Last modified: Tuesday, March 23, 2004
Survey seeks to locate automated external defibrillators and their funding
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Safety management faculty in the Department of Applied Health Science at Indiana University Bloomington are asking business owners and safety directors statewide to help them fill in some important gaps, which could save lives and tap unknown amounts of money.
In recent years the federal government has committed tens of millions of dollars to making automated external defibrillators (AEDs) more accessible because of their crucial role in resuscitating people suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation alone cannot revive someone suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. As a general rule, according to the American Red Cross, the chance of survival decreases by 10 percent for every minute a victim goes without defibrillation. An AED is a portable, easy-to-use electronic device that can provide the defibrillation needed to restore a normal heart rhythm.
Trent Applegate, a visiting lecturer in the Department of Applied Health Science, which is housed in IU's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, said he wants to find out how AEDs are distributed throughout the state -- and more notably where they are not -- so he and his colleagues can help link the available funding with areas where AEDs are lacking.
Applegate is asking the owners or safety directors of both small and large businesses across the state to fill out a survey (https://www.iub.edu/~safety/) about AEDs, their usage and related training, the results of which will be used in Applegate's research project.
He and his colleagues plan to analyze the survey results and other statistics as part of their research so they can prepare a report that, among other things, could show the survival rate of a person suffering from sudden cardiac arrest in a certain location in the state. The information, they hope, will help public health officials and businesses tap the millions of dollars made available for AED accessibility.
Dominic Cooper, an associate professor in the Department of Applied Health Science and a visiting professor of industrial/organizational psychology, is a specialist in safety education. Cooper said he has tried to determine how the money for AEDs has been spent, but the answers are surprisingly hard to find.
"No one knows who's got the money, or where you get it," Cooper said.
Business participation in the survey, which takes about 10 minutes to complete, will be invaluable, Applegate said. He and Cooper will collect survey results through May and prepare their report over the summer. Eventually they would like to see the survey used in other states for the same purpose.
Anyone needing a hard copy of the survey can call Applegate at 812-856-4009. He also can be reached at tapplega@indiana.edu.
