As an RN and educator for fire department personnel for over 15 years I feel it important to respond to the comments posted on AED use. Although the AED will not restart the heart in every sudden death situation it does have that ability if heart disease is responsible for the cardiac arrest and the diver is in a shockable cardiac rhythm. As reported on the DAN website heart disease was the direct cause of death for 26% of the diver fatalities over the age of 35 years. With the chance of returning the heart to a normal rhythm decreasing by 10% every minute after the cardiac arrest, it is imperative that the electric shock is delivered without delay. It is for this reason that the American Heart Association and American Red Cross has supported the placement of these devices in Airports, Gym’s and Casino’s through out California, resulting in many documented lives that have been saved. The decision of the California Dive Boat Association to place AED’s on their vessels have been supported by Los Angeles County Baywatch Lifeguards together with the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber. With cost of pad replacement at $59 every 2 years and the battery at $149 every 4 years it is unlikely that any cost need to be absorbed by the diving community and a very low cost to be placed on a divers life. I look forward to a time when all public access vessels have AED access.

• Re: AED's (Automatic External Defibrillator's) Randy 23:23:53 12/29/08 (0)