Abstract 13107: Addressing Sudden Cardiac Arrest: An Analysis of the Efficacy and Implementation of Automated External Defibrillators in New Jersey Schools

Abstract

Introduction: Out of hospital sudden cardiac arrest is a major health concern with a low survival rate. Proper Automated External Defibrillator use has been shown to decrease mortality associated with OHCA. In 2014, New Jersey passed Janet’s Law to mandate automated external defibrillator access in all public and private schools. Our project surveyed NJ schools to evaluate the implementation of AEDs and to analyze their usage and outcomes. Hypothesis: Schools that were adherent to AED placement and training as outlined in Janet’s Law will likely have more positive outcomes from sudden cardiac arrests on school properties than schools that do not. Methods: An observational, cross sectional study was conducted via an online form (Redcap 12.4.2) sent to New Jersey public school nurses. Data was collected from February to June 2023 and analyzed using SAS version 9.4. Results: 301 (99.7%) responses reported having automated external defibrillators. 85.3% of schools provided AED staff training. 42 schools (14.4%) utilized an AED in a cardiac emergency, most often occurring to students in classrooms. An AED was administered by school employees 95.8% of the time. In 80.5% of cases, the patient was resuscitated on scene with no long term neurological complications. 87.2% of schools have an emergency response plan. Conclusions: Our data highlights the impact of proper AED utilization to positively influence out of hospital sudden cardiac arrest outcomes in pediatric populations. Despite Janet’s law being an unfunded mandate, we found near complete compliance among New Jersey schools. The majority of reported sudden cardiac arrests occurred in a classroom setting, necessitating available resources throughout school facilities. In these events, the percentage of positive patient outcomes in our study was significantly higher than the national average with excellent neurological recovery. This discovery may be a product of excellent response rates by trained staff as mandated in Janet’s law. Our findings highlight the need for awareness, training, and accessibility regarding AEDs.