Saving a Life ........

[Pheasy]

If have recently discovered that our Elementary School (could also be Jr. High and High too), has there AED (Automated External Defibrillator, you know, the heart shocking thingy) under lock and key. And outside school hours no one has access to this device. Our school has many after school activities going on, for example, soccer ,wrestling, cheer-leading, girl and boy scouts, PTO meetings and much more. So in the event of this device being needed, a person may have to sit by and watch someone die knowing that this device is only a stones throw away, but with no way of accessing it. Apparently the school has said it has to be this way as they are concerned about children messing with the device :rolleyes:, seriously do they have a brain or what! There are many ways of making such a life saving device available without children being able to play with it.

So I am putting together a letter to the school principal (maybe even the school district) to get this changed. Before I do so, I would be interested on your comments and thoughts on this. Also, do you know what your schools policy is regarding this?

Pheasy :-6

[Lady G]

WOW! a little extreme no? A defibulator? Blimey, is that called for in a school? What happened to good old fashioned chest massage to get the heart going?

Maybe they only have certain ppl trained in using it and those who man the afterschool activities are untrained, or not trustworthy enough to operate it.

Either way, if the school has one then it should be available at all times, so therefore every person on duty should have access to the room by way of a key. If untrained then basic training on the machine will suffice and it is each persons responsability to ensure its proper use.

May I ask why it bothers you so much? Do many children need it at that school?

[Pheasy]

Lady G;703275 wrote: WOW! a little extreme no? A defibulator? Blimey, is that called for in a school? What happened to good old fashioned chest massage to get the heart going?

Maybe they only have certain ppl trained in using it and those who man the afterschool activities are untrained, or not trustworthy enough to operate it.

Either way, if the school has one then it should be available at all times, so therefore every person on duty should have access to the room by way of a key. If untrained then basic training on the machine will suffice and it is each persons responsability to ensure its proper use.

May I ask why it bothers you so much? Do many children need it at that school?


Over here in the US (well our area anyway), these devices are becoming more available - schools, shopping malls, nearly everywhere. Granted a trained First Aider would be better, however these devices go through step by step instructions so even an unqualified person can use. Also, these devices don't take away the need for chest massage, that still is required (unlike they make out on TV - I thought so too).

I could possibly have a child that might need it. There are many people at the school after hours, many doing extreme exercise, and many older people. As a qualified first aider myself, I would be very upset if I had to sit by and watch someone die because I didn't have access to a life saving device . And, as a parent, I don't know how I could live with the fact that my childs life COULD have been saved.

[Lady G]

ThePheasant;703289 wrote: Over here in the US (well our area anyway), these devices are becoming more available - schools, shopping malls, nearly everywhere. Granted a trained First Aider would be better, however these devices go through step by step instructions so even an unqualified person can use. Also, these devices don't take away the need for chest massage, that still is required (unlike they make out on TV - I thought so too).

I could possibly have a child that might need it. There are many people at the school after hours, many doing extreme exercise, and many older people. As a qualified first aider myself, I would be very upset if I had to sit by and watch someone die because I didn't have access to a life saving device . And, as a parent, I don't know how I could live with the fact that my childs life COULD have been saved.


Agreed!!!!!!!!!

[Peg]

Just last month, our school had use for their AED. A high school senior had a heart attack while running laps. The teacher did the chest massage while waiting for the school nurse. She used the AED. The boy is alive and well and back in school. Heart problems know no age. Being young doesn't mean being invincible. I think access and training should be mandatory of all teachers and staff.

[Lisa]

I think it's wonderful idea to have them in schools. I don't think my daughters school has one. I haven't heard,but I will check. Yes,if the school has one, they should make it accessible anytime childern or adults are in the building. Like you said,It would be awful to know,a life could have been saved if only it was available. I have heard that the device is pretty self explanatory,and not hard to use. I can understand the school being cautious about children getting a hold of it. They need to work out a plan though, to make it avaliable at a time of need.

Lisa

.

[KathyM]

Well. AEDS are not alittle extreme. All parents, please listen to me. My son, Matthew, went into Sudden Cardiac Arrest, while conditioning for baseball tryouts at his high school in Tampa, Fl. It was after schools hours. As Matt laid on the ground, fighting for his life, the coach tried to perform CPR. Matthew died, in front of me, his dad, his teammates, and hundred of others students that were on the field when Matt went down. I later found out, the school had three AED units inside the main buildings, locked up. Nobody in the faculty was aware of where they were or even trained to use them. (Although, these are simply devices, that anyone could operate). CPR alone is not enough when someone goes into Sudden Cardiac Arrest, they need to be defibrillated immediately. Seconds are precious. Matt, was 17 years old, he deserved a chance. An AED would have given him that chance. Please dont take the issue of these units lightly. All schools NEED them, and need to be accessible, especially to the athletic fields. The pain never goes away, I miss him every minute. Please make sure your kids schools have AED's and ask for the list of people that are trained.

[Lady G]

KathyM;704386 wrote: Well. AEDS are not alittle extreme. All parents, please listen to me. My son, Matthew, went into Sudden Cardiac Arrest, while conditioning for baseball tryouts at his high school in Tampa, Fl. It was after schools hours. As Matt laid on the ground, fighting for his life, the coach tried to perform CPR. Matthew died, in front of me, his dad, his teammates, and hundred of others students that were on the field when Matt went down. I later found out, the school had three AED units inside the main buildings, locked up. Nobody in the faculty was aware of where they were or even trained to use them. (Although, these are simply devices, that anyone could operate). CPR alone is not enough when someone goes into Sudden Cardiac Arrest, they need to be defibrillated immediately. Seconds are precious. Matt, was 17 years old, he deserved a chance. An AED would have given him that chance. Please dont take the issue of these units lightly. All schools NEED them, and need to be accessible, especially to the athletic fields. The pain never goes away, I miss him every minute. Please make sure your kids schools have AED's and ask for the list of people that are trained.


I stand fully corrected! I feel for your loss Kathy.

[Pheasy]

KathyM;704386 wrote: Well. AEDS are not alittle extreme. All parents, please listen to me. My son, Matthew, went into Sudden Cardiac Arrest, while conditioning for baseball tryouts at his high school in Tampa, Fl. It was after schools hours. As Matt laid on the ground, fighting for his life, the coach tried to perform CPR. Matthew died, in front of me, his dad, his teammates, and hundred of others students that were on the field when Matt went down. I later found out, the school had three AED units inside the main buildings, locked up. Nobody in the faculty was aware of where they were or even trained to use them. (Although, these are simply devices, that anyone could operate). CPR alone is not enough when someone goes into Sudden Cardiac Arrest, they need to be defibrillated immediately. Seconds are precious. Matt, was 17 years old, he deserved a chance. An AED would have given him that chance. Please dont take the issue of these units lightly. All schools NEED them, and need to be accessible, especially to the athletic fields. The pain never goes away, I miss him every minute. Please make sure your kids schools have AED's and ask for the list of people that are trained.


:-4 Kathy, I am so sorry to hear about Matthew. :-4



What happened to your son strengthens my resolve to get this changed in my school district. I seriously, would say to all out there, check about the AED at your school, even workplace - they should NEVER be under lock and key.

What happened to Kathy's son says it all.

:-4 To you Kathy :-4

Welcome to FG Kathy, stay a while - we have some great people here.

[spot]

Here you are Pheasy, this goes with what you were talking about.