British journal of sports medicine
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The placement of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools and public sporting venues is a growing national trend. ⋯ Over half of Washington State high schools have an AED on school grounds. AED use occurred in <1% of schools annually and was effective in the treatment of SCA. Funding of AED programmes was mostly through private donations, with little coordination with local emergency response teams. Significant improvement is needed in structuring emergency response plans and training targeted rescuers for an SCA in the high-school setting.