As you have learned, you don't have to be a medical expert to provide potentially live-saving care to a victim of SCA. And fortunately, all states have Good Samaritan Laws to protect people with little or no medical training who voluntarily step in to assist during an emergency. The laws vary state to state and are evolving, so check to see what kind of protection is offered in your area.

AEDs are everywhere nowadays - malls, airplanes, offices, public and private buildings, basically any crowded place where getting fast emergency medical help could be difficult. Keeping that in mind, it's a smart move by law enforcement and others to follow this growing trend.

An AED's ease of use, portability, and low maintenance make it a perfect tool for officers to add to their arsenal. It should be part of every public safety professional's regime, and one should be carried in every public safety vehicle. Choosing to become involved in starting an AED program is a big decision, but a positive one. Equipping your department and training all personnel may be expensive at first, but ultimately everyone can benefit from the program. You never know when you might need it - and just saving one life, maybe even yours or that of another officer, can make it all worthwhile.

"Our advice to police departments is to do it now," said Assistant Chief Boisse Correa of the Honolulu Police Department. He knows the benefits of AEDs firsthand - Correa and another officer used one to save their chief from a collapse last year. "It's one of the very few ways we have to save lives. And it helps build a certain esprit de corps among the officers and in the community. AEDs are here to stay."

Congratulations! You've passed this course with flying colors. Get your Galls University Certificate of Completion and display it with pride. We hope to see you again soon at Galls University.

Bibliography:

Mayo Clinic. www.mayoclinic.com
American Heart Association. www.americanheart.org
Emedicine Consumer Health. www.emedicinehealth.com
Medic First Aid International, Inc. www.medicfirstaid.com
AED.com. www.aed.com
The Cardiac Arrest Survival Act
Earlydefib.org. www.earlydefib.org
American College of Emergency Physicians. www.acep.org
Orange County Government Online. www.oc.ca.gov
American Red Cross. www.redcross.org
Access Excellence National Health Museum. www.accessexcellence.org
PADL.org. www.padl.org
Heartinfo.org. www.heartinfo.org
The Life You Save. Newman, Mary.