Institution of a police automated external defibrillation program: concepts and practice

The authors have successfully implemented automated external defibrillation (AED) training in police departments that function as first responders. The initial elements are to think the project through, and to develop clear policies and procedures for the police as they relate to dispatching so there is timeliness of notification, because response time is such a critical element. Roles for all of the participants must be clearly defined and understood by all parties for such aspects as scene management, scene responsibility of care, and transfer of care to the receiving facilities. Communication to the entire health care community that the police have an expanded role in defibrillation is desirable. A system to evaluate training, compliance with protocol, and efficacy must be developed and closely monitored. While this is a tremendous amount of work and a large time investment, the result can be a dramatic increase in patient survival.