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[June 15, 2006]

Maryland high schools begin carrying portable heart defibrillators

(Frederick News-Post, The (Frederick, MD) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Jun. 13--FREDERICK -- Not long after 17-year-old Walkersville High School junior Chris Lovejoy collapsed on a softball field in June 2004, paramedics arrived and resuscitated him with a device that will now become commonplace at all Maryland high school athletic events.


Two Walkersville High staff administered life-saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation until an ambulance got there. Emergency personnel then used an automatic external defibrillator, or AED, to shock Chris' heart back into rhythm.

Rescuers followed the cardiac chain of survival, FOUR STEPS THAT GREATLY INCREASE A HEART ATTACK VICTIM'S CHANCES OF LIVING:

--First, early access to care. In other words, calling 911.

--Second, early cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR.

--Third, early defibrillation.

--Finally, early advanced cardiac life support in hospital.

While the other stages in the chain are important, the most critical is the third: Electric shock applied to the victim to save the heart from an abnormal, chaotic, and potentially fatal interruption of its rhythm.

Although the other stages of the chain are important, the most critical is the third. It's why many organizations, including the Red Cross and American Heart Association, are advocating greater use of AEDs nationwide.

A Maryland law that went into effect last week means help is nearby if a high-school athlete is stricken suddenly during competition or practice -- every school in the state must now have an AED on hand, as well as someone trained and certified to use it.

In Chris' case, it helped that Walkersville emergency services are next door to the school, said Christina Stelljes, a health and safety staff member with the Frederick County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Rescuers arrived quickly with the AED.

"If they'd have had one at the school it would have been that much faster," she said.

Maryland is not alone in mandating AED use. Over the last six years every state legislature has become more actively involved in AED legislation, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

All 50 states have adopted defibrillator laws. Some, like Pennsylvania, Delaware, Illinois and New York, place AEDs specifically in schools, according to the NCSL.

Each year, nearly 220,000 people die of sudden cardiac arrest, according to the American Heart Association; 5,000 to 7,000 of those, without symptoms or warning, are under age 18. Many of these victims have from congenital and undiagnosed heart problems. Some cardiac-related deaths happen on the athletic field.

Athletic deaths are, fortunately, rare, at around one in 200,000 to 300,000. Saying exactly how many is difficult because no national database detailing deaths exists.

AEDs are commonly no larger than a laptop computer, with two electrodes that administer a shock. Once the two paddles are applied to the chest, the machine detects the heartbeat to establish if there is a shockable rhythm. Some machines talk users through the process of restarting the heart, others have visual prompts.

It warns rescuers to stand back. It charges. The rescuer presses a button and the machine shocks the heart.

The device has become a routine addition to emergency supplies in many places.

Airlines carry them, as do malls, hotels, fitness centers and private businesses. The Frederick County Court House has had one for five years, which has been used 11 times, mostly on inmates. In 2004, after Federal Drug Administration approval, AEDs became available over the counter for personal use.

The Frederick County commissioners allocated $96,000 in their budget to buy 32 portable defibrillators for the county's nine high schools because of the new state law.

The Frederick County chapter of the Red Cross will help school officials with the training, Ms. Stelljes said.

Three to four units will be allocated to each high school, said Marita Loose, school system spokeswoman. The units have not yet been purchased.

Eight counties in Maryland already have AEDs: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Caroline, Dorchester, Garrett, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester. The new Maryland law will require the other 16 -- a total of 142 high schools -- to create AED programs also.

The portable defibrillators cost from $1,500 to $3,000 a piece, and average $2,300, according to the American Red Cross.

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