About the Foundation

The Need

Each year well over 350,00 people — most in the prime of life — die suddenly from an electrical malfunction in their hearts. Despite the development of excellent pre-hospital EMS services as well as the availability of superior hospital emergency medicine and critical care facilities, the outcome of these and other life threatening medical emergencies is often determined, not by paramedics, emergency nurses nor cardiologist, but rather by co-workers, family members or other "bystanders" who are usually the first persons to detect and react to a medical emergency at home, at work or elsewhere in the community.

Recognizing that a problem exist, calling for help and the subsequent immediate care actions of these "first detectors" is as essential to reducing the number of premature deaths and preventable disabilities as are the capabilities and proficiency of licensed and certified professionals who labor in various community emergency services.

Unquestionably, the EMS System begins with those who are first there and first to apply life-supporting care when a serious medical emergency occurs. This is most significant in the event of the most common of all life-threatening medical emergencies, a sudden cardiac arrest. More than 350,000 people a year die from sudden death and without immediate onsite care and life support (i.e., CPR and early defibrillation), victims have little or no chance for survival.

The Solution

The relatively recent advance of the automated external defibrillator (AED) technology certainly offers new hope for preventing premature death from sudden cardiac arrest. But for AEDs to reach their full life-extending potential, trained laypersons must have the capabilities, confidence and courage to use them. Qualified First Aid, CPR and AED instructors are the key human recourse who provide the critical training, planning and evaluation services that make onsite emergency care (that include early defibrillation) programs most successful.

It is CPR/AED instructors who are most involved in preparing infrequent and often reluctant responders to be "ready, willing and able" to react appropriately to life threatening medical events. Moreover, much like the broader EMS System of which it is an integral part, onsite emergency medical response systems require planning, instruction and management. Without the invaluable work of capable and competent instructors and emergency response program specialist, proper preparation for optimal, onsite initial response to sudden death and other life-threatening medical events is not likely to occur.

To accomplish this daunting objective, these instructors and emergency care management consultants need to have maximum support and assistance. The ILS Foundation provides Affiliates with instructional materials and AED program promotional and management tools, as well as instruction enhancement seminars, business development assistance and access to specially-priced AEDs.

History of the Foundation

In 2002 the AED Instructor Foundation, Inc. (AEDIF) was established to help those who prepare people to help save lives lost to preventable premature death. In view of the crucial role played in most locations by CPR/AED instructors as the principle promoters, architects, builders and care takers of onsite emergency care programs (including use of AEDs), the AEDIF has provided a variety of unique and free support services needed by initial life support instructors and AED program managers.

In a little more than three years the AEDIF achieved a membership of over 5000 instructor affiliates in 45 countries. The Foundation's wide variety of services and resources — including a special low cost AED — have been extensively utilized and highly praised by the vast majority of Affiliates and it has become a respected advocate for optimal onsite emergency care and an independent voice for the CPR/AED instructor community. AEDIF has also participated in and/or made presentations to countless national and international safety and emergency care symposia and conferences.

AEDIF was initially funded by a generous unrestricted grant from ZOLL Medical Corporation that reached its conclusion in April of 2005. But the mission and purpose of the Foundation continues. In any organization, a significant change in funding necessitates an obvious reassessment of need, purpose, and direction. Before undertaking reorganization and/or pursuing any additional funding, AEDIF sought the input of all Affiliates. A detailed on-line survey was conducted to determine if the AED Instructor Foundation should be continued and if so, to assess how it could better serve the initial emergency care instructor community.

The results were very enlightening and most encouraging. 90% of the respondents agreed that the Foundation is clearly meeting a vital need in the instructor community and should be continued. A number of very insightful suggestions for changes, potential funding and improvements were offered to help AEDIF not only carry on, but better serve CPR/AED instructors and program managers and assist them in their vital work.

Based on this input, subsequent conversations with the Advisory Board members and countless Affiliates, as well as the experience of the past 4 years and rapidly evolving initial emergency care "market factors," a plan to reorganize and fund the Foundation has been developed.

To reflect the importance of all immediate life supporting actions (not just the availability and use of AEDs) and to highlight the process needed to achieve and maintain optimal emergency preparedness, the Foundation is now known as the Initial Life Support Foundation (ILSF) with a mantra Helping EMS Save Lives.

Certified instructors; local EMS agencies; and training centers/emergency care training companies may join the Foundation and utilize its many services and resources regardless of which national or internationally recognized curricula are taught or which approved AED device(s) are utilized or recommended. Whether Affiliates are paid for or volunteer their services, the Foundation has no agenda or purpose other than the success and effectiveness of this vast group of largely independent, dedicated professionals.

The Foundation is supported and operated by seasoned professionals from the emergency medicine and early defibrillation worlds. Frank J. Poliafico, R.N., an emergency nursing pioneer, veteran paramedic and former director of EMS services for the City of New York, serves as the Foundation's executive director. He is guided by an advisory board of leading emergency care educators, EMS managers and AED industry experts. ILSF will also be advised by a Medical Advisory Panel of leading EMS physicians and specialist in Emergency Medicine.

The Foundation was originally supported by an unrestricted educational grant from ZOLL Medical Corporation, but is now funded with the proceeds of its workshops and seminars, as well as from a small part of the proceeds of low cost AEDs available via its highly successful PAD Support Program.