Resuscitation 83 (2012) e183–e184
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Letter to the Editor Safe campus using wireless managed automated external defibrillator (AED) Sir, We introduce our experience establishing a public access defibrillation (PAD) program on a university campus in South Korea using wireless managed automated external defibrillator (AED). Based on a preliminarily survey of the distribution of students on campus and medical staff accessibility, we installed AED in 20 campus buildings and then networked and managed the devices. There have been previous studies1,2 examining the establishment of PAD programs using information technology (IT), but none of the controlling AED systems through wireless technology. When the wireless AED system is accessed, it reports location information and time of the event to a nearby emergency medical center and 911 emergency center using code division multiple access (CDMA) technology so that rescue teams can be dispatched (Fig. 1). The operating state of the system, battery performance, pad condition, effective period, and other parameters can be monitored remotely. Security against theft was also considered in the design of the system for easy maintenance.
For the successful operation of campus-wide AED systems, it is essential to educate potential users. Thus, medical staff at the Hanyang University Hospital educated security and administrative workers assigned to the 20 campus buildings where the wireless AED system was installed regarding how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use an AED. In addition, we conducted in situ simulations using a scenario mimicking a cardiac arrest patient using a wireless high-performance simulator, 3G SimMan (Laerdal, Norway), and tested the adequacy of the system. It will be necessary to continuously monitor the state of the system and reeducate potential users periodically. One of the limitations of the system we installed is that it reports only the location and time of events when an AED is operated. Therefore, it is necessary to upgrade the performance of the system so that it can provide information regarding the exact locations of patients rather than the locations where the operating AEDs are installed. A recent study of cardiopulmonary resuscitation using mobile phone or global positioning system (GPS) introduced a new technology that enables the accurate reporting of patient location.2 The importance of immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation and PAD, often performed by bystanders or other laypeople, has
Fig. 1. Alerting system for PAD using wireless managed AEDs. SMS, short message service.
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Letter to the Editor / Resuscitation 83 (2012) e183–e184
increasingly been emphasized. The implementation of such programs requires a systematic approach. When such systems are operated and use advanced IT technologies, higher survival rates of cardiac arrest patients may be achieved. Conflict of interest statement All authors did not have conflict of interest to declare. References 1. Sakai T, Iwami T, Kitamura T, et al. Effectiveness of the new ‘Mobile AED Map’ to find and retrieve an AED: a randomised controlled trial. Resuscitation 2011;82:69–73. 2. Ringh M, Fredman D, Nordberg P, et al. Mobile phone technology identifies and recruits trained citizens to perform CPR on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims prior to ambulance arrival. Resuscitation 2011;82:1514–8.
YoungSuk Cho Sangmo Je Taeho Lim Hyunggoo Kang ∗ Hanyang University Hospital, Emergency Medicine, 17 Haengdangdong, Seongdonggu, 1330792 Seoul, Republic of Korea ∗ Corresponding
author. Tel.: +82 2 2290 9291; fax: +82 2 2290 9280. E-mail address:
[email protected] (H. Kang) 23 March 2012
