A. Purpose

UCI is committed to the health and welfare of all members of the campus community including visitors. To improve survival rates from out-of-hospital Sudden Cardiac Arrest, the American Heart Association recommends lay rescuer Automated External Defibrillator (AED) programs. The State of California requires all health studios and health clubs to have an AED program in place and, therefore, in addition to the numerous AED locations throughout the campus, Bren Events Center, Anteater Recreation Center, and the Crawford Hall Athletics facility maintain AEDs and train staff in their use. Emergency medical services are provided to the UCI campus by the Orange County Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA).

All units on the UCI campus that maintain AED(s) must adhere to these Guidelines.

B. Definitions

1. Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

   AEDs provide an electrical stimulus to the chest of an unconscious person who is experiencing ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation without a pulse for the purpose of conversion to a normal heart rhythm.

2. Authorized Individual

   Authorized Individuals are those personnel who have met the training standards of both Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use from trainers certified through the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross, per California Code of Regulations, Title 22.

C. Campus Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Program

Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) coordinates the Campus AED Program and assists departments in obtaining AED equipment and arranging CPR/AED training.

Prior to obtaining AED units and accessories, a department must provide EH&S with an AED Training Report listing those persons with completed CPR/AED training. This report must be updated at the beginning of each calendar year and submitted to EH&S for tracking purposes. Departments determine the appropriate number of Authorized Individuals to cover their needs.

Automated External Defibrillator Instructions must be posted near each AED with public access.

D. Responsibilities

1. AED Program Coordinator in EH&S

   EH&S assigns responsibility for oversight of the Campus AED Program oversight to a Program Coordinator who will:

   • Help departments acquire AED equipment and train Authorized Individuals;
   • Assist in placing the acquired AED in an unlocked accessible location;
   • Fulfill annual reporting responsibilities to the Orange County Emergency Medical Services Authority;
   • Conduct annual inspections of AED equipment for quality assurance;
   • Interact with Department designees on AED matters (e.g., inspect equipment, update AED Training Reports);
   • Provide the Orange County Emergency Medical Services Authority with the Annual AED Report listing locations of AED units included in the Campus AED Program; and
   • In the event of AED emergency use, contact contracted Medical Director to report to the Emergency Medical Services Authority.
2. AED Department Designee

   Each department must designate an individual who will be responsible for:

   • Submitting a departmental AED Training Report of Authorized Individuals to the Program Coordinator in EH&S prior to obtaining AED equipment;
   • Maintaining AED equipment according to manufacturer specifications;
   • Documenting monthly equipment inspections;
   • Submitting the annual AED Training Report to EH&S; and
   • In the event of AED emergency use, notifying EH&S of such use by the next business day.

E. Emergency Response

In a medical emergency involving an unconscious person who has no signs of circulation, whomever comes upon the victim should call 9-1-1. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be initiated immediately. CPR consists of artificial respiration, manual external cardiac massage, and maneuvers for relief of foreign body airway obstruction.

Any person who renders emergency care should immediately:

• Evaluate the unconscious person's airway, breathing and circulation;
• Call 9-1-1;
• Initiate CPR if required;
• Bring the AED unit to the patient and turn on the AED;
• Remove clothing and apply AED pads to the chest of the patient;
• Operate the AED per audio-commands from the AED unit;
• Assess the patient's post-shock status to determine if further activation of the AED is required;
• Apply repeated shocks if necessary; and
• Continue CPR with AED use until the arrival of more medically qualified personnel.

"Any person who, in good faith and not for compensation, renders emergency care or treatment by the use of an AED at the scene of an emergency is not liable for any civil damages resulting from any acts or omissions in rendering the emergency care." California Civil Code, Section 1714.21.