At Kennedy International Airport in New York earlier this month two doctors trying to save the life of a cardiac arrest victim were unable to locate an automated external defibrillators (AED).

WABC-TV later reported that terminal 4 at Kennedy has five AEDs, but that the devices are not available for public use. So when Dr. Bruce Decter and Dr. Scott Danoff rushed to the aid of a man who collapsed and had no pulse, there was no AED at hand. They called 911 and then called for an AED.

“I repeated it at least 10 times — ‘Where’s the AED? Where’s the AED?’” Dr. Bruce Dector said later.

He and Dr. Scott Danoff, a dentist, administered CPR and were successful at reviving the man. A Port Authority police officer who responded to the emergency later retrieved one of the AEDs.

WABC reported that the AEDs in Kennedy airport can be used only by trained individuals, including doctors, and cannot be used by members of the public. As a result, the airport apparently keeps them out of sight.

Many airports, such as Pittsburgh International, Tucson International, and San Diego International, provide AEDs that can be used by laypersons and hang the devices in clearly marked locations.

The two doctors were clearly concerned about the airport’s AED policy.

“What isn’t it more available to the public? Why can’t we find it? Why can’t we see it?” Dr. Dector asked afterwards. “We were very lucky that he survived.”

You can watch the report here:

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