Page 1 of 6 APPLICATION: All Georgetown County School District schools and facilities. PURPOSE This document describes the policies and procedures of the Georgetown County School District relating to its automated external defibrillation (AED) program, and is designed to provide guidance to administrators and emergency responders about the District s AED program. The program will adhere to the requirements of the South Carolina Automated External Defibrillator Act, S.C. Code 44-76-10. et seq. The purpose of the AED program is to enable school personnel, through the use of AED devices, to intervene promptly in the case of a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) with technology that may assist in sustaining an individual s life until trained EMS personnel arrive on the scene. However, given the fact that the primary mission of the District is educational, and not medical, the District does not intend to imply that AEDs will be available in all medical emergencies that might occur on school property. Reference Documents Georgetown County School District emergency management guide South Carolina Automated External Defibrillator Act AED program response protocol HeartStart FRx Defibrillator User's Guide Blank Follow Up Incident Report Blank Monthly Inspection Spreadsheet List of Emergency Response Team Members Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Program Coordinator 1.1 The Program Coordinator for Georgetown County School District s AED program is Risk & Property Manager. The AED Program Coordinator s responsibilities are to: communicate with the Medical Director, Emergency Response Team members, management/administrative personnel, EMS and the public regarding the AED program. communicate with local EMS on early defibrillation program issues and patient care. participate in case reviews, responder training and retraining, data collection, and other quality assurance activities. ensure that the defibrillators and related response equipment are properly maintained. purchase necessary supplies and accessories. maintain a list of all trained AED responders who are employed by the District. monitor compliance with state and local regulations regarding defibrillator use. Medical Director
Page 2 of 6 2.1 This policy has been reviewed and approved by the district s Medical Director. The Medical Director s responsibilities are to: provide the authorization for the purchase and use of AEDs. provide medical consultation and expertise. develop and/or approve protocols for the use of AEDs and other medical equipment. act as a liaison between the AED program site and the local EMS organization. approve the AED training program and provide guidance on the training of emergency responders. review all incidents involving use of an AED. provide post-incident debriefing support. provide periodic review of the AED program and any suggestions for changes. Administration 3.1 Georgetown County School District s administrative staff shall ensure that procedures and protocols for the AED program are in place at each facility. Each school office shall assure that emergency response procedures are in place that provide guidance to staff, students, and visitors on how to call for assistance in a medical emergency. Additionally, for those medical emergencies that occur during regular school hours, the school office staff shall: designate those staff member(s) who will be available to receive calls for help from within the facility. notify EMS. contact Emergency Response Team members to respond to the emergency location with an AED. designate a staff member to meet EMS responders and lead them to the emergency location. Each school/facility administrator also shall develop a plan for approval by the AED program Coordinator, outlining how their school/facility will use AEDs in responding to those medical emergencies that occur on school grounds before or after regular school hours or when the District s students and staff are participating in school-related activities at other locations in the community. Site Coordinator 4.1 Site Coordinators for the AED program shall be: Schools School Nurse Purchasing/Warehouse Purchasing Agent J.B. Beck Administration Special Services Coordinator
4.2 The responsibilities of the Site Coordinator are to: EBBE-R Page 3 of 6 oversee the AED program for the school/facility. communicate with the Program Coordinator, Medical Director and EMS as necessary. identify Emergency Response Team members. coordinate responder initial training and retraining as necessary. maintain the AEDs and related response equipment. provide documentation of and follow-up on occasions when the AED is used.. Emergency Response Team Members 5.1 Staff who have completed a course in CPR and defibrillation and have been approved by the AED Program Coordinator or Site Coordinator as members of the Emergency Response Team may utilize an AED to respond to a victim of SCA. Emergency Response Team members' responsibilities are to: learn basic life support skills, including the use of a AED, by completing training as required and approved by Georgetown County School District. understand the policy and protocol for responding to medical emergencies including SCA. follow the procedures outlined in the AED protocol when responding to SCA victims. Training Requirements 6.1 The Emergency Response Team members will receive AED and CPR training. The cost of the AED training shall be provided for Emergency Response Team members by Georgetown County School District. The training shall include, but not necessarily be limited to: AED program response protocol Using the HeartStart FRx the use of barrier devices (universal precautions) 6.2 If students younger than eight (8) years of age attend the school, the Emergency Response Team training shall also include Basic Life Support skills for children. 6.3 Training records for Emergency Response Team members shall be maintained by the Site Coordinator. 6.4 At least every two years - or more frequently if required by state regulation or the Medical Director Emergency Response Team members shall complete an AED and CPR retraining course.
Page 4 of 6 Equipment 7.1 Georgetown County School District, in consultation with the AED program Medical Director, has selected the HeartStart FRx for its early AED program. 7.2 The HeartStart FRx AED should be deployed to any medical emergency in the facility along with other emergency care equipment. 7.3 The HeartStart FRx AED is equipped with an infant/child key which when engaged the AED will be ready for use on a child whose weight is LESS than 55lbs or who is younger than 8 years old. (See AED Protocol) 7.3 The device should be used on any victim who exhibits signs of SCA, as set forth on the AED Protocol. 7.5 AEDs are placed in the following locations. (See attached AED Inventory & Location List) 7.6 Each location has an alarmed cabinet which is marked overhead with a sign. 7.7 Each defibrillator kit contains: the Philips HeartStart FRx AED, with battery installed, and case two sets of adult defibrillator pads one infant/child key a pocket mask or other rescue breathing barrier device disposable gloves a razor a pair of scissors a small disposable towel other equipment Maintenance 8.1 The HeartStart Frx AED self-performs daily tests to assure the device is ready for use, and is equipped with a status indicator that shows if the device is ready for use. 8.2 All defibrillators shall be maintained in accordance with the HeartStart FRx AED Instructions for Use. 8.3 The Site Coordinator or his/her designee shall perform a monthly inspection on each defibrillator according to the recommendations located on the bottom of the AED Monthly Inspection Record, in order to assure that the device is ready for use and that all supplies are present and
Page 5 of 6 have not reached the use-before or install-before dates on the packaging. These inspections should be recorded on a log (to be provided by the AED Program Coordinator) that is kept with the AED. Any problem with the AED or related emergency equipment shall be reported to the Site Coordinator and the AED Program Coordinator as soon as possible. 8.4 Batteries in each AED shall be changed every 4 years or sooner as determined by the Site Coordinator. 8.5 If an AED must be removed from service, the Site Coordinator shall notify the Georgetown County School District office, Emergency Response Team Members, and the AED Program Coordinator. Notification of the same group shall occur when the device is returned to service. Post-Event Activities 9.1 After any response to SCA with a defibrillator: The Site Coordinator, AED Program Coordinator, and Medical Director shall be notified within 24 hours of the event. If a HeartStart FRx was used, take the defibrillator and the AED Incident Report to the AED Site Coordinator within 24 hours post-event. Check the AED and replace any used supplies as soon as possible following the event so that the defibrillator may be returned to service. Perform the after-patient-use maintenance on the defibrillator. The Early Defibrillation Program Coordinator or Site Coordinator shall conduct employee incident debriefing, as needed. 9.2 The Early Defibrillation Site Coordinator shall complete the Incident Follow-Up Report and forward it to Medical Director. Defibrillator Maintenance after Each Patient Use 10.1 Each time the defibrillator is used on a patient: Inspect the exterior, pads connector port or pads cartridge well for dirt or contamination. Check supplies, accessories, and spares for expiration dates and damage. Check the operation of the AED by removing and reinstalling the battery to run a battery insertion test.
Early Defibrillation Program Assessment and Review EBBE-R Page 6 of 6 11.1 Any actual SCA events shall be reviewed by the AED Program Coordinator and the Medical Director to ensure that the early defibrillation protocol was followed and to assess the response performance of the facility. Recommendations for change or improvement should be discussed with the Site Coordinator and responders as soon as possible after an event. 11.2 The AED Program Coordinator shall ensure that each Site Coordinator conducts yearly cardiac arrest response drills at his/her facility to determine the facility's readiness to respond to an SCA event. 11.3 In addition to drills, the Defibrillation Program Coordinator should review each site's training and maintenance records to ensure compliance with Georgetown County School District policy. This policy is in effect as of February 7, 2006, and shall be reviewed yearly or as required by changes in the early defibrillation program, state/local regulation, or Georgetown County School District policy AED Program Coordinator