Middletown Public Schools                                                                                   No. 5050

 

 

School-Based Public Access Defibrillation Program (AED) 

 

Introduction: 

Each year approximately 250,000 people die from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The  chance of survival decreases an estimated 10% each minute without defibrillation even  when prompt bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is initiated. Use of an  Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is intended to maximize the chance of survival  based upon the steps taken during the critical minutes before emergency medical  services (EMS) providers arrive and assume responsibility for the care of the patient.  The following policy and procedures are designed to direct trained responders in the  Middletown Public School System to deliver early defibrillation to victims of sudden  cardiac arrest. 

Purpose: 

The purpose of this policy is to define and establish standard operating guidelines that  are required by the Rhode Island Department of Public Health, in order for the  Middletown Public Schools to acquire, maintain and utilize Automatic External  Defibrillators (AED). The policy is intended to greatly increase the chance of survival of  a sudden cardiac arrest prior to the arrival of the local EMS. This policy does not create  an obligation to use the AED’s nor to create an expectation that either an AED or trained  employee will be present at every event. This policy will identify the AED Program  Coordinators, Site Leaders, and the School Physician. 

Objectives: 

●       Establish an AED program team to work in conjunction with local town and  Emergency Medical Services personnel to provide access and education to the  school community. 

●       Educate school personnel to recognize the signs and symptoms of SCA.  ∙ Educate school personnel in the appropriate use of AED. Provide training and  certification for interested individuals in CPR/AED. 

Individuals Responsible for the Middletown Public Schools AED Program 

The Middletown AED Program is a combined effort of the Middletown Fire Rescue and Middletown Public Schools.  Program Coordinator, Middletown Fire Chief and or Designee   Middletown Public Schools Facilities Director, Site Leader(s), Building School Nurse Teachers, Building Principals, Athletic Director, School Physician as annually appointed by School Committee 

Responsibilities  

The Middletown Fire Chief and or his designee and the Middletown Public Schools  Facilities Management Director, in consultation with the school physician will: 

●       Oversee all medical aspects of the program 

●       Ensures compliance with appropriate regulatory requirements State Law  ∙ Ensure proper skills training and maintenance for AED responders  ∙ Establish and review procedures for AED use 

●       Establish a quality review and improvement program, including post drill and  post debriefing 

●       Oversee the regular maintenance of all AED equipment 

Program Coordinators will:  

●       Coordinate and document and maintain records of initial AED training, annual  refresher and biennial retraining, and any additional training on an ad-hoc basis  to designated AED trained staff 

●       Assist with the development and implementation of AED program  ∙ Act as liaison among the AED program participants 

●       Coordinate and oversee non-medical aspects of the program 

●       Coordinate documentation (relating to training, maintenance, use, and post  incident data collection 

●       Coordinate training of AED certified staff 

●       Maintain master list of all AED certified staff and training records  ∙ Act as a resource to the AED program Medical Director and Site Leaders 

 

Site Leaders will: 

●       Be responsible for maintaining building level lists of the Building Medical  Response Team 

●       Be responsible for the day-to-day accountability of the AED program during the  contracted school year 

●       In the case of the Athletic Department the Athletic Director will be responsible  for the dissemination and monitoring of the AED’s under his/her care as well as  monitoring the certification of all coaches 

●       Check AED equipment and accessories (by site leader/or designee) and report  problems to the Program Coordinator 

●       Notify the Program Coordinator if a unit is out of service 

●       Retains copy of usage report for documentation 

●       Responsible for Immediate post-incident debriefing

 

Training - Bi-Annual training and re-certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) according to  currently accepted guidelines as provided by either the American Heart Association or  the American Red Cross will be offered for all School Nurse Teachers, Building Medical  Response Team Members, and Middletown Public School personnel. 

All School Nurse/Teachers are required to maintain bi-annual CPR/AED certification by  either the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. 

School Nurses are required to have current  documentation of successful completion of a course of basic life support (BLS) that  includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of AED’s according to standards  and guidelines of the American Heart Association. 

All coaches must be CPR/AED trained as a condition of employment. 

The on-site training will be coordinated and documented by the School Nurse/Teacher,  with the assistance of the EMS liaison. 

Locations  

Two AEDs will be located at both Middletown High and Gaudet Middle Schools. One  AED will be at each elementary school. 

An annual review of the AED locations will be conducted in coordination with the  Middletown Fire Department with the Facilities Director.

 

APPENDIX A 

Maintenance 

Regular inspections of all AED equipment will be conducted by the Middletown Fire  Department.  Maintenance of the AED’s shall be the responsibility of the Middletown Public Schools  Facilities Director.

 

Use of AED 

Emergency Action Instructions: AED’s are located in various, approved locations  around each school building. Each School Nurse/Teacher and building principal  should review the locations of all staff members at the beginning of each school year  during orientation. 

When the Health Office and/or Main Office receives a call with a Medical Emergency  the procedures as outlined in the Middletown Public Schools’ Standing Orders will be  utilized. 

Approved emergency action instructions will be included within each AED box and will  be reviewed annually by the School Nurse Teachers, building administrators and all  staff members at the start of each school year during orientation. 

Evaluation of incident response/review of protocols will take place annually and after  any use of the AED.

A written report of any incident will be provided to the Superintendent, Facilities Director and Fire Department.

Post Evaluation 

●       School Nurse/Teacher notifies the Program Coordinator, who notifies the AED  program Medical Director 

●       School Nurse/Teacher completes incident report and forwards copy to the  Program Coordinator. The Program Leader will retain one copy of the report  and forward one copy to the AED program Medical Director and Central Office 

●       After use, the AED will be put back in working order by a Middletown Rescue  representative. 

 

APPENDIX  C

Each principal, in accordance with this policy, will cause a brief synopsis of this policy  and the disciplinary actions that will be taken in each school for the misuse,  compromising of equipment, false alarms caused by tampering with the cases, or in  general mistreatment of the AED equipment, to be placed in each school’s respective  handbook. 

 

 

 

1^st Reading – June 15, 2006 

2^nd Reading & Approval – July 13, 2006

Revise & Review - October 16, 2025

3 Year Review Due - October 2028