Defibrillator bill aims to save more lives

By Diane Ako and Duncan Armstrong

HONOLULU (KHNL) - Life saving defibrillators are becoming more common in public places like malls, condos, and offices. But believe it or not, some companies afraid to install one because they’re afraid of somehow getting sued if the victim dies. A new bill would provide protection against that.

A weekend family outing is now a special event for 44 year old Brian Eatmon, who almost died seven months ago while at work at Bubba Gumps. “Next thing I know, I was waking up in the hospital, like why am I here, what’s going on? I was told I was at the broiler, took a step back, and collapsed.”

Eatmon had a heart attack. A coworker revived him with AEDs, or automatic external defibrillators. “I was in a coma for three days and that following week I was home.”

Now, he’s a big supporter of having AEDs in public spaces. “If there wasn’t any AEDs there or she [the coworker] wasn’t working that day, I wouldn’t be here today.”

He’s even become a CPR trainer, to help others have the second chance that he got. “Things change. I’m very grateful I have a second chance to be with my family, especially my son.”

You’ve heard of the Good Samaritan law. It protects from liability those who aid others who are hurt. But what law protects the companies who provide the AEDs, or AED program? There’s a new bill - House bill 1537 - that would do that. As with the Good Samaritan law, this is intended to reduce the hesitation to assist, for fear of being sued or prosecuted for unintentional injury or wrongful death.

Representative Tom Brower (D- Waikiki, Kakaako, Ala Moana) co-introduced the bill. “We don’t want there to be problems for anyone to use defibrillators and be worried about lawsuits that may result in them.”

Don Weisman, Hawaii communications and marketing/ government affairs director at the American Heart Association Pacific/Mountain Affiliate, explained, “There are still lawyers out there who consult with their clients and tell them they have concerns about liability. this law would take away any liability. It clarifies that anyone who establishes an AED program would be immune from lawsuit.”

There are hundreds of businesses in Hawaii who could be affected by the bill. Businesses who may be contemplating putting up AEDs in their workplace, who might now do so because of the security this bill would provide.

It would encourage more people to save lives- so that people like Eatmon can get back to theirs. “I can do things with my son, pursue my passion of cooking, have a normal life,” he smiled, sitting with his wife and child. “I’m even going to try to open my own catering business.”

The so-called Defibrillator Bill is expected to pass this session without opposition.

FRIDAY, Nov. 7 (HealthDay News) — Ninety percent of U.S. emergency physicians believe that resuscitation practices aren’t very effective and support a number of strategies designed to improve resuscitation for people who suffer sudden cardiac arrest, according to a survey released Friday by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).

Of the 1,056 who responded to the State of Resuscitation survey, 88% said bystander CPR intervention is an important factor in boosting survival, along with getting patients to doctors more quickly (77%), better data collection and sharing (73%), automated technologies (66%), and real-time feedback on chest compressions (65%).The survey also found that more than half the respondents believe that poor survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) are related to the aging population, and about 25% of respondents believe obesity is the most important factor in low survival rates.

About 30% said CPR feedback devices would have the greatest impact on improving the quality of CPR.”While we’ve made significant advances to improve resuscitation efforts, more needs to be done. The State of Resuscitation survey offers valuable insights on how we can build upon already existing practices, including increasing public involvement and implementing technology to help save more lives,” ACEP President Dr. Nick Jouriles said in a news release from the organization.

“The results clearly show that it is necessary for communities to encourage more CPR training, offer more access to a broader range of critical lifesaving technologies, and report sudden cardiac arrest cases more consistently,” Jouriles said.”The optimal treatment of patients who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest requires a well-coordinated system of community members, emergency medical services (EMS), emergency department, cardiology and critical care services,”

Dr. Arthur B. Sanders, a professor of emergency medicine at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, said in the news release.”Community programs include early access to the EMS system and training citizens in CPR. Over the past decade, there have been important advances in the science of resuscitation. Unfortunately, implementation of the scientific advances has lagged in many communities,” Sanders said.”This survey reinforces the need to provide more education about CPR including the teaching of hands-only CPR. It also highlights the need for communities to monitor their survival data and implement changes that can improve all aspects of the system of care that can result in improved survival from SCA,” he concluded.–

Robert PreidtSOURCE: American College of Emergency Physicians, news release, Nov. 7, 2008