Last year marked the first annual National AED/CPR Awareness Week, which was established by an act of Congress in November 2007.  The intent of the week is to encourage the public to get CPR training and learn how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to reduce death and disability from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).  As pioneers of the AED, we are excited to have a week acknowledged across the country to promote education about sudden cardiac arrest and awareness of how to be prepared for it.

This year, National AED/CPR Awareness Week will be June 1-7. Along with the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross and the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, we have the goal to make a highly concerted effort to reach out and promote the continued need to implement high quality AED programs and get people trained in CPR and the use of an AED.

If you already have an early defibrillation program in place, AED/CPR Awareness Week is a great time to:

• Review your emergency response policy and update designated responders as needed 
• Ensure you have enough trained responders at each site and schedule training or re-training as needed
• Inspect your AEDs and change pads and batteries if necessary

And if you don't yet have an early defibrillation program, you can get started by:

• Developing an emergency response policy to include an AED/CPR procedures
• Evaluating state and local requirements for AEDs
• Evaluating AED manufacturers

The Red Cross of Santa Monica has the resources and expertise to help any organization implement a comprehensive AED/CPR program. To learn more, call us at 310-394-3773 to speak with our Director of Health and Safety programs, Mark Solnick or e-mail Mark at marks@redcrossofsantamonica.org. There is no time like National AED/CPR Awareness week to learn how to protect the people you work with and care about from sudden cardiac arrest