Entities asked to register AEDs for dispatch use
February 17, 2012 at 3:11 pm in Worthington Daily Globe
Police chief says mapping of devices could save lives
WORTHINGTON Unlike 35 other states in the U.S., Minnesota has no official laws or rules regarding registration of automated external defibrillators, or AEDs. Continue Reading
I am Elliot Fisch, CEO of Atrus, Inc. While our location-based software AED Link does, in fact, provide information about registered AEDs to dispatchers, there is so much more to it than just that.
• It is my experience that most mapping software currently available is usually address specific, meaning it will it find an AED that is nearby the specific address. AED Link locates AEDs within a 600’ radius. So if something happens in a coffee shop and the AED is in a bank next door it will be identified.
• Our system will also activate a “reverse 9-1-1” call and/or text to the volunteer trained responders attached to the specific AED and summon them to the scene. This provides someone who knows CPR, is trained to use that AED and knows specifically where the AED is. This is twice as quick as sending someone to get the AED. Time is the most critical element in a cardiac arrest situation.
• The proposed solution may not identify date and time of operation of the facility that has the AED. Ours does and will prevent someone from being told to get an AED that is not available.
• The proposed system should also have a quality control element to it, like the National AED Registry does. You must be certain that:
o The AED is still where it’s listed six months or two years from now.
o That the AED is in working order.
o The electrodes and batteries have been checked or changed when they expire.
• It is my experience that once data is entered into mapping software someone has to be responsible for ongoing data integrity. Otherwise the data is static the moment it is entered. An infrastructure must be in place to make this happen.
Entities sending in information will require man-hours of time to enter the data. After that, someone must be responsible for maintaining the accuracy of that information. Our web-based, AED owner-responsible system does not require additional work for municipal employees.
Finally, to be clear about the investment, it is estimated that your first year cost is $1,000 with subsequent year fees of $600 or $50/month. The article makes it sound like it’s $600/year PLUS a start up of $1,000.
Yes, the mapping software will “work”. But is it in the best use of everyone’s time and the underlying cost to the community and will it provide for the AED quality assurances needed?
Elliot Fisch, CEO
Atrus, Inc.
http://www.atrusinc.com
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