AEDs for Church
and Faith-Based
Organizations

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a life-threatening emergency that occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. When a person goes into SCA, they will suddenly collapse and not respond or breathe normally. They may gasp or shake as if having a seizure. If the victim does not get help right away, they will die within minutes.

Normally, the heart beats in a coordinated pattern that is controlled by electrical impulses. These electrical signals tell the heart muscle when to contract so that it can effectively pump blood and oxygen throughout the body. During SCA, these signals become scrambled and cause an irregular heart rhythm or arrhythmia. Specifically, the heart enters what is called ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia, two deadly rhythms in which the heart is no longer able to pump blood to the brain or other vital organs.

An AED is the only treatment for a victim of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). The device is used to deliver a life-saving defibrillation shock to the victim to restart their heart into a normal rhythm so that the heart can start pumping blood effectively again throughout their body.

Each AED unit has its own indications for use, so be sure to check your user manual for details on how to safely use your defibrillator.

Generally speaking, when an AED is properly applied to a patient’s chest, the AED will read the patient’s heart rhythm and it will only charge and deliver a defibrillation shock if they are in Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). If the patient is not in a “shockable” heart rhythm and they don’t require defibrillation therapy, the AED won’t deliver a shock.

As long as you follow the AED’s instructions, neither the user of the device nor the patient receiving treatment from the AED can get hurt.

Many advocates for AEDs also have a hard time convincing others that these devices are important to have available. This is mostly due to a lack of awareness, and unfortunately, what often brings awareness to the importance of the issue is someone within a community tragically dying from SCA.

So to prevent that from being your community, it may be helpful to have your colleagues read these SCA “save” stories that took place in churches. The only reason these people survived is because the churches were equipped with accessible AEDs and the staff was prepared to respond quickly. There are thousands of stories just like these!

Also, if there are any physicians (especially cardiologists) in your congregation, it’s a good idea to have them explain to your colleagues why AEDs are important to have in large communal gathering places such as faith-based organizations.

No, by law, churches and other faith-based organizations are not required to have AEDs. However, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t!

At the absolute minimum, you should purchase one AED and ensure it is accessible at all hours to all people who are at your facility.

However, if financially feasible, it’s highly recommended that you purchase enough AEDs (and strategically place them) such that an AED is accessible within a two minute, round trip, brisk walk from anywhere within your facility.

AEDs generally cost between $1,200 – $3,000 for the upfront purchase of the device. However, it’s very important to note that the upfront purchase of the device is not the only expense that you’ll incur for each of your AED units. You can also look into a payment plan to help keep costs low. 

Instead, you need to look at the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for each unit when evaluating which AED model you want to purchase. This includes the cost of replacing key components of your device after they expire — such as the battery and electrode pads — to ensure your AED is ready to use in an emergency.

An AED's TCO = upfront AED purchase price + future batteries + future electrode pads + any other supplies that might be required over a given timeframe. 

The simple answer is that anyone can be responsible and designated as the “AED Program Manager,” as long as they are present at your church or faith-based organization at least once per week. It may be easiest for a staff member to be accountable for the devices since they likely frequent your facility. Although, if there’s a congregant who visits your facility frequently and is passionate about supporting your AED program, then, by all means, empower them to take the lead on ensuring your organization is safe from SCA!

Learn more about who should be responsible for your AEDs, and how to ensure your organization is prepared to save a life from SCA.

It’s important to note that nearly every AED model has distinct maintenance requirements. Follow the maintenance guidelines outlined by the manufacturer. Also, the maintenance of your AEDs can be made easier by purchasing a device that has built-in “connectivity” features. Learn more about why “connectivity” features are valuable to reduce the burden of maintenance for your school’s AEDs.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, but there are a few guidelines that you should follow when deciding where to place AEDs at your facility:

• Make sure your AED’s placement is noticeable and easily accessible by any bystander. AEDs locked in an office do nobody any good
• If your organization has athletic facilities and a limited budget, you should prioritize placement of an AED near those facilities since physical exertion leads to a higher risk of SCA
• Put AEDs near high-traffic and high-density areas where lots of people gather and the likelihood of SCA is higher
• If you are able to purchase multiple AEDs, it’s best to strategically place the devices such that an AED is always accessible within a two minute brisk walk from anywhere within your facility