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According to the American Heart Association, chances of survival for victims of sudden cardiac arrest decrease seven to ten percent every minute that goes by without CPR and defibrillation.

What is an AED Anyway?
An Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable device used as a treatment for victims of sudden cardiac arrest. These devices have been around for decades, however, modern AEDs are lightweight, portable, and extremely easy-to-use. Studies have consistently shown increased survival rates for victims of sudden cardiac arrest when AEDs are used with the first few minutes of collapse. While all ambulances and fire engines in Howard County carry AEDs, it is usually bystanders that witness the victim collapse and can take immediate action with an AED located in the building.

Training
An AED on the wall is worthless if no one can use it. The Howard County PAD Program encourages everyone to attend CPR and AED training. The Department of Fire and Rescue spearheads this effort with various training courses offered every month. As well, innovative learning opportunities are being explored and will hopefully be implemented soon.

During the four-hour adult training classes, students will learn proper CPR technique, choking relief, and AED use. Also, students will have ample time to practice on mannequins and through scenarios.

The Program Itself
The Program places at least one AED in designated Howard County government buildings. Each building has a "site manager" that ensures the AED remains functional, properly equipped, and secured in a cabinet. Any problems with the AED are forwarded to the Program Coordinator.

The Program Coordinator is responsible for the overall development of the program. As new AEDs are added, the Program Coordinator and site managers decide the best location for the AED, arrange for employee training, and compliance with state regulations. After an AED is used, the Program Coordinator prepares the AED for service and arranges for the incident information to be downloaded and reviewed by the Medical Director.

AED Locations in Howard County

Site Name (AED Location)

1. Animal Control (In front lobby.)

2. ARL (Outside health room.)

3. Atholton High School (Outside the gym.)

4. Atholton High School (Outside the health room.)

5. Board of Elections (Hallway between office and storeroom.)

6. Cedar Lane School (Outside the health room.)

7. Centennial High School (Outside the main office.)

8. Centennial High School (Outside the gym.)

9. Central Library (Main lobby entrance.)

10. Circuit Court (Behing metal detector station/front entry room.)

11. Emergency Command Post (Within the unit.)

12. 911 Communications Center (On wall near PD dispatch.)

13. Cooksville Shop (Wall inside main area.)

14. Dayton Shop (Inside main workshop along office wall.)

15. Dorsey Building (Intersection of main hallways across from copy machine.)

16. East Columbia Library (Main lobby entrance.)

17. Elkridge Library (In front lobby by senior center entrance.)

18. Ellicott City Senior Center (Wall inside front lobby.)

19. Executive Protection Vehicle #173 (Inside vehicle.)

20. Fairgrounds (In maintenance / grounds office.)

21. Florence Bain Senior Center (Back of main office area.)

22. Gateway Building (Front entryway behind guard desk.)

23. George Howard Building (Front lobby.)

24. George Howard Building (Second floor / Office of Finance.)

25. Glenelg High School (Main lobby.)

26. Glenelg High School (Outside the gym.)

27. Glenwood Community Center (Senior center entrance.)

28. Glenwood Community Center (In front of gym entrance.)

29. Glenwood Library (Front lobby entrance.)

30. Hammond High School (Outside the gym.)

31. Hammond High School (Outside the main office.)

32. Health Department (Environmental Health in main hallway.)

33. Health Department (Addictions office.)

34. Health Department (Health Clinic in waiting room.)

35. Homewood School (Outside health room.)

36. Howard County Center for the Arts (Opposite front desk.)

37. Howard High School (Outside the gym.)

38. Howard High School (Outside the health room.)

39. Landfill (Maintenance building.)

40. Landfill (Transfer station in staff restroom [climate controlled]).

41. Landfill (In booth at residential trash drop-off.)

42. Ligon Building (Middle floor outside of kitchen.)

43. Long Reach High School (Outside the gym.)

44. Long Reach High School (Outside the healthroom.)

45. Longwood Senior Center (In senior center lobby.)

46. Marriotts Ridge High School (Outside the gym.)

47. Marriotts Ridge High School (Outside the office.

48. Mayfield Shop (Wall inside main area.)

49. Millersville Library (In front lobby.)

50. Morningside House (In front lobby.)

51. Mt Hebron High School (Outside the gym.)

52. Mt Hebron High School (Outside the main office.)

53. Northern District (In police station.)

54. Oakland Mills High School (Outside gym.)

55. Oakland Mills High School (Main hallway opposite cafeteria.)

56. Owen Brown Senior Center (In senior center office.)

57. Police Department (With vice and narcotics.)

58. Police Department (On firing range.)

59. Police Department (In child advocacy center.)

60. Police Department (Training academy.)

61. R&P, Main Office (Main reception area.)

62. Automated Enforcement (On first aid table in rear.)

63. Reservoir High School (Outside the gym.)

64. Reservoir High School (Health Room.)

65. River Hill High School (Outside the gym.)

66. River Hill High School (Outside the main office.)

67. Roger Carter Center (In office area at front desk.)

68. Savage Library (On wall opposite help desk.)

69. Southern District Police Station (Inside information cubicle.)

70. State's Attorney Office (Main hallway opposite mailboxes.)

71. Police Tactical Team (With tac medics.)

72. Tiber Hudson (Wall in main meeting room.)

73. Timbers at Troy (Front entryway.)

74. Water Plant (Dewatering Facility.)

75. Water Plant (Administration office.)

76. Water Plant (Maintenance building.)

77. Water Plant (Travels with confined space entry team.)

78. Wilde Lake High School (Outside main office.)

79. Wilde Lake High School (Outside the gym.)