Delaware Early Defibrillation Program: AED Corner
Welcome to “The AED Corner”, the official website of the Delaware Early Defibrillation Program.
This website is managed by the State of Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of
Public Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services and is not only intended to serve as a guide to prospective
agencies in becoming an integral part of the Delaware Early Defibrillation Program, but is also intended
to serve as an information clearinghouse for current Delaware Early Defibrillation Program agencies, including
police, fire and rescue agencies. This site will contain helpful links and information relative to current
program status, updates, notices, manufacturer warnings, Federal Food and Drug Administration warnings
and any other information pertinent to the Delaware Early Defibrillation Program and semi-automatic external
defibrillators.
- NEW: The Office of EMS now has the capability to upgrade the Medtronic
LP 500 Biphasic AEDS to the new AHA ECC guidelines.
To schedule your units for upgrading call the AED coordinator.
PROGRAM HISTORY
Automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) and semi-automatic external defibrillators (SAEDs) first made their debut in Delaware in the 1993-1994 timeframe with the introduction of the First Medic 510 model defibrillator. The defibrillator itself looked like a military ammunition box, was heavy, bulky and could probably have been used to jump start a Peterbuilt truck. However, at that time it was state-of-the-art equipment. The target user for this model was fire company ambulances and rescue trucks. The units were provided at no cost to the fire and rescue companies; hence the precursor to what is now known as the Delaware Early Defibrillation Program. In 1998-1999, the State of Delaware won litigation against the tobacco companies, and became a recipient of a settlement monies. Under the leadership of then State Emergency Medical Services Director, Mr. William Stevenson as the Delaware Early Defibrillation Program, also known as The First State, First Shock Program was created. Mr. Stevenson knew the positive impact AEDs had in cases of sudden cardiac arrest and wanted a true Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) program to reduce morbidity and mortality by sudden cardiac arrest in Delaware. Through the wise leadership of Delaware Legislators, funding was granted using tobacco monies to purchase and distribute AEDs, at no cost, to agencies/companies both private and public throughout Delaware.
CURRENT PROGRAM STATUS
Under the leadership of State Emergency Medical Services Director and through continued funding, the Delaware Early Defibrillation Program continues to combat death and disability from sudden cardiac arrest. Funding is now obtained through two sources, the tobacco monies and federal rural access grants. The monies are not only used to purchase AEDs, but they also fund initial CPR/AED training to agencies applying for an AED through grant monies. This office’s current purchase contract and partnership is with Medtronic Corporation, the manufacturer of the Lifepak model AEDs. Agencies meeting the criteria to receive an AED through grant monies apply by filling out the proper registration forms, and are then placed on a waiting list. The current waiting list to receive an AED is approximately eighteen months to two years, unless an immediate need can justify an agency being placed at the head of the list. Justification and priority on the list is done using the Public Access Defibrillation Study results. Another initiative which shares AED funding is a porject for equipping police vehicles with AEDs. In 1999 legislation was passed tasking the Office of Emergency Medical Services to have all police patrol vehicles in the State of Delaware AED equipped by the end of 2001, depending on funding. This is a daunting task, and to date approximately 48% of all police patrol vehicles in Delaware are AED equipped. Currently there are over 1700 defibrillators in our database, purchased with grant monies and distributed throughout Delaware. This does not take into account the number of units that have been purchased and placed in service through private funds.
The Office of Emergency Medical Services will continue to seek funding, and through the frugal and wise use of tax payer monies, continue to promote the Delaware Early Defibrillation Program to reduce morbidity and mortality from sudden cardiac arrest.
MORE INFORMATION
- AED Frequently Asked Questions
- AED Registration Forms
- Guidelines for Public Access Defibirillation
- Early Defibrillation Program Rules and Regulations
For more information, please contact the program office.
