There is no denying that school aged children are less likely to suffer a heart attack than other members of our society, however the fact remains that they can and do occasionally suffer sudden cardiac arrest. In the school, setting this event is most commonly seen in the athletes. Congenital diseases and defects often are the contributing factor especially when athletic activity is particularly harsh. When this does happen, the outcome is often fatal.
This is made all the more horrendous not just because of the victims age but because it was a preventable event. When the proper tools are nearby and people are trained to use them this rarely will be the outcome. A Zoll AED Plus is the tool that will keep more kids from dying from sudden cardiac arrest. All schools should have this life saving equipment and be trained to use it, the first moments of a heart attack are critical to survival and paramedics will take some time to arrive.
No one will readily argue that there is no value to having Zoll AED Plus on hand in school however there will be a few objections and you should be ready to answer them. Below you will find the most common objections along with appropriate responses that should turn some people your way.
Only older people have heart attacks! Why should a school have a Zoll AED Plus? It is a fact that it is rare for a school-aged child to suffer a heart attack, the risk of cardiac arrest leading to death. (A heart attack is caused by blockage while a cardiac arrest is an interruption of the electrical impulse that regulates heartbeat) You can go at this from one of two angles, one is that older adults are in attendance at sporting events and they would be protected or you can likely find an example of a child who has lost their life to cardiac arrest.
Are they dangerous? A Zoll AED Plus is 100% safe. The equipment will not discharge a shock on a beating heart. Therefore, even if a student played doctor with it there is no risk at all.
They are too costly: The best way to counter this argument is to have already secured all or a portion of the needed funds before you talk to parents or school board members. You will find there is little argument when you can show them the money. Another option is to ask them simply how much is the life of a child worth?
These may not be the only objections that you will encounter when you try to implement a Zoll AED Plus program in your school district, legal issues and ongoing maintenance will all be concerns. Nevertheless if you are prepared in advance with pertinent information you will have a much easier time convincing parents and school officials to the necessity of having this life saving equipment.