To Defibrillate or Not?

by Tom Morton T

In deciding whether or not a defibrillator is needed at your arena, keep in mind that you have employees, skaters and spectators in your facility and their health and safety should be considered.

he purpose of this article is to provide food for thought for ice rink managers to consider when

addressing the question of whether the ice rink should have a defibrillator available at the rink. As with any safety equipment, there are both pros and cons to consider. An automated external defibrillator,

commonly referred to as an AED, is a small, portable electronic device designed to deliver an electric shock to the victim of a sudden cardiac arrest (heart attack). It is said that ventricular fibrillation may be restored to normal rhythm up to 60 percent of the time. OSHA reports that approximately 890

deaths from heart disease occur outside of the hospital or emergency room daily — the majority caused by sudden loss of heart function. Chances of survival from a sudden

heart attack diminish by 7 to 10 percent for each minute without immediate CPR or defibrillation, according to OSHA. After 10 minutes, resuscitation rarely succeeds.

State Regulations Vary

OSHA does not presently have a defibrillator regulation; however, OSHA does address exposure to first aid hazards in various specific standards for general industry. Tere is no common law duty for a business to have an AED. However, depending on the state in which your rink is located, you may be required to have an AED. Terefore, each ice rink manager should determine whether their individual state has a regulation pertaining to defibrillators.

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While space considerations do not allow a detailed review of each state’s requirements, note that 50 states either have enacted legislation or have pending bills related to defibrillators. Tey relate to a variety of matters that may or may not specifically apply to an ice rink. Simply as a general overview, some states have required defibrillators in schools, health clubs, day care centers, dental offices, places of public assembly, athletic facilities, etc. In the past, some businesses have

expressed concerns regarding legal liability and litigation. Tey have perceived such concerns as a barrier to purchasing and using an AED. Some have also expressed concerns regarding the need for ongoing employee training in the use of an AED and cite its added cost and affect on insurance premiums. On the other hand, those who are in

favor of having a defibrillator available in any facility, including an ice rink, say that the possible saving of a life is reason enough to have one. Some states, such as New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut and New Jersey, have “Good Samaritan Protection,” which protects certain persons and entities from liability in connection with the use of an AED. Rink owners need to consult with their own attorney regarding their use of an AED. In deciding whether or not a defibrillator

is needed at your arena, keep in mind that you have employees, skaters and spectators in your facility and their health and safety should be considered.

ISI EDGE SPRING 2016