Scope

Carleton College is committed to the health and safety of its students, faculty, staff, other members of the Carleton community and visitors. College departments and other administrative units may acquire an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) with College approval. 

Standard

All AEDs on campus will satisfy applicable Minnesota law and guidance relating to the use and maintenance of AEDs.

Good Samaritan Laws

Minnesota’s Good Samaritan statute, as amended in the 2011 Minnesota Statues, section 604A.01 provides immunity both to persons operating an AED to render emergency care and to persons or entities providing or maintaining AEDs for use in rendering emergency care.  This law was designed to encourage people to use AEDs to save lives by reducing or eliminating the fear that they could be held liable for ordinary negligence in rendering such care.  Carleton does encourage personnel to have prior training when using an AED.  Staff should be aware that they are not required to use an AED. 

Reason for the Carleton AED Policy

Each year, more than 250,000 Americans die from sudden cardiac arrest.  According to medical experts, the key to survival is timely initiation of a “chain of survival”, including CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).  An AED is used to treat victims who experience sudden cardiac arrest and/or a heart attack.  The AED must only be applied to victims who are unconscious and not breathing (however, when in doubt, attach the pads to an unconscious victim).  Non-medical personnel can use these simplified electronic machines to treat a person in cardiac arrest. The American Heart Association notes that at least 20,000 lives could be saved annually by prompt use of AEDs.

Definitions

• Automated External Defibrillator (AED): a device used to treat victims who experience sudden cardiac arrest.
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): is an emergency medical procedure for a victim in cardiac or respiratory arrest.  CPR involves physical interventions to create artificial circulation through rhythmic pressing on the patient’s chest to manually pump blood through the heart, called chest compressions.
• Good Samaritan Laws: in the United States are laws or acts protecting from liability those who choose to aid others who are injured or ill.  They are intended to reduce bystanders’ hesitation to assist, for fear of being sued or prosecuted for unintentional injury or wrongful death.
• Heart Attack: A heart attack is the death of, or damage to, part of the heart muscle because the supply of blood to the heart muscle is severely reduced or stopped.
• Sudden Cardiac Arrest: is the abrupt cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively during systole.
• Systole: the contraction, or period of contraction, of the heart, especially of the ventricles, during which blood is forced into the aorta and pulmonary artery.

Deployment

1. The AEDs, where available and accessible, may be used in emergency situations when sudden cardiac arrest occurs. Individuals, who have volunteered, will be trained in the use and operation of the device.  Such training shall be in accordance with the standards set forth by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.
2. The “AED Medical Advisor” will provide medical oversight for AEDs under this program and provide the prescription required to obtain an AED.
3. AEDs will be placed in an accessible location and will be inspected in accordance with the operational guidelines of the manufacturer by the Director of Recreational Sports & Manager Recreation Center or designee.
4. The Carleton College Emergency Medical alert system should be activated immediately upon the discovery of a situation in which the use of an AED is anticipated. Activation will be by dialing 9- 911 (from a campus phone) and then immediately calling Carleton Security at 507.222.4444. 
5. College Departments and Offices interested in learning more should contact Director of Recreational Sports & Manager Recreation Center at 507.222.4481.

See below for a list of AED locations on campus.  Also, please see the Recreation Center Web site for additional information on department/employee responsibilities, incident reporting, and AED maintenance.

AED Locations