Automated external defibrillator use at NCAA Division II and III universities

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Emergency Cardiovascular Care
• Public Health

Background:

• Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are increasingly placed in collegiate athletic venues.
• Understanding AED prevalence and utilization is crucial for emergency preparedness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence, location, and utilization of AEDs at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and III universities.
• To compare findings with previously published data from NCAA Division I institutions.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted.
• Questionnaires were mailed to head athletic trainers at 711 NCAA Division II and III universities in Fall 2003.
• Data collected on AED prevalence, location, and utilization.

Main Results:

• A 35.7% response rate was achieved with 254 institutions returning surveys.
• 81% of responding institutions reported having at least one AED, with a median of 2 per institution.
• Athletic training rooms were the most common AED location (75%).
• Twelve cases of AED use for sudden cardiac arrest were reported; 67% occurred in older non-students.
• Survival to hospital discharge was 33% overall, with no student athletes surviving.

Conclusions:

• The majority of surveyed NCAA Division II and III institutions have implemented AEDs in their athletic programs.
• AED prevalence is lower in Division II and III compared to Division I institutions.
• While AEDs demonstrated utility in older individuals, their benefit for intercollegiate athletes was not evident in this study.