Abstract 241: Comparison Of A Phone-based Business AED Survey Canvas, 911-Dispatch AED Inventory, And State-Mandated AED Registry In Forsyth County, NC

Abstract

Introduction: In North Carolina (NC), 911-dispatch centers are accelerating treatment to OHCA by notifying bystanders of nearby public AEDs. This system depends on a comprehensive registry of AED locations. State law requires registration of AEDs with the NC Office of EMS (NC OEMS), but adherence to this legislation is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the registration status of public AEDs in a large county in NC. Methods: Using structured phone surveys, we determined the AED status and information for businesses in Forsyth County, NC. Using a national business database, we identified all registered large businesses (>20 employees) and select small businesses (1-19 employees) most likely to have an AED: healthcare, government, childcare, educational, and religious organizations. In addition, AED lists were elicited from large organizations (e.g non-hospital health clinics, universities, and county government) (n=293 AEDs), NC OEMS (n=336), and 911-dispatch center (n=73). Results: Between 1/2/22-5/7/22, we contacted 1,702 businesses (response rate =79.1%). Of these, 411 (30.5%) businesses reported >= 1 AEDs. Additionally, 106 unique AED locations were identified from large organizations; 22 from the 911-dispatch; and 34 from the NC OEMS registry. The final AED list contained 963 AEDs at 573 unique locations (Table). Identified AEDs were most frequently located at health clinics, schools, colleges, offices, industrial facilities, and churches. A majority of AEDs (65.1% [627/963]) were not previously registered in the NC OEMS AED registry. Few business AEDs (11.8% [114/963]) were listed in the county dispatch agency’s geolocation software system. Conclusion: Most businesses and organizations in our survey canvas had AEDs that were unregistered in a state-mandated AED registry. Structured strategies to increase reporting of publicly available AEDs to NC OEMS and transfer of that information to county 911-dispatch systems are needed.