Submitted Resolutions

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
SENATE
Oct. 8, 2004

SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS: SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 143-RECOGNIZING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION OF PUBLIC ACCESS DEFIBRILLATION PROGRAMS

Mr. DEWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a Resolution that would recognize the value and importance of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in our Nation's communities. It is an important Resolution that sends a message of support to our communities, neighborhoods, schools and businesses.

For my colleagues who do not know, AEDs or automated external defibrillators, are devices that, when used properly, administer an electric shock through the chest wall to the heart. These devices are used on people who are suffering from heart attacks or have gone into full cardiac arrest.

Many of my colleagues may have seen these devices in airports or in other public spaces such as stadiums or shopping malls. They have been made widely visible and available because, according to the American Heart Association, "AEDs strengthen the chain of survival. They can restore a normal heart rhythm in sudden cardiac arrest victims."

What makes AEDs so valuable to our communities is that they are extremely effective and they are easy to use. A microprocessor, which is embedded in the AEDs analyzes a person's heart rhythm and determines whether an electrical shock is necessary to restore normal heart function. The American Heart Association makes clear the value of having access to AEDs-"When a person suffers a sudden cardiac arrest, for each minute that passes without defibrillation, their chance of survival decreases by 7 to 10 percent." Fortunately, many communities have realized the benefit of AEDs and have begun creating Public Access Defibrillation programs (PADs). There are a number of Public Access Defibrillation programs throughout our country, and I'm happy to say a few of them are in Ohio.

These State, local and community PAD programs are a valuable asset because they ensure that automated external defibrillation accessible and available to cardiac arrest victims in the community and provide appropriate training in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of automated external defibrillators.

This resolution simply recognizes the Public Access Defibrillator programs for all of their good work to make it possible for communities to access these life-saving devices. My resolution also encourages the continued creation of PADs so that more people, in more places, have access to AEDs.

Finally, my Senate colleagues and I have long supported automatic external defibrillators and their increased use in communities, particularly rural communities. In fact, just this year, the Senate Labor Health and Human Services Appropriations subcommittee provides $10,933,000 for rural and community access to emergency devices. This funding provides grants to expand placement of automatic external defibrillators and to provide for training.

I ask my colleagues to support this resolution, to pass this resolution, and to encourage the continued development of Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) programs.