The FAA Policy That Could Cost You Your Life
Health and safety experts have long advised that the presence of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) in the workplace is often critical to saving the life of someone struck with sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). In fact, the American Red Cross states that while more than 200,000 Americans die of an SCA every year, up to 50,000 of these deaths could have been prevented if an AED had been available for immediate use at the time of the emergency.
This type of staggering data led the FAA to impose an industry-wide regulation requiring AEDs and training for flight attendants on all air carrier aircraft with 19 or more seats.
Shockingly, the FAA does not require the same precautions at its own air traffic control facilities, and in fact, actively rejects any attempt to obtain AEDs to save the lives of its own employees. This inexplicable failure of management unfortunately contributed to the recent death of Air Traffic Controller John Sanfelippo.
While on duty at Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center on Feb. 12, Sanfelippo learned a recently retired air traffic controller, Joel Goodwin, suffered a major stroke earlier that day and was near death. Shaken and distressed, Sanfelippo sat down to talk with Mark Rohlmeier and George Carper. Minutes later, noticing an odd look had passed over Sanfelippos face, Rohlmeier asked him if he was all right. He did not respond, passed out and fell to the floor.
While Carper attempted to assess what was wrong, Rohlmeier rushed to the control room to have the supervisor call 911. Supervisor Bernadette Sessions and Controllers Ron Leonard and Chuck Konikoff ran in to join Carpers efforts. Meanwhile, Controller Clay Sprouse retrieved the first aid kit, in hopes there was something in it to help Sanfelippo.
It was soon clear his health was in great jeopardy, and eventually he quit breathing altogether. The group knew Sanfelippos life could not wait for the EMTs to arrive and started CPR immediately and continued administering it for 10 minutes.
Thirteen minutes after Sanfelippo collapsed, the EMTs entered the building and shocked him three times with an AED, reestablishing his heart beat. But those 13 minutes had already caused too much damage. Sanfelippo remained in ICU for 26 days with severe brain damage before he passed away on March 10.
The sad truth for Sanfelippos friends and family is that had an AED been installed in his facility, he might have survived. The chances of surviving an SCA decrease by 10 percent for every minute between the onset of the attack and the application of an AED. And in circumstances where an AED is not available at all, the chances of death approach 95 percent.
Two years ago, well before Sanfelippo experienced his ultimately fatal cardiac arrest, both the NATCA and PASS locals in Houston requested AEDs from facility management. Since then, the administrator has been studying the issue.
The FAA has so far rejected the installation of AEDs based on two flawed arguments cost and liability.
The costs the FAA currently estimates for equipping a few hundred air traffic control facilities would equal two-thirds of what it estimated it would cost the entire airline industry when it imposed the regulation. Considering how the number of airplanes grossly outnumbers the air traffic facilities, it is unlikely that both estimates can be correct. But even if that cost seems concerning to the agencys bottom-line, it is still unwilling to accept the multiple offers of donated AEDs from local municipalities, airport authorities, fire departments, and even unions or concerned employees willing to part with their own money to provide facilities with AEDs.
The agency has generally used the concept of liability to turn away these offers. But even this argument is without merit, as the Cardiac Arrest Survival Act of 2000 (CASA) actually protects the FAA from any liability. The FAA led the nation in support of AEDs when it required them in aircraft and airports. Which makes it particularly unconscionable that the agency outright rejects any attempt even donated to install this lifesaving device in its own facilities to protect the lives of its own employees.
Last December, citing "contract negotiations" the agency cancelled meetings with NATCA to discuss AEDs. NATCA has subsequently withdrawn its contract proposal on the topic when it was clear the FAA would not consider it. FAA deputy administrator recently met with Southwest Regional Vice President Darrell Meachum and Executive Vice President Ruth Marlin to re-establish communication on the topic and committed to a follow up meeting. In honor of Sanfelippo and his wife and two sons, NATCA hopes the upcoming meeting will finally lead it down the path to prevent other families from losing their loved ones.
