Service will create rapid deployment of AEDs during a cardiac arrest

Atrus, Inc., announced that it has contracted with the Cayman Islands Government to provide its AED Link™ service to enhance the Islands’ response to Sudden Cardiac Arrest. AED Link provides nearby AED location information to 9-1-1 dispatchers so they may guide a caller to the closest AED in the event of a sudden cardiac emergency. The system will also instantly notify volunteer public responders affiliated with those AEDs to bring their defibrillator to the scene.

Dr. Sook Yin, Medical Director of the Cayman Heart Fund said, “During a 9-1-1 cardiac arrest call time is the critical determinant in the victim’s survival. By immediately identifying if one of these life-saving devices is available, we can direct someone to quickly retrieve and use it prior to the arrival of our EMS professionals. Having the ability to notify a person with an AED nearby gives us an additional response which is especially important if there is only one bystander.”

The Cayman Heart Fund is going to provide a customized version of Atrus’ National AED Registry™ for AED owners to register their devices into the system. The “Cayman Heart AED Registry” will be a free AED program management service that will generate regular email reminders for owners to periodically check the device to ensure it is in working order. Registered users will also receive reminders to replace electrode pads and batteries which are nearing expiration date, thus making sure the AEDs are in working order.

Atrus President and CEO, Elliot Fisch, said, “Currently, publicly available AEDs are rarely used in an emergency because bystanders can’t see them and 911 dispatchers are unaware they are nearby. AED Link will identify the location of a registered defibrillator within 1,200 feet of a cardiac arrest victim during a call to 9-1-1.”

Cayman Islands Government’s Director of Public Safety Communications, Brent Finster, advised that “Our current Emergency Medical Dispatch program provides for our telecommunicators to ask specific questions to assist responding EMS personnel arrive at the patient’s location quickly and safely. In a cardiac arrest situation, we ask the caller if they have an AED nearby. Now, with AED Link, we will not only know exactly where the closest AED is located, but we will also be able to automatically notify a trained volunteer responder to go get their AED and bring it to the patient’s location. This will save lives!”

Cayman Heart Fund Chairman David Dinner stated, “In addition to the critical advantages to public safety, organizations will benefit from updated SCA/AED information and automatic notifications ensuring machines are maintained and comply with current regulations.”

The system and registry are expected to be available next month.

About Sudden Cardiac Arrest

It is estimated that about 6 million sudden cardiac deaths occur annually and the survival rate from sudden cardiac arrest is less than 1% worldwide. It is the third most important cause of mortality in the world. A person’s chance of survival decreases by 10% for each minute that response is delayed.  AEDs are designed to be used by laypeople with little or no training, delivering a shock that can save a victim’s life before paramedics arrive.

About Atrus

Atrus’ products and services improve the ability of 911 dispatchers to provide faster lifesaving automated external defibrillator (AED) response within a community.  Atrus’ AED Link™ software notifies 911 centers of nearby AED location information from its National AED Registry™ to substantially increase the coverage range of public access AEDs.  To learn more, go to www.atrusinc.com.

About Cayman Heart Fund

The Cayman Heart Fund (CHF) strongly encourages organisations to become equipped with an AED to save a life in an emergency situation. Qualified instruction on the correct usage is available at no additional cost with an AED purchased from CHF.

There are more than 150 AED machines currently installed in local businesses and public areas throughout the Cayman Islands.  For more information on the new registry and AED locations, please visit the CHF website at caymanheartfund.com or contact programme coordinator, Sue Rajah at 345-916-6324.