Early defibrillation has been shown to increase the potential for patient survival. Therefore, the placement,
registration, and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in the community are all critical components in the
treatment of patients experiencing sudden cardiac arrest - trained responders, public education programs and
accessible AEDs are the key to King County having one of the highest survival rates in the world.
The King County EMS Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) program aims to increase the registration and access to AEDs throughout King County, particularly in locations frequented by large numbers of people such as businesses, public facilities, and corporate sites. Currently, there are approximately 2,500 AEDs registered in the King County PAD Registry.
In 2009-2010, the EMS Division engaged the cities of Burien, Renton, Shoreline, Woodinville and Kent to participate in RAMPART, a pilot project to ensure a Regional Approach to Municipal Public AED Registry and Training.
During the year long pilot project, 33 new AEDs were placed in public locations and registered in the PAD Registry. An additional 62 existing AEDs were located within these jurisdictions and subsequently registered. Approximately 2,066 city and county employees were trained in CPR and use of an AED. Such encouraging results led the EMS Division to expand RAMPART to ten to twelve cities in King County in 2011.
Also scheduled to occur in 2011 is the kick-off of a coordinated public awareness campaign. The EMS Division will educate business and public leaders about the need for AEDs, the life-saving potential of the devices, and the importance of registering them in the PAD Registry.
The campaign will use a combination of approaches that may include media, advertising, and direct contact with targeted businesses and individuals.
The importance of the PAD and RAMPART efforts were recently highlighted in a Dutch study published in December 2010. The study surveyed people from 38 nations passing through a central railway station. The study findings revealed that 47% of the subjects recognized an AED.
Once the AED was identified for the subjects, only 47% reported they would be willing to use it if an emergency occurred. Although North Americans in the survey identified and were willing to use AEDs at the highest rates (75%/ 65%), access and availability can be key factors that both PAD and RAMPART intend to improve.
The King County EMS Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) program aims to increase the registration and access to AEDs throughout King County, particularly in locations frequented by large numbers of people such as businesses, public facilities, and corporate sites. Currently, there are approximately 2,500 AEDs registered in the King County PAD Registry.
In 2009-2010, the EMS Division engaged the cities of Burien, Renton, Shoreline, Woodinville and Kent to participate in RAMPART, a pilot project to ensure a Regional Approach to Municipal Public AED Registry and Training.
During the year long pilot project, 33 new AEDs were placed in public locations and registered in the PAD Registry. An additional 62 existing AEDs were located within these jurisdictions and subsequently registered. Approximately 2,066 city and county employees were trained in CPR and use of an AED. Such encouraging results led the EMS Division to expand RAMPART to ten to twelve cities in King County in 2011.
Also scheduled to occur in 2011 is the kick-off of a coordinated public awareness campaign. The EMS Division will educate business and public leaders about the need for AEDs, the life-saving potential of the devices, and the importance of registering them in the PAD Registry.
The campaign will use a combination of approaches that may include media, advertising, and direct contact with targeted businesses and individuals.
The importance of the PAD and RAMPART efforts were recently highlighted in a Dutch study published in December 2010. The study surveyed people from 38 nations passing through a central railway station. The study findings revealed that 47% of the subjects recognized an AED.
Once the AED was identified for the subjects, only 47% reported they would be willing to use it if an emergency occurred. Although North Americans in the survey identified and were willing to use AEDs at the highest rates (75%/ 65%), access and availability can be key factors that both PAD and RAMPART intend to improve.