About 167,000 Americans will suffer a sudden cardiac arrest, outside of medical facilities this year. More than 20 percent of those heart attacks will occur in public places, like airports, fitness centers — and hotels.
AEDs or Automated External Defibrillators are portable automatic devices used to restore normal heart rhythm to patients in cardiac arrest. An AED is used on the outside of the body, and automatically analyzes a person’s heart rhythm, advises the rescuer what to do, and administers a shock to restore a normal heart beat if needed. AEDs today generally cost less than $2,000.
According to the American Heart Association, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and early defibrillation with an AED more than doubles a heart attack victim’s chances of survival. For every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation, the chances of survival decrease by as much as 10 percent. So waiting just 5 minutes for paramedics to arrive on site, instead of using an AED, can reduce a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival by as much as 50 percent.
Even so, most hotels, restaurants, fitness centers and other public places have no AEDs available. The major problem isn’t cost, it’s legal. “Some of the hotels have serious concerns about liability and the lack of a strong, national Good Samaritan protection,” said Joe McInerney, the president and CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association.
I have a personal interest in seeing AED devices becoming generally available throughout the travel industry. A few years ago, I was going to a restaurant when I felt pain radiating down my arms. I called my physician who had me immediately come in. Fortunately for me, I didn’t suffer a sudden cardiac arrest, but had suffered severe angina.
Heart Attack Warning Signs
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the “movie heart attack,” where no one doubts what’s happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness
The following day my stress test revealed severe blockages and by that afternoon I was scheduled for open heart surgery, which was successful. I was lucky. I didn’t suffer cardiac arrest. I listened to my body. I didn’t need the AED that wasn’t in that restaurant.
So what are the legal issues holding back hotels and restaurants among other businesses from installing AEDs?
Neil Rosen, a Pennsylvania attorney explains that “Good Samaritan” laws, which protect bystanders from liability don’t apply to hotel employees who have to be trained to use AEDs. Mr. Rosen further explains that hotels are concerned that they’d not only have to train their staff how to use the AEDs, but that if the staff makes a mistake and ends up killing someone by not properly using them then the hotel has a huge potential liability.
In discussing the installation of an AED at a fitness center I frequent, with the manager, I found that they were also concerned that they could be sued for failing to have enough units, not installing them in the right physical locations, failing to replace their batteries as needed, or maintaining them properly.
While I understand these issues and sympathize with hotels and other businesses who have a responsibility to their shareholders, I believe the time has come for businesses in the travel and hospitality industries to install AEDs to save lives, their patrons and employees.
According to Mary Hazinski, spokesperson for the Heart Association, “AEDs are very easy to use. When you open the device’s cover and turn it on, there is sound and visual cues as to what to do. A voice comes on and literally instructs the bystander about the appropriate actions.”
Hotels, such as the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina, have seen stunning results since installing their AEDs. Seven hotel guests suffered sudden cardiac arrest in the last five years, and six were saved with hotel’s AEDs.
While many states need to pass new liability laws specifically concerning AEDs, I believe the ethical imperative of installing AEDs at travel and hospitality industry businesses more than outweighs their liability concerns. No one should have their chance at surving cardiac arrest dimished over liability concerns, especially considering how easily their lives could be saved.
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Sorry, but while I agree that having these available would save lives (maybe even mine), I don’t think that the hotels and restaurants should have to take the risk.
20 years ago, before we became such a litigious society, it would have been logical had these been around — but now, I suspect that even many employees would hesitate to be trained in the use for their personal liability.
I believe that these establishments should have an AED which could save someones life. The problem is most people dont want to get involved or even help when people desperately may need help. Todays society is so afraid of being sued by someone they will walk right on by when someone needs help.