Mirrodie From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 7422 posts, RR: 65 Posted (9 years 2 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 2454 times:
An article in the June 2004 Business and Commercial Aviation Magazine mentioned that since installing Automatic External Defibrillators (AED's) on its fleet, AA has helped save 50 lives.
To date, AA reports that 89 AED events were administered where a shock was delivered. 39 people died, giving AA a 56 % survival rate of heart attack.
The US national heart attack survival rate is only about 22 %.
Great job to those at AA! Regardless of what many say, they are a great outfit overall.
-M
Forum moderator 2001-2010; He's a pedantic, pontificating, pretentious bastard, a belligerent old fart, a worthless st
146crew From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 211 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (9 years 2 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 2388 times:
All U.S. Airlines were required to have them installed sometime in early April (I think the compliance date was April 11. I agree, they are great devices. They are very easy to use, and it is virtually imposible to screw up using one. If the AED does not sense a shock is needed, it won't shock the victim even if the shock button is pressed!!
Canoecarrier From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 2671 posts, RR: 12 Reply 4, posted (9 years 2 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 2267 times:
I was just going to say what 146crew said, it is mandatory to have them in a US commercial airliner at this point. I'm not exactly sure, but most likely it carries over to airports as well. Every one of the airports I've flown to in the past 4 or 5 months have them available everywhere.
Tcfc424 From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 488 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (9 years 2 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 2225 times:
As an EMT, I have seen these devices save lives many times, including one patient I worked while working in the ER at Brackenridge Hospital here in Austin that had been revived at the Austin Airport with an AED.
As for the comment about the AED being virtually impossible to screw up...well, there is one case where that is not always true. The device COULD (most people have enough common sense not to) but COULD shock a conscious person if the heart rhythm (V-Tach---Ventricular Tachycardia) is detected. In most cases, this victim is in dire straights, however, there are a few people that live and function (walking, talking, etc.) that live with this condition.
Sorry for the digression, great machines, great job to the airlines and airports that have these life-saving devices installed.
Qqflyboy From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 2200 posts, RR: 14 Reply 6, posted (9 years 2 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 2173 times:
Mirrodie does well to give AA credit as they were the first airline to install AEDs on their aircraft. All AA aircraft were equipped with them in the late 90s.
The views expressed are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect my employer’s views.
AAR90 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 3410 posts, RR: 50 Reply 7, posted (9 years 2 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2072 times:
Mirrodie does well to give AA credit as they were the first airline to install AEDs on their aircraft. All AA aircraft were equipped with them in the late 90s.
Wow, a compliment... Thanks Mirrodie! I remember well the ongoing internal debate about the huge expense AA was taking on at the time when there was no government requirement for AED's. Haven't heard a negative comment in a very long time. Especially after two "saves" were made in the terminal buildings by FA's getting an AED from nearby AA aircraft. That prompted AA to install AED's in its terminal spaces as well. Again, well before any government requirement(s).
*NO CARRIER* -- A Naval Aviator's worst nightmare!
Ha763 From United States of America, joined Jan 2003, 3494 posts, RR: 6 Reply 8, posted (9 years 2 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2032 times:
AA was the first to carry AEDs on their aircraft, but AQ was the first to have them on all their aircraft. AQ's fleet was only around 20 aircraft, but it still was a major investment for such a small airline. Once news of a life being saved by an AED on board an aircraft broke, all airlines basically started to install them on their aircraft and were in compliance well before the mandatory compliance date.
BTW, I also believe HA has donated their older AEDs to HNL for use in the terminals. I also know of an incident in which a HA FA brought out an AED from the aircraft for use on a pax who collapsed in the interisland possibly saving his life.
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From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 7422 posts, 
I remember well the ongoing internal debate about the huge expense AA was taking on at the time when there was no government requirement for AED's. Haven't heard a negative comment in a very long time. Especially after two "saves" were made in the terminal buildings by FA's getting an AED from nearby AA aircraft. That prompted AA to install AED's in its terminal spaces as well. Again, well before any government requirement(s). 
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