Introductory Statement
This draft policy was
drawn up by the AED Response Team (Mary O’Rourke, Heather McCullagh
& Patricia Cunniffe) in conjunction with the Board of Management of
Cloonakilla N.S
Rationale
The policy was drafted because the
school was donated an Automated External Defibrillator (A.E.D.). The
defibrillator contains special computer software that can analyse the
cardiac rhythm and deliver a shock ONLY if the heart requires it. A
“chain of survival” is based on 4 links – Early Access, Early C.P.R.,
Early Defibrillation and Early Advanced Care. Establishing an A.E.D.
Responder Programme can strengthen the first 3 links of the “Chain of
Survival” in our school.
Aims & Objectives
1. To provide an A.E.D. Responder Programme in our school
2.
To ensure that the A.E.D. is placed in a specific location & that
responders are trained in C.P.R. and in the use of the A.E.D.
Roles & Responsibilities
The AED Response
Team are Mary O’Rourke, Heather Mc Cullagh and Patricia Cunniffe. They
have all received training in the use of C.P.R. and Heartsaver AED by
the Irish Heart Foundation Society. All of the above have been
accredited with certificates. They are the only members of staff
authorised by the B.O.M. to use the A.E.D. Mary O’Rourke is responsible
for ensuring that the defibrillator is in proper working order at all
times. The A.E.D. is checked on a monthly basis and each check is
recorded. A.E.D. parts will be ordered as required from Cardiac
Services, Dublin and the cost will be covered by the B.O.M.
Procedures
In the event of cardiac arrest in a
child 8 & over or an adult on school property or in the the
immediate vicinity the following procedure will apply:
1. A member of the AED Response Team will be summoned
2. Having assessed the situation a call will be made to emergency services and C.P.R. will commence
3,
The AED Response Team Member will proceed with C.P.R. until the A.E.D.
arrives. This will then be used until medical help arrives or until the
responder is no longer able to continue
4. The AED will be stored at all times on shelf in hall of main school building and will be marked accordingly
5.
The above procedure will be used on all children (8 &over)/ adults
in the event of cardiac arrest unless parents have indicated to the
contrary that they do not wish this procedure to be used (see attached
letter)
6. Counselling will be provided for responders to “debrief”
after an event by the doctor who is the medical director of the
programme. Feedback will also be provided to the responders from the
medical director
Resources
The A.E.D will be stored in the hall in
main school building on shelf. The First Aid Shelf is located in marked
press in staffroom. A.E.D. Response Team Member Certificates are filed
in Filing Cabinet in staffroom. These are valid for a period of 2
years. However A.E.D. providers will complete an A.E.D. skills check at
the start of each school year.
Evaluation
The success of this policy is measured from a set criteria:
Positive feedback from staff, parents, B.O.M.
Positive feedback from medical director
Competent use of C.P.R. and A.E.D. in the event of cardiac arrest by the A.E.D. Response Team
Link to Emergency Services
Emergency No: 112
Ambulance Dispatch Unit Tullamore: 057 9358174 or 057 9358175
Ambulance Station Athlone: 090 6470870
Athlone Hospital No: 090 6475301
Medical Supervision
Dr Tony Lowry