Shocking
State Senator Marian Price wants automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in every Lincoln Public School building. The Board of Education recently rejected the idea on a 4-3 vote. The Board didn’t like the installation costs ($140,000+), maintenance costs, liability issues, and so on.
AEDs are proven to help save lives in critical scenarios. I wonder how many lives could potentially be saved by following Senator Price’s plan? My gut tells me it’s probably quite a bit less than one life per year, but I could be wrong. How much are we willing to spend per life saved per year? It’s a valid economics question, even though it does make you feel a little dirty for thinking of a life in terms of dollars. One hundred forty grand doesn’t strike me as an obscene cost, but by the time you factor in hidden and ongoing costs, maybe it’s not worth it any more. I don’t know.
The Comments
Karin Dalziel July 5, 2006 at 8:42am
I guess I would have to hear more to make a decision.
“Modeled after Good Samaritan laws, the new law provides immunity from civil liability for anyone who uses a portable AED for emergency care or treatment.”
This part bothers me, though. This means that there’s a risk that these could harm people- I would wager that’s especially true for children. What’s the risk vs the possibility it might save lives? In the wrong hands, might they do more damage than good?
I don’t have a problem with the cost. I’ve heard of much worse ways to spend that much money.
huskerpilot July 5, 2006 at 5:24pm
The risk is not there… the AED will not allow a person to “shock” another when the heart is beating in a normal manner… they really are fool proof.
Karin July 5, 2006 at 8:14pm
Then I don’t have a problem with it.
We have three of these things in the Capitol and none in schools- what does that say about us?
Plus, sadly, kids are having heart attacks now. Well, I guess there was always a rare case here and there, but it’s getting more frequent.