New Guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine "strongly encourage" health and fitness facilities to have automated external defibrillators on the premises.

Studies have shown increased survival rates among those who have had a heart attack when a defibrillator is used. Survival is as high as 90 percent when defibrillation occurs within one minute of the attack, and survival rates decline 7 to 10 percent with every minute that it is delayed. Without defibrillation, after 12 minutes a heart attack victim has only a 2 to 5 percent chance of survival, according to the joint statement.

Therefore, the new guidelines encourage the placement and use of automated defibrillators at all health/fitness facilities in order to minimize the time between recognition that a heart attack has occurred and successful defibrillation. It is especially urged for those facilities with more than 2500 members and those that offer special programs to people who are older or have medical conditions. They are also encouraged for those facilities where the arrival of an emergency medical team is anticipated to be 5 minutes or longer.

If you go to a health or fitness center, ask about their "PAD" - or public access to defibrillation - plan. Your life could depend on it.

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Source:  American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine. Automated external defibrillators in health/fitness facilities. Circulation, March 5, 2002;105:1147-1150.