Evergreen USA

by Ken Roy

Over 250,000 people die in the United States every year due to sudden cardiac arrest. Survival rates could be greatly improved if more victims were quickly treated with an automated external defibrillator. An automated external defibrillator, or AED, is a computerized medical device that delivers an electric shock to the heart, halting sudden cardiac arrest and restoring normal heart rhythms. We are starting to see more of these in our RV parks and campgrounds as they become more affordable (units that originally cost $3,000 can now be purchased for half that price). The American Heart Association predicts that as many as 50,000 lives could be saved annually with broad deployment of AEDs. Following are some things to consider if you are interested in purchasing an AED or if you already have one.

The primary consideration prior to buying an AED is the time it takes first responders to reach your park. Studies show that survival rates are greatly increased if the victim is treated within 4 minutes of their cardiac arrest. Therefore, your need increases if you are in a remote location or if your responders aren't full time employees. Another factor is the amount of physical activity taking place at your campground. Some states require AEDs at fitness facilities due to the added stress physical exertion places on the heart. An exercise room or regular sporting events such as basketball, baseball, volleyball, and/or swimming will raise the chances of a camper going into cardiac arrest. The demographics of your campers should also be factored in since the elderly are more prone to heart problems. However, people of any age can go into cardiac arrest, so parks with a large volume of people coming through the gates can be as likely to have an incident as a retirement community half the size. .

A campground/RV park that provides an AED will be held to a higher standard of care and you'll need to follow all codes and recommendations to prevent significantly increasing your liability. These over the counter AEDs are very user friendly as they'll guide you through each step (the higher end models even use voice commands). They will monitor the patient's heart and will not deliver a shock if it is not necessary. However, you'll still need to follow the requirements of your state for training and proper use of the AED. All manufacturer requirements for maintenance need to be strictly adhered to with corresponding records kept. Some states also require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, but Evergreen recommends it even if it is not state code as it will be needed in many rescues. You'd be vulnerable to a lawsuit if someone died because no one was able to give CPR (or performed it incorrectly) after the AED was used successfully. The American Heart Association offers a Heartsaver AED Course, which teaches CPR and covers the operation of an AED. Smaller parks should have at least one full time employee fully trained and larger parks should have more depending on the size of the staff.

States are passing new laws every year legislating where these AEDs should be mandatory and what training is necessary for proper operation. As of the writing of this article, it was not mandatory for campgrounds/RV parks in any state to have an AED on site. However, New York does require them for places of public assembly and recreational swimming facilities. Other areas some states are requiring AED placement include schools (and school sponsored athletic events), day care centers, government buildings and health clubs. It is certainly possible that one or more states may add campgrounds and RV parks in the future as they become more common. Other laws relate to what training is necessary. Some states require specific training courses and some require registering or notifying your local emergency medical service of the type of AED you have and the location it will be at. You must research the laws of your state and make sure you are following all related codes!

The benefits of providing an AED are obvious, but only with the corresponding training and diligent maintenance. You need to research any laws your state may have regarding training and use of AEDs, and remember that new legislation is coming every year and it's up to you to stay informed. Another option is to discuss it with the first responders in your area to see if they feel it's a good fit for your campground/RV park.