466 BO20 – Saving lives together in sport, part two: a pilot study to increase the number and availability of automated external defibrillatorsat Norwegian football arenas

Background Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can be used by teammates and trainers before the arrival of emergency medical service if AEDs are available and retrievable. Objective To increase the number and accessibility of AEDs at Norwegian football arenas by providing clubs with AEDs and outdoor heated cabinets, and to increase the number of registered and visible AEDs in the national AED registry among Norwegian football clubs. Design Prospective descriptive pilot study (2020–2023). Clubs signed contracts to place their AED outdoors in heated cabinets with 24/7 availability and to register their AED in the Norwegian national AED registry. Setting Norwegian football Participants Norwegian amateur football clubs Interventions We provided AEDs and outdoor heated cabinets to participating clubs. Clubs who already had an AED could chose to only receive a heated cabinet. The AED must be placed outdoors, unlocked with 24/7/365 availability. Clubs who received a heated cabinet only, had to move their existing AED outdoors into the cabinet. Main outcome measures Number of provided AEDs and heated cabinets. Number of registered and visible AEDs in the Norwegian national AED registry. Results We provided 112 AEDs and 116 heated cabinets to 116 participating clubs. By 31.12.22, 68/116 (59%) of clubs had placed their AED outdoors in the heated cabinet and registered their AED correctly in the national AED registry. The remaining clubs had placed their AED indoors (13/116, 11%), placed their AED outdoors but failed to register in the national AED registry (8/116, 7%) or not completed their registration in the national AED registry correctly (27/116, 23%). Conclusions Most clubs complied to 24/7 availability of AEDs and found registration in the national AED registry uncomplicated. Future providers of AEDs should demand plans from clubs prior to receiving AEDs for maintenance and follow-up of AEDs and for registration in national AED registries.