Cardiac arrests in schools more common in adults than students

A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Pediatrics examines sudden cardiac arrests in New York State schools–and the life-saving equipment deployed in these situations. The researchers found that most incidents of cardiac arrest occur in adults working in schools, not among students, and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are frequently used, increasing survival.

AEDs are portable devices that are used to treat people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest by measuring heart rhythm and delivering an electric shock to try and restart the heart. Because AEDs have been shown to save lives, professional health organizations recommend that they be available in crowded places, including schools. However, only 18 U.S. states, including New York, currently require them in schools.

The study by researchers at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and NYU Langone Health aimed to understand how common sudden cardiac arrest is in New York State’s public and private schools and whether AEDs are available and used.

“Most research on sudden cardiac arrest in school-aged populations focuses on high schools and student athletes, leaving out the majority of students and adults in schools,” said Milla Arabadjian, PhD, FNP-BC, RN, a postdoctoral research associate at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and the study’s lead author. 

The researchers surveyed 876 school nurses in New York State. More than 8% reported  sudden cardiac arrests in their schools–with 58% of the events occurring in adults. Most sudden cardiac events occurred in middle schools. 

AEDs were deployed in 84.3% of cardiac arrest events and the majority of individuals survived. The size of the school and number of AEDs in the school had no bearing on survival. The researchers also found that AEDs were widely available in private schools, even though this is not required by state law. 

“Given that sudden cardiac events occurred across all educational levels and among more adults than students, emergency preparedness and policies on AEDs should focus on schools at all levels, and not just high schools and those with athletics,” said Arabadjian. “While this study examined AED availability and utilization in New York schools, similar research is needed in other states, including those that do not have legal requirements regarding AEDs in schools.”