Why it makes sense to invest in an AED for your Business, organisation or home!
Have you ever taken the time to think how much a life is worth? What if someone you knew (work colleague or family member?) had a heart attack in front of you, could you assist? Do you have the right equipment on hand if they did?
Cardio vascular disease
Cardio vascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide as of 2017 data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). In Australia the prevalence of heart disease is approximately one in twenty (4.8% or 1.2 million people), this has remained fairly consistent over time.
Heart Attacks (Myocardial Infarction) causes’ permanent damage to the heart muscle, so a quick response time to treat the victim is paramount. We are lucky here in Australia, between 2007- 2015 there has been a 37% decline in the heart attack rate down to 339 per 100,000 people. However, medical professionals all agree that it is still far too high. A major issue is that less than 1 in 10 people survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrests – mainly because no one was able to provide the necessary first aid.
Heart Attack Risk Factors include:
- Age (males over 45 and females over 55)
- Tobacco use
- High Blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Family history of heart disease
- Stress
- Illicit drug use
- Certain autoimmune conditions
- Lack of physical activity etc.
Now not all heart attacks are the same, it depends on several factors. However, what is important is the response. The best time to treat a heart attack is within one hour of the onset of the first symptoms with the right equipment. When a heart attack occurs, there’s a limited amount of time before significant and long-lasting damage occurs to the heart muscle. Improving the survival rate by activating the ‘chain of Survival’ (a term which describes the sequence of events that must take place in rapid succession to increase the odds of survival from sudden cardiac arrest) is of the up-most importance. The four interdependent links in the ‘chain of survival are;
- Early access,
- Early CPR,
- Early defibrillation and,
- Early advanced cardiac life support
So, ask yourself;
-Do you know of anyone who has the ‘risk factors that increase their chances of developing CVD?
-Could you assist if they were having a heart attack?
First Response
Most organisations and workplaces have access to basic emergency equipment and processes such as:
- First-Aid equipment
- Eye wash/showers
- Trained first responders
- Emergency plans/procedures (developed and in place)
However, being prepared for Emergency Management is much more than just having basic equipment and procedures in place.
But what about at home. Most homes may have a first-aid kit lying around somewhere with maybe one family member first-aid trained (or had received training in the past). However, there are no real programs in place to monitors these items in the homes.
When Auditing and consulting, in most organisations and workplaces we see in place an inspection or audit program of some description. These processes may look at these items but not all the time (and some to a limited degree). During our audits/inspections we quite often come across first-aid kits which have been used but not re-stocked and/or first responders whose qualifications have expired. We come across an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) ‘on and off’, however, they are becoming more common. Remember, a key link in the ‘Chain of Survival’ of a heart attack is the availability of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED’s). It is also important to note how long it could take for emergency services to get to the patient/victim.
So, ask yourself.
-How ‘up to date’ is your first-aid equipment? (And are they adequate)
-Do you know who is first-aid trained or if their qualifications are up to date?
Automatic External Defibrillator (AED’s)
Some important things to look out for when researching to purchase an AED:
- A Fast & Powerful Shock
- Time to first shock
- Reliable & Durable Quality
- Configuration (does it have Clear audio and visual guidance)
- Adheres to ANZCOR guidelines with escalating energy (360J)
- Value for money
- Light weight
One more very important aspect to AED’s is that you do not need formal training to operate one. Most are automated with command prompts (some also have heads up display) which will talk (or show) you through how to attach and use the device on a victim.
Although we are starting to see more AED’s in businesses, workplaces and community venues, some may be hard to access or find if you do not know where to look, so having one close at hand would be a preferred option for all. As the saying goes “I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it”
So, ask yourself:
-Do you know where your nearest AED is located?
-How easy is the AED to access?
Conclusion
AEDs are lightweight easy to carry wherever necessary and easy to use (user friendly) without proper training. The chain of survival is a very important process in the survival rate of heart attack victims. Not all AED’s are the same (some do not have a level of function to support a person’s life)
In the end it could cost you less than a cup of coffee per day to acquire an AED and have it readily available in your workplace or home. If you would like to know more about the Mindray AED range of products do not hesitate to contact us.
SOS-Switched-Onto-Safety
References:
https://switchedontosafety.wpcomstaging.com/
https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/