On a Monday much like any other, a commissioner visits his local museum and suffers sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Despite the best efforts of staff, he succumbs to the heart attack on-scene, before emergency services are able to reach him. Subsequent investigation reveals that the museum did not have the measures in place for emergency situations such as this.

Being fictional makes the above no less frightening, which is why preparation for emergency situations is key. In the event of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) at city, county, state or federal buildings, it is the responsibility of public space owners to adhere to state-required safety regulations and put measures in place to protect its citizens. An on-site automated external defibrillator (AED) can be the difference between a life saved and a life lost. But for an AED to save lives, it needs to be easily accessible to both bystanders and emergency personnel. For this reason, AED locations need to be logged in a registry.

The National AED Registry™ is the first and only national database resource specifically developed to improve SCA survival rates by linking AEDs, AED users, and cardiac arrest victims to emergency personnel and 911 emergency services. And because lives are at stake, the barrier to entry is low and registration is quick, easy, and free.

How to register your AED 

Before we get into the simple registration process, let’s highlight the benefits that come with signing up for the National AED Registry™. Organizations and communities that register their AEDs receive the following perks:

• Online management of AED location and maintenance information
• AED battery and electrode date expiration email reminders
• Faster AED notifications from manufacturer and government agencies
• AED and SCA awareness-building materials
• Ability to participate in the AED Link™ system, where available

You can register in four simple steps:

• Step 1: Log on to the National AED Registry™ registration website
• Step 2: Enter your program details. For example, a hospital system or a school district.
• Step 3: Add more specific information about locations, such as building names.
• Step 4: Provide the AED coordinator’s contact information, as this person will be tasked with entering new AED locations and new AEDs, as well as appointing inspectors to manage and maintain AEDs.

When it comes down to it, the power — and responsibility — is in the hands of facility managers of public office locations to increase access to AEDs to better prepare for an emergency.

Create a community that values and protects its citizens

Just imagine, instead of having to mitigate the fall-out of preventable death, the headlines could instead be: “Forward-Thinking Mayor’s Office Saves Life of Commissioner at Museum”. 

Registering your AEDs with the National AED Registry™ sends a strong message to your community and constituents. It shows you are willing to go above and beyond to protect your citizens by assuring that emergency response agencies know where AEDs are located, so they can be found and used quickly when needed. Click here to learn more about the National AED Registry™ or here to begin your registration process. 

Once registered, it’s a good idea to implement an AED program management solution to ensure AED operations are compliant, supported at all times, and ready for emergency rescue. The PlusTrac™ AED management program is an interactive web-based program that makes it simple to keep your AEDs properly managed and ready for use.

Click here to start your free PlusTrac™ AED management trial.