An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) FOR BOURTON

What is an AED? An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a lightweight, portable device that delivers an electric shock through the chest to the heart The shock can stop an irregular heart rhythm and allow a normal rhythm to resume following sudden cardiac arrest AEDs are safe to use by anyone who’s been trained to operate them They also carry easy to use instructions

Medical Evidence – Heart Disease Heart disease is one of the UK’s largest killers British Heart Foundation statistics estimate more than 60,000 sudden cardiac arrests take place each year outside of a hospital environment Or, 74pct. of the total cardiac arrests in the UK

Medical Evidence – Heart Disease Heart disease leading cause of death for men aged 50 and over Heart diseases are the leading cause of death for men aged 50 and over, and for women aged 65 to 79 years Heart disease was also the second leading cause of death for women over 80

Medical Evidence - Effective AED use AEDs make it possible for more people to respond to a medical emergency where defibrillation is required Because AEDs are portable, they can be used by non-medical people They can be made part of emergency response programs that also include rapid use of 9-9-9 and prompt delivery of cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

Should Bourton Have An AED? Britain’s population is becoming older, especially in rural communities Source – ONS Regional Trends Report 2010 Bourton is no an exception, but can locally help itself

Should Bourton Have An AED? Bourton’s proximity to emergency services and A&E departments is not sufficiently close in event of cardiac illness to a resident in the neighbourhood An AED located in an area closest to the highest concentration of the population or where the population regular congregates would offer an opportunity for the community to care for one another in such an event Site consideration should be given upon review of key locations* * See Appendix item 1

Why do we need it? An AED is a supplement emergency service to residents of rural communities accelerating life saving treatment It is not a question of the frequency of use, in fact only having to use it once during a five year period might save one life First-aider training would be a useful way to integrate younger members of the community into village life beyond activities at school or around the playground As you have heard we don’t have to have one but the Parish Council has decided that Bourton should invest the time and effort in developing one. So why? It would give us the opportunity to influence the future of the place where we live and work. It would become a formal, statutory, part of the planning system Planning decision makers would be obliged to take what we have said into account It would influence the content of the Local Plan being prepared by NDDC It would continue the work of the Village Plan & VDS Most importantly, because of the way in which the process is structured it would reflect the views of the community and not just the project group

Who is paying for it? Bourton Parish Council operates with a financial surplus and can provide funds The approximate cost of an AED with a four year life span is £2,000 / £500 per annum* Such an item would not limit longer term budgetary planning The Parish council is the obvious provider of funds as this initiative will continue to raise safety within the community. As with many village initiatives, volunteers to be trained as first aid support will be required * See appendix item 2.

Summary and Next Steps The UK does not produce any statistical evidence of effectiveness, however US statistics do give clues. Facts published by the American Heart Association provide sound basis as part of the review – See appendix .3 Whether Bourton seeks funding through a grant or elects to self fund, the initiative is a logical step for our rural population – Waiting for central or devolved government plans only delays the need to act The village can benefit by linking the younger and older members of community, raising awareness through this action Similar small, rural settlements that have taken this step include: Zeals, Pen Selwood and Tollard Royal

Appendix Item1 . Bourton - AED possible locations Telephone box; located at far east end of Bourton, many residents not familiar with its position Village pub; no plans or intention from landlord to install an AED Village Green; highly visible and close to core population of Bourton Petrol station; highly visible, well lit at night and close to core population of Bourton Village Hall; visible, and site where large gatherings of village population School; no current plans to install an AED, but a question for their governance

Appendix Item 2. Maintenance Costs and Replacement of Consumables Once the cabinet and AED have been installed, running costs are minimal.  The cabinet requires a miniscule amount of electricity to power the internal light (which is only activated when the cabinet door is opened), thermostat and heater (to control the temperature of the interior cabinet in cold weather).  The cabinet needs a 240V mains electrical supply to run the thermostat, heater and lighting; this is estimated at a few pounds per year. The premises owner must be informed of this cost when the placement of the cabinet is being evaluated. AEDs have consumable components that will need replacing periodically or when they have been used. The frequency and cost of these varies depending on the make and model of AED.  The battery life of most AEDs generally lasts between three and five years, or for a certain number of deployments.  The electrode pads generally have a shelf life of two to three years at which point they will need to be replaced even if they have not been used.  We will need to identify who will cover the cost of replacing the consumable components (battery and pads) on their expiry.   If the pads are used on a patient, then the Ambulance Service may be willing to replace the pads but we will need to confirm this with them.

Appendix Item 3 . AED facts and figures (American Heart Association) Every Second Counts - Rural and Community Access to Emergency Devices OVERVIEW Each year in the U.S., there are approximately 359,400 Emergency Medical Services (EMS)-assessed cardiac arrests outside of a hospital setting and on average, less than 10% of victims survive. Cardiac arrest affects people of all ages, but occurs more commonly in adults with prior heart disease. It will only become more common as the population ages Immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and early defibrillation, with an automated external defibrillator (AED), can more than double a victim’s chance of survival. In fact, early defibrillation, along with CPR, is the only way to restore the victim’s heart rhythm to normal in a lot of cases of cardiac arrest.3 For every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation, however, the chances of survival decrease by 7–10 pct. The 2013 Update of AHA’s Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics shows that 23% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are "shockable" arrhythmias, or those that respond to a shock from an AED, making AEDs in public places are highly valuable. Yet, there are not enough AEDs and persons trained in using them and performing CPR to provide this life-saving treament, resulting in lost opportunities to save more lives. Tragically, 64 pct. of Americans have never even seen an AED  

Appendix Item 3. AED facts and figures (American Heart Association) Every Second Counts - Rural and Community Access to Emergency Devices AED PROGRAMS IMPROVE SURVIVAL Communities with comprehensive AED programs that include CPR and AED training for rescuers have achieved survival rates of nearly 40% for cardiac arrest victims. Making AEDs more available to lay responders who are trained in their use could save even more lives. MORE SUPPORT IS NEEDED Congress created the Rural and Community Access to Emergency Devices Program, which is administered by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). This competitively awarded state grant program allowed communities to buy AEDs, place them in public areas where cardiac arrest is likely to occur, and train lay rescuers and first responders in their use. The program has been successful, but underfunded. Between 2002 – 2012 over 6,500 AEDs were purchased, and almost 40,000 individuals were trained in their use.