The AED has become commonplace in schools, airports, shopping centers, commercial buildings and other public venues.
“We are getting more people using our public facilities and it’s becoming more a community standard,” City Administrator Ed Driggers said. “The concern is liability.”
The AED has become commonplace in schools, airports, shopping centers, commercial buildings and other public venues. Only half of heart attack victims will need a shock while the other half will require CPR. Studies suggest the first eight minutes of a heart attack are vital to victims receiving a shock.
“We’re finding they (AEDs) are showing up in churches, too,” Driggers said. “If we can save one life by having the equipment it would be worth it. Their use is more intuitive and there has been a change in instruction making it viable.”
The purchase of the AED was not listed as a line item expense in the 2013-2014 fiscal year budget, but Driggers said the costs are approximately $1,000 each. “We have available funding,” Driggers said. City Hall, the Cannon Centre and possibly parks and recreation venues and the city police department are the likely placements, he said.