many patients. Investigators encourage comparable businesses to adopt/study similar employee-based programs nationwide.
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