USE AND MAINTENANCE OF AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS

USE AND MAINTENANCE OF AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS

ag8452Adopted June 11, 2024Revised December 9, 2025

8452 - USE AND MAINTENANCE OF AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS

These guidelines are established as guidance to those who are trained and willing to use School Corporation Automated External Defibrillators ("AEDs") in appropriate emergency medical situations. These guidelines do not create an obligation to use the AEDs nor do they create an expectation that an AED will be available or that a trained employee will be present and/or able to use the AED in the event of a medical emergency. Any individual using a Corporation AED is subject to the immunities established in I.C. 34-30-12-1.

AED SAFETY COORDINATOR

The Director of School Safety will perform the duties of AED "Safety Coordinator."

SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST TRAINING

Each head coach or assistant coach of an athletic activity, marching band leader, drama or musical leader, or sponsor of an extracurricular activity in which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest will be required to participate in a sudden cardiac arrest training course which includes use of an AED. No individual may coach or lead an event in which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest until the individual completes the required training course.

In addition, individuals in the following positions may be included in sudden cardiac arrest training course which includes use of an AED as "expected users" of Corporation AEDs:

  1. all Corporation administrators;

  2. all school nurses;

  3. athletic director(s);

  4. all athletic trainers;

  5. all physical education teachers;

  6. additional staff as deemed appropriate by each building administrator.

Individuals who presently are employed under a regular or supplemental contract for any of these positions must complete a training course in sudden cardiac arrest, which includes the use of an AED as well as CPR as described below. Any of these individuals who is able to produce evidence of completion of the requisite training within the two (2) years prior to the adoption of these guidelines is not required to undergo such training again. Any individual who is awarded a contract or supplemental contract for any of these positions subsequent to the adoption of these guidelines must seek appropriate training within a reasonable period of time.

The Safety Coordinator will schedule and coordinate training in a program consistent with the training protocols established by the National Center for Early Defibrillation (www.early_defib.org) and conducted by an organization listed by the National Center. The Safety Coordinator will maintain all records evidencing training, including copies of the certificates of completion for all individuals (employees and volunteers) who complete training on the use of AEDs. All training will be in compliance with State and/or Federal law.

All expected users must complete annually an AED-CPR skill proficiency demonstration. Each individual’s annual performance will be reviewed. The Safety Coordinator will arrange this annual review.

AED MAINTENANCE

All Corporation AEDs must be maintained and tested according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.

The Safety Coordinator will retain all manufacturer’s guidelines in their office along with any additional specifications or technical information for each approved AED model made available for use in the Corporation.

The Safety Coordinator will oversee the performance of regular maintenance of Corporation AEDs in accordance with the intervals established by the manufacturer. The Safety Coordinator or a designee will perform monthly checks of the AED defibrillator pads and batteries to assure compliance with expiration dates. The Safety Coordinator will re-order replacement supplies for the AED upon determining that existing supplies will expire within the ensuing two (2) months.

The Safety Coordinator or a designee will maintain a weekly checklist to document the proper maintenance of the AEDs as well as monthly inspections.

Following use of an AED, the Safety Coordinator must replace all single use items associated with the AED as quickly as possible.

VENUE-SPECIFIC EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN FOR SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST

The Safety Coordinator will work with the building principal or head facility administrator to develop a venue-specific emergency action plan for sudden cardiac arrest and, for the 2025 - 2026 school year, do so in collaboration with the Indiana Department of Education and the local health department, which includes detailed written instructions establishing steps to reduce death from cardiac arrest in any setting. The venue-specific emergency action plan must include the following:

  1. A cardiac emergency response plan (CERP) that includes the core elements set forth by either the American Heart Association or other nationally recognized recommendations, including recommendations set by the National Athletic Training Association.
  2. A requirement that the CERP be widely distributed and posted throughout the school, rehearsed frequently, and updated annually.
  3. A requirement that AEDs must be clearly marked and easily accessible at each venue where an athletic activity may occur or within one (1) to three (3) minutes of where each athletic activity is held.
  4. A requirement that the School Board work directly with local providers of emergency medical services (as defined in I.C. 16-18-2-110) to integrate the CERP into the community's local provider protocols.
  5. A requirement that AEDs must be made available for use by all individuals, regardless of an individual's training.
  6. A requirement that appropriate school staff and volunteers are trained in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and AED use in a manner that follows evidence-based guidelines set forth by the American Heart Association or other nationally recognized guidelines focused on emergency cardiovascular care.
  7. A systematic procedure for maintaining each AED in proper functioning order and storing needed supplies with the AED.
  8. A requirement that at least one drill will be held before the beginning of each season during which the venue will be used for an activity.

The Principal or Building Administrator will manage the venue specific emergency action plan for sudden cardiac arrest. The plan will be shared with each head coach and assistant coach of an athletic activity, marching band leader, drama or musical leader, and sponsor of an extracurricular activity in which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest. The plan will be posted in a conspicuous place so that it is visible to participants of an activity in the venue. Before the beginning of each season in a venue hosting activities in which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest, the plan will be shared and discussed with the participating students.

AED LOCATIONS

AEDs will be stored in a location that is clearly visible to expected users in the event of an emergency and is accessible outside of normal school hours.

If an AED is to be deployed in accordance with a venue-specific emergency action plan. It will be:

  1. except as provided below, located on the premises where the event in which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest occurs; and
  2. present for the duration of the event in which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

The head coach or assistant coach of an athletic activity, marching band leader, drama or musical leader, or leader of an extracurricular activity in which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest who is conducting an event in which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest will inform all individuals who are coaching or providing leadership at the event of the location of the AED.

One AED may be shared by two or more events in which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest if the following conditions are met:

  1. The events occur at the same time.
  2. The events are in close proximity to each other.
  3. The AED is placed in a location between the events and is present for the duration of the events.
  4. Each head coach and assistant coach of an athletic activity, marching band leader, drama or musical leader, and sponsor of an extracurricular activity in which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest conducting the event is aware of the location of the AED.

Upon installation, the Safety Coordinator must notify all area emergency medical services of the locations of all AEDs.

If an AED is made available for use outside of regular school hours at a site other than a normal fixed location, such as at an athletic contest, then the AED may be transported by any expected user to such a location. The individual responsible for transport must inform all other expected users regarding the location of the transported AED upon arrival.

GUIDELINES FOR USE OF AEDs

Prior to use of an AED, the trained expected AED user will assess the scene of the medical emergency for safety. The expected user will make the scene of the emergency as safe as possible prior to use of the AED, including placing the person on a hard surface away from standing water. Expected users are not expected to place themselves at risk in order to provide aid to others.

Unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer, AEDs should be used only on a person who is at least eight (8) years old and/or eighty (80) pounds. The AED will be attached only to victims who are unresponsive, not breathing normally and have no detected pulse.

Procedures For Use During School Hours

  1. After assessing the symptoms described above, a responsible adult will alert the main office either by calling the main office on any school phone, or by sending a runner to the building principal. The responsible adult will provide the main office with information regarding the location of the medical emergency, the symptoms of the individual, and the details of any safety issues related to the scene.

  2. The principal or a designee will contact emergency medical services immediately by calling 911, and will contact and dispatch a trained expected AED user from the school building to the location of the emergency.

  3. The principal or designee will retrieve the AED for delivery to the scene.

  4. Upon arrival, the trained expected AED user must assess the symptoms of the person and assess whether the person meets the criteria for use of the AED.

  5. The trained expected AED user will administer CPR or the AED in accordance with training until the arrival of emergency medical services personnel.

  6. The trained expected AED user, in consultation with the building principal or head facility administrator, must complete a Corporation incident report, including the names of the responding emergency medical services personnel and any relevant facts relating to the incident. The incident report will be retained in the files of the Corporation.

  7. After use, the AED will remain off unless needed for an additional emergency.

Procedures For Use Outside Of Regular School Hours

  1. After assessing the symptoms described above, a responsible adult will alert a trained expected AED user, including but not limited to any member of the coaching staff or the Safety Coordinator. The responsible adult will provide the trained expected AED user with information regarding the location of the medical emergency, the symptoms of the individual, and the details of any safety issues related to the scene.

  2. The trained expected AED user will immediately designate another responsible individual to contact emergency medical services by calling 911, and will immediately respond to the location of the emergency.

  3. The trained expected AED user will retrieve or designate another responsible individual to retrieve the AED for delivery to the scene.

  4. Upon arrival, the trained expected AED user must assess the symptoms of the person and assess whether the person meets the criteria for use of the AED.

  5. The trained expected AED user will administer CPR or the AED in accordance with training until arrival of emergency medical services personnel.

  6. The trained expected AED user, in consultation with the building principal or head facility administrator, must complete a Corporation incident report, including the name of the responding emergency medical services personnel and any relevant facts related to the incident. The incident report will be retained in the files of the Corporation.

  7. After use, the AED will remain off unless needed for another emergency.

COLLECTION OF DATA FOLLOWING THE USE OF AN AED

Immediately following a medical emergency and the use of an AED, the trained expected AED user must report the details of the incident to the building principal or head facility administrator and the Safety Coordinator. Thereafter, the Safety Coordinator will contact the prescribing medical practitioner for the purpose of conducting a case review.

PROCEDURES FOLLOWING A CRITICAL EVENT

Following an incident involving the use of an AED, the Safety Coordinator will convene an informal stress debriefing for all individuals involved in the incident.

Within a reasonable period of time after an incident involving the use of an AED, the Safety Coordinator must convene a meeting of all individuals involved in the incident to review the procedures as set forth herein and to make recommendations for any amendments to these guidelines.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

The Corporation will maintain documentation of training of Corporation employees on the use of AEDs. The Safety Coordinator will maintain all records evidencing training, including copies of the certificates of completion for all individuals (employees and volunteers) who complete training on the use of AEDs.

© Neola 2025