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Public Access Defibrillation (PAD)

Huntington Hosptial is committed to Public Access Defibrillation, because we value the well-being of every member of our community.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is one of the leading causes of death among adults in North America. Each year, it claims the lives of a quarter million people in the United States alone. Once every one or two minutes, another victim is stricken, often without warning. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has issued a call for "full public access" to the lifesaving capabilities of Automated External Defibrillators (AED).

"Rapid defibrillation and early CPR are the two major contributors to survival of adult victims of SCA," according to the AHA. "AED is one of the most promising methods of treating cardiac arrest."

Huntington Hospital's PAD Program was developed in conjunction with the AHA. It is designed to outfit and train those in the community who are interested in providing this lifesaving service.

The Heart of Our Community
Huntington Hospital's Program includes:

	Consultation on equipment
	NYS/AHA-certified training and education for your staff
	Development of a site-specific emergency response plan
	Collaborative agreement including ongoing medical supervision and support
	Continuous educational training and competency assessment

What is an AED?
(Automated External Defibrillator)

An AED is a device used to administer an electric shock to the heart through the chest wall. Built-in computers assess the patient's heart rhythm, judge whether defibrillation is necessary, and then administer a shock, if necessary. Audible and/or visual prompts guide the user through the process.

AED Training Requirements

AED Training Requirements
The American Heart Association (AHA) has developed the Huntington PAD Program for first responders and rescuers who are not medical professionals. The course trains rescuers in CPR and the use of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

The four-hour course includes a video, practice on the equipment, and a skills evaluation.

Along with instruction on the basic CPR techniques and AED operation, the session also covers the use of barrier devices and first aid for choking victims.

At the end of the session, participants should be able to:

	Describe the links in the AHA chain of survival
	Describe how to activate the local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System
	Recognize the signs of heart attack, cardiac arrest, stroke, and foreign body airway obstruction

The trainees will also learn how to use an AED, a pocket face mask, and a telephone to save lives. By practicing with an adult-sized manikin, they will learn how to:

	Call 911 or the local EMS System
	Perform rescue breathing using mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-mask techniques
	Perform one-rescuer adult CPR
	Relieve foreign airway obstructions in adults
	Provide defibrillation with an AED in less than ninety seconds from placement of the equipment at the victim's side

The format of the course makes it easy for participants to learn. The presentation and practice of the lifesaving skills is divided into distinct sections using short practices after watching the instruc-tional video. In the CPR portion, rescue breathing and chest compressions are taught individually before the student integrates the skills together. Students also practice using the AED before
adding the CPR techniques.

Course Completion
In order to pass the course, students must score an 85% or higher on a twenty question multiple-choice test. They must also successfully display the use of AED and CPR techniques. Remediation and re-evaluation are provided when necessary.

After successfully completing the course, participants receive an American Heart Association Heartsaver AED course completion card. It is recommended that the training be renewed after two years.

Ongoing Training
Refresher training should take place once every two years. More frequent training may be recommended and dictated by local policies and regulations. The AHA suggests that a review of CPR and AED skills be done regularly for all potential AED users.

Huntington's Heart Saver team:



Paul Maccaro, MD
Director of Arrhythmia Services
at Huntington Hospital

Margaret Krepp, RN, MS, ANP
Nursing Administration

Carol Patrick, RN, MS CCRN
Assistant Director, Critical Care Services

Advanced Cardiac Life Support, (ACLS) Instructors
Basic Life Support, (BLS) Instructors
Automated External Defibrillator, (AED) Instructors

Contact us for fees and more information:
By Phone: (631) 351-7922
By E-mail: pad@hunthosp.org