The Risk Management Department Brendan Kearns Roberta SantilliJanbruary Newsletter (January+February-get it?) Risk Manager SecretaryNothing fancy, just good information. 462-4240 462-4205

All VCSC Facilities to get Automatic External Defibrillators

By the end of February we will have Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) installed at all schools, the Administration building and General Services. AEDs are used to aid victims of sudden cardiac arrest, usually caused by an electrical malfunction that makes the heart quiver ineffectively. An AED is a small, portable device that analyzes the heart's rhythm and delivers a defibrillation shock if it determines one is needed. Once turned on, the AED guides the user through each step of the defibrillation process by providing voice and/or visual prompts. AEDs are specially designed for easy use by a "first responder", who would be the first person to typically arrive on the scene of a medical emergency. A first responder can be an emergency medical services worker, a firefighter or police officer, or it can be an employee who has received the AED training.

VCSC First Aid responders will be trained on the proper use of AEDs, specifically the Medtronics Lifepak CR Plus units that we purchased. We chose this unit due to the ease of operation and automation.All facilities will receive at least one unit; North and South high schools will receive two. The AED will be placed in a wall cabinet in a location that allows quick and easy access. Your principal will announce to the staff the location of your AED.This is a big move for us and was made possible through a generous donation from the Union Hospital Foundation. They recognized the need to add the lifesaving devices in all facilities and gave us the financial ability to see this important project through.I sincerely hope that we never have to use an AED, but I feel comfortable knowing that they are in place in case they are needed.Brendan

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How Does an AED Work?Once an AED is turned on, it provides prompts to guide the user through the process. One of the first prompts instructs the user to connect the AED to the victim via the adhesive electrodes (pads) placed on the chest. The AED then analyzes the victim's heart rhythm through the electrodes using a built-in computer program. It then determines if a shock is "needed" or "necessary." More specifically:1. The electrodes placed on the victim's body send the heart rhythm information (ECGs) to the AED.2. The AED "reads" short segments of the heart's rhythm. It checks characteristics such as frequency, shape, slope, amplitude and heart rate.3. Based on these characteristics, the AED determines whether or not a shock is needed and activates the appropriate user prompts.More information for the Medtronics Lifepak CR Plus can be found here: Wait, There’s More! Fruit Flies?Did you know that a Fruit Fly (Drosophila) has a life cycle of about 10 days? They reproduce so fast that it is very easy for a small area to become infested with hundreds of the annoying critters. Fruit Flies are attracted to fruit (hence the common name) but they really enjoy beer and wine. If your house has been invaded by fruit flies, open up a bottle of wine and create a funnel in the opening by using a small piece of paper, such as an index card, allowing the flies to get into the bottle, but not out. Adding a small dab of dish soap will help them get stuck in the wine. You can exterminate the trapped flies by shaking the bottle of wine and drowning them, or place the bottle with a corked top in your freezer for a few hours. If the little buggers are flying around your classroom, take a look to see if there is any old fruit or food that should be disposed of. Interested in learning more, check out: