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Research Studies

The following are summaries of significant articles published about the efficacy of AEDs in public spaces. The complete articles are available through the publishers at the links listed at the end of each summary.

Public-Access Defibrillation and Survival After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

New England Journal of Medicine, ©2004 Massachusetts Medical Society
More than 19,000 volunteer responders from nearly 1,000 community-based units participated in this nationwide study. The results showed the effectiveness of training non-medical, volunteer laypersons to use AEDs. Working within structured response systems, the volunteers increased the number of survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in public locations. 
For more information visit http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/351/7/637

Impact of Community-Wide Police Car Deployment of AEDs on Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Survival

Circulation, ©2002 American Heart Association, Inc.
This study showed that having automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in police cars improved response times and survival from sudden cardiac arrest. Times from 9-1-1 contact to the emergency scene were compared for police cars with AEDs and concurrently deployed EMS, and both were compared to historical EMS experience. Survival with joint police AED and EMS response was compared to outcomes when EMS was the sole responder. Police arrived first to 56 percent of the calls. A 17.2 percent survival rate for victims with shockable rhythms was observed with the police cars and EMS both responding, compared to 9 percent for standard EMS before police AEDs were implemented. 
For more information visit http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/106/9/1058

Public Use of AEDs

New England Journal of Medicine, ©2002 Massachusetts Medical Society
This study demonstrated that AEDs deployed in well-marked and accessible public areas in airports were used effectively to aid people who suffered cardiac arrest. Most of those using the AEDs to treat victims had no duty to act or training in the use of AEDs. 
For more information visit http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/347/16/1242