The Availability of Automated External Defibrillators in Senior Residential Areas

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the number of senior communities within the Tucson area that have access to automated external defibrillators (AED). Methods: Publicly available internet search engines were used to identify a number of various senior communities within the Tucson area. The various communities included senior apartment communities, recreational vehicle parks, and manufactured home parks. A representative employee of the community was interviewed to determine if an AED was accessible to the residents of the community. Results: Thirty senior apartments, eight manufactured home, and twelve RV communities were identified. The communities ranged in size from 22 to 1576 units, with the average being 222 units per community and the mean 232 units per community. IF the 50 senior communities identified only 2 of them had an AED on the premises. Both of the communities that had an AED on premise were RV parks that had a paid security crew that was trained in the use of the AED. Conclusions: In the Tucson senior communities there is a gross under availability of access to life saving equipment in a population that has a higher risk heart attacks and could benefit from having access to an AED.