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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 08-17-2010 - 7cORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: August 17, 2010 Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT• Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) Program Guidelines DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): #1: Inventory of Current Placements and Recommended Placement Sites #2 Program Guidelines INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Montes de Oca, 919-245 -6100 Pam Jones, 919-245-2650 PURPOSE: To provide a programmatic guideline for the Board's consideration regarding the specification, purchase, placement/installation, use, monitoring and maintenance of Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) in County-owned and/or operated facilities. BACKGROUND: AEDs are self-contained cardiac monitor/defibrillators initially intended for use by the public to shock the heart back into rhythm in the event of cardiac arrest or fibrillation. When a heart fibrillates an inadequate volume of oxygenated blood is circulated throughout the body. According to the American Heart Association, a human brain starved of oxygen can experience irreversible damage within 4-6 minutes. The goal is to have effective cardio- pulmonary resuscitation and converted arrhythmia within this timeframe to give the victim a chance for survival with hopes for a full recovery. AEDs are common additions to public buildings throughout the US, and due to their popularity, the cost per unit has fallen sharply over the past decade. The Board of Commissioners directed the Departments of Emergency Services and Asset Management and Purchasing Services to take inventory of the current "fleet" of AEDs installed in County facilities, determine their status and develop recommendations for guidelines outlining consistent specifications, purchasing, installation and maintenance in order to bring consistency to the program. Generally, the AEDs will be placed on each floor of aCounty-owned/operated facility with the goal of access to an AED within 4-6 minutes. The attached guidelines establish standards for specifying, purchasing, placement installation, use and maintenance of the County's fleet of AEDs. 2 FINANCIAL IMPACT: Total programmatic cost is $60,000. Initial funds of $12,000 have been allocated to purchase six AEDs that replace currently-installed units. The remaining $48,000 will be requested over the next three budget cycles. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board: 1. Accept and establish the AED Program Guidelines; and 2. Allocate $16,000 annually over the next three fiscal cycles for the purchase of the AEDs, mounting equipment, and installation. ORANGE COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES AED Current Inventory and Recommended Placement June 2010 ttachment 1 1. Central Orange Senior Center: Mounted near main entrance office near coffee refreshment area. 2. Parks and Recreation (Whiffed Building): Mounted in Parks and Recreation foyer. 3. Parks and Recreation (Efland Soccer Fields): Mounted in First Aid Office. 4. Seymour Center: Mounted downstairs near exercise room. 5. Southern Human Services Center: Near lab area. 6. Sportsplex: Behind desk at entrance. BLDG# NAME FLRS NOTES 007 Courthouse (new) 3 018 Link Center 2 023 Southern Human Services Center 1 024 Jail 2 034 Whiffed Center 4 035 Central Recreation 2 068 Seymour Center 2 069 Sportsplex 2 071 Justice Facility 3 077 Library 2 078 West Campus Office Building 4 079 Gateway Center 2 081 Animal Services 1 082 Hillsborough Commons 1 3 4 Attachment 2 GUIDELINES FOR INSERTION INTO THE POLICY MANUAL MEETING DATE: 8/17/2010 NUMBER: EFFECTIVE DATE: REVISIONS: POLICY: Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) Program Guidelines General According to the American Heart Association, a human brain starved of oxygen can experience irreversible damage within 4-6 minutes. The goal is to have effective cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and converted arrhythmia within this timeframe to give the victim a chance for survival with hopes for a full recovery. Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) are self-contained cardiac monitor/defibrillators initially intended for use by the public to shock the heart back into rhythm in the event of cardiac arrest or fibrillation. When a heart fibrillates an inadequate volume of oxygenated blood is circulated throughout the body. AEDs are common additions to public buildings throughout the US; and due to their popularity, the cost per unit has fallen sharply over the past decade. The Board of Orange County Commissioners wishes to install AEDs in all County facilities that warrant the devices determined by traffic flow, activity or criticality of work performed at certain sites. The Board directed the Emergency Services Department to develop guidelines that specify the purchase, location, installation, maintenance, use, training and monitoring of all AEDs in County-owned or operated facilities. Generally, AEDs will be placed on each floor with public access with the goal of access to an AED within 4-6 minutes. In addition, placement will be based on established standards for access, visibility and signage will be placed that will make it clear to staff and visitors where the AED is located to speed utilization during a medical emergency. Purpose The purpose of these guidelines is to establish standards for the specification, purchase, installation, training, use, maintenance and monitoring of the County's AEDs. Goals To establish awareness by all residents of the value of AEDs, their placement and use in time of need. Develop guidelines that govern the specification for purchasing initial and replacement AEDs to be placed in County owned and/or operated facilities. Design and establish standardized signage and installation guidelines for all current and future AEDs placed in County owned and/or operated facilities and sites. Establish and deliver training for all County employees tasked with maintaining the upkeep and monitoring the use of AEDs. 5 Establish a placement guide that sets initial installation of AEDs in County-owned and/or operated facilities and sites based on traffic flow, criticality of operation at the site or operating risks at certain County work sites. Determine monitoring and data collection models for the upkeep and current use of installed units throughout the system. Scope This guideline applies to all AEDs purchased for County facility installation and/or use, and all personnel responsible for managing the program. SPECIFICATIONS A. All AEDs will be bi-phasic and feature audible prompts and instructions. B. The data generated by the AED must be downloadable to a Microsoft Windows based computer program provided with the AED. C. A copy of the above computer program shall be forwarded to Orange County Emergency Services -EMS Operations Manager. D. For compatibility with the Orange County emergency medical services system, defibrillator pads should be compatible or adaptable to interface with a Physio-Control LifePack 12 cardiac monitor. PLACEMENT A. Priority placement for AEDs is based on the level of public access in a facility, number of employees assigned to the facility and the risk of the work being done in that facility. B. When an AED is placed in a facility, it will be placed within 50 feet of a public entrance or escape stairwell and all signage at the AED site should be clearly visible from that entry point. C. Once a building is identified for AED placement, the goal is that each floor meeting the criteria in (A) above will have an AED. Thus, as more AEDs become available, these facilities should always be considered with priority. INSTALLATION A. All AEDs should be purchased with a cabinet designed for an AED and feature a local, audible alarm when the cabinet is opened to alert others to the emergency. B. The cabinet should be mounted on a wall or other vertical surface in an obvious location. C. The bottom of the cabinet should be no lower than 36 inches above the floor and no higher than 48 inches above the floor. D. An AED and cabinet should never be installed in an area where access to the AED can be impeded by doors, cabinets or other objects. E. No other signage, installation or furnishings shall obscure the signage or installed AED. SIGNAGE A. Each AED and cabinet purchased should also include the appropriate 3D signage for the cabinet area and window stickers or window clings for the public entrance of the building. B. The appropriate signage shall be displayed in the immediate vicinity of the cabinet. C. Each facility that is equipped with an AED shall display a window sticker, window cling, door sticker or sign that indicates that an AED is present within. This emblem/sign shall be no smaller than 6 inches in height and preferably feature a combination of graphics and text. MAINTENANCE A. Each AED will be assigned to a designated County Department. B. A representative of the designated department will visually inspect each AED on a monthly basis and document the inspection on the OCES AED Checklist form. C. Each year the AED will receive a technical assessment by an authorized representative or a member of the OCES staff. D. A member of the OCES staff will inspect and assess the AED each time it is used, regardless of whether a discharge has occurred. USE MONITORING A. Each time an AED is used, the following staff will be notified: a. Department head to whom the AED is assigned; and b. Emergency Services. B. Notification must be made regardless of whether a discharge has occurred or a shock administered.. Mechanical failures must also be noted. Responsibilities Emergency Services The Emergency Services Department is responsible to write and update the Orange County AED Program Guidelines and make recommendations to the County Manager and Board of County Commissioners. Emergency Services will provide a standard "model AED" that other departments can purchase, for which the Emergency Services department will provide technical support and re-supply of soft goods; technical support and re-supply for all AEDs purchased that are not based on the model AED are the responsibility of the department making the purchase. Emergency Services will provide awareness level training and education on AEDs purchased by Orange County. This training is aimed to increase staff awareness of the benefits of the AED and is not equivalent to CPR/First Aid training. Asset Management and Purchasing Services The Asset Management and Purchasing Services Director manages the AED acquisition and replacement process as provided in these guidelines. The Facilities Services Division of AMPS is responsible for installation of cabinetry and signage as provided in these guidelines. Human Resources The Human Resources Department will assure that during orientation, each new staff member is aware of the AED program and aware of the visual indications that an AED is on-site. In addition, the department will issue ongoing information on the program to all County staff on the AED program during events such as the employee appreciation luncheon and in emails and newsletters. County Manager The County Manager's office will make recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners based on information provided by Emergency Services and AMPS. Recommendations will be made during each budget proposal on necessary additions and replacements to the AED program so that the Board can make an informed decision on the program during the budget process. Department Heads Each department head is responsible to identify facilities used by the department that would be candidates for an AED installation as provided in these guidelines. The department head will provide for an AED, cabinetry and signage in the budget process to provide notification to the County Manager's Office that AED placement is recommended. When an AED is placed in a facility, the assigned department head will designate a member of the department staff to handle maintenance and notifications as provided by these guidelines. Employees Employees who are assigned the role of AED monthly care are responsible for ensuring that: A monthly visual check is conducted and that the checklist is completed. Any problems or concerns are forwarded to the Department Head and the contact number on the checklist. AED Operation AEDs are to be operated in keeping with manufacturer's recommendations and specifications, and applicable County guidelines. AEDs should always be used in accordance with the audible prompts and written instructions provided with the AED.