AMA Clubs and AEDs

I'd like to take a moment to discuss something that has been creeping into our hobby virtually unnoticed for many years. Old age. As we look around at our buddies at our club meetings, or walk along the pit area at a fly-in, we notice that the majority of modelers have gotten older. Along with this malady comes aches and pains, in addition to the serious problem of heart issues.

I am a proponent of all clubs having members taking CPR training, and especially in the case of clubs that host events, purchase an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). With prices ranging from a few hundred for a refurbished unit to a little over a thousand for a brand new unit, is seems a cheap price to pay to help ensure that your flying buddy may be with you for years to come. The units talk your way through the procedure and unless certain parameters are met the unit will not deliver a shock .

I would suggest your club's safety coordinator look into this and report to your members at a regular club meeting. Here's a link to AED information from the American Heart Association.

This article is not an endorsement of any particular AED manufacturer, their products, procedures or recommendations.