Quote of the Month
Safety doesn't start or end at the workplace door.
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Quote of the Month
Safety doesn't start or end at the workplace door.
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Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) Almost 350,000 people die every year from Sudden Cardiac Arrest. What you do in the first five minutes when sudden cardiac arrest strikes can mean the difference between life and death. Every minute that defibrillation is delayed to a victim of sudden cardiac arrest survival rate drops 10%.
FAQ What is sudden cardiac arrest? What is and AED and when is it needed? Does sudden cardiac arrest really happen in the workplace? If a sudden cardiac arrest does occur at work, isn't it 9-1-l’s responsibility? Who in our company would use the AED and are they complicated to operate? Is there an increased risk of liability for using an AED? Tell me again why my company should implement an AED program?
What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest? Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the electrical system to the heart malfunctions and suddenly becomes very irregular. The heart beats dangerously fast. The ventricles may flutter or quiver (ventricular fibrillation), and blood is not delivered to the body. In the first few minutes, the greatest concern is that blood flow to the brain will be reduced so drastically that a person will lose consciousness. Death follows unless emergency treatment is begun immediately. The only definitive treatment to restore an effective heart rhythm is defibrillation; CPR alone is not effective.
Each year in the United States alone, an estimated 350,000 victims die from SCA-nearly 1,000 people each day often because lifesaving defibrillation does not reach these victims in time. Each minute of delay decreases an SCA victim's chance of survival by 10%. After only 10 minutes, more than 90% of SCA victims will die if they have not been defibrillated.
What is an AED and when is it needed?
An automated external defibrillator (AED), is used to deliver an electrical shock to the heart (defibrillation) of a victim of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The AED guides user through the defibrillation process with verbal instructions. Defibrillation pads are placed on the victim's bare chest to allow the AED to analyze the heart rhythm and determine if a shock is indicated. If a shock is indicated, the instructs the user to deliver the shock.
Recent
advances in AED technology now make it practical to equip company
employees with this lifesaving technology. AEDs are easy to use, reliable, easy to maintain, portable, durable and low in
cost. The few minutes saved by employees who use an AED before outside
emergency medical services (EMS) arrives can mean the difference between life
and death for an SCA victim.
Does sudden cardiac arrest really happen in the workplace? Yes-sudden cardiac arrest can strike virtually anyone-man or woman, young or old-anywhere, anytime and often without warning. Many factors in the workplace can increase the risk of SCA or limit the timely delivery of lifesaving defibrillation therapy:
due to the need to negotiate traffic, staircases, elevators, escalators or crowds of people;
facilities; and
outside EMS.
If a sudden cardiac arrest does occur at work, isn't it 9-1-l’s responsibility? Saving lives is a shared responsibility. Corporate sponsored in-house emergency response programs should complement, not replace, the existing 9-1-1 structure. Workplace AEDs can be strategically placed within facilities, similar to the convenience of fire extinguishers, so that targeted responders have immediate access to this lifesaving equipment.
Who in our company would use the AED and are they complicated to operate? AEDs require minimal device training, and can be added to regularly scheduled CPR training. In fact, it's easier to learn how to use an AED than to learn CPR. Ok, it's easy to use, but is it time-consuming to maintain? Most AEDs are designed to maintain themselves in a state of readiness with virtually no maintenance. The devices operate on disposable long-life batteries.
The high cost of early AEDS, once posed a significant barrier to widespread deployment. Technological advances in defibrillator design, circuitry and battery technology have reduced the cost of AED technology. Most units today are under $1500.
Is there an increased risk of liability for using an AED? The state of Illinois has enacted legislation to protect users and employers when using AEDs. Of course all organizations must evaluate the relative risks and benefits when considering the implementation of any program that affects employee welfare. According to the American Heart Association, to date, no known judgments have been rendered against the operator of an AED for negligent or improper use of AEDS.
Tell me again why my company should implement an AED program? Recent advances in AED technology make AEDs reliable, easy to use, easy to maintain, portable, durable and cost-effective. It is now practical to equip your company's targeted responders with this lifesaving technology. AEDs put companies in a unique position to have a dramatic impact on the lives of SCA victims, whether they are employees or even customers. Corporate AED programs have been successfully implemented in companies throughout the country, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Mirage Resorts, The New York Times Company and Bankers Trust. In addition to saving lives, these companies have reaped the benefits of positive public relations for their commitment to employee and/or customer safety.
Call Safety Training Associates at 630-375-0810. We'll schedule a visit, discuss implementing a workplace AED program and demonstrate the latest in AED technology. Or email us at info@gotsafety.biz.
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an aging work force, particularly in industrial companies;
