If you’re reading this blog, you may be considering purchasing an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) for your business. With dependable devices costing upwards of $1,500.00 to $3,000.00, do the benefits really outweigh the cost?
Yes! A life has been saved many times over before 911 has arrived, due to quick bystander CPR and use of an AED.
When Would I Use an AED?
Anytime a person is unconscious and not breathing!
AEDs were invented by Dr. Frank Pantridge in 1957. As the technology evolved to be useful outside of the hospital, the devices have become commonplace in highly trafficked public settings and workplaces with high risks of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Considering that over 436,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest each year, and the #1 cause of cardiac arrest is a heart attack, having public bystanders trained in CPR with an AED easily accessible can significantly improve a victim’s likelihood of survival.
How are defibrillators used?
Sticky pads are placed on the victim’s chest, and electrodes within the pads send information about the heart rhythm to a computer in the AED. The computer analyzes the rhythm to determine whether electric shock is needed to restore a normal heart rhythm. The AED then delivers the shock.
Our team of professional 911 first responders have an individual average of 20 + years in the industry. We can help your business in Seattle or Portland purchase the right AED for your workplace and train your employees to use it to improve the survivability of a sudden cardiac arrest.
We’ve seen firsthand the effectiveness of AEDs in the workplace: a dental patient who has just received anesthesia; a woman walking her dog on the sidewalk outside a restaurant; a manufacturing worker who collapses in the middle of a task. In each of these cases, an AED was nearby, and combined with high quality CPR, provided lifesaving care to the victim until medical personnel arrived on scene and took over patient care. In each of these cases, the victim survived, due to early bystander intervention.
Location and Maintenance
When needed, AEDs are vital. Ideally, they would be available within two minutes of the victim going unconscious. They should be placed in a visible location that is highly trafficked and can be easily retrieved during a medical emergency. Locations may include lobbies, meeting rooms, cafeterias, or near elevators. Their bright green or red cases make them highly visible, and additional signage directing a bystander to their location are extremely beneficial. If your workplace is a high-risk environment for an SCA to occur, such as a gym, warehouse, manufacturing floor, or area with electric-powered devices, these are prime areas for an AED. More than one may be recommended or required based on the size of the facility. Be sure that the AED is accessible to all employees, including those with disabilities.
Maintenance of AEDs is easy. You do not need a service to do this for you. It includes checking the battery life and the expiration date of the electrode pads. These monthly checks should be recorded and adhere to a schedule laid out in a written AED protocol. Training your employees with a comprehensive CPR, AED, and First Aid curriculum will ensure they are prepared for medical emergencies and are familiar with the use (and location) of your AED.
Image: NIH
Regulatory Compliance
While OSHA doesn’t require every workplace to have an AED, every business should be aware of state and local standards that may mandate otherwise. Additionally, certain workplaces such as construction sites, manufacturing facilities, healthcare offices, and dental offices often have state laws and are recommended by OSHA to have an AED on-site due to higher risk of sudden cardiac arrest. These settings are also advised to implement a written AED protocol that details its placement in the business, employee training, and sets a regular maintenance schedule to ensure the AED is ready to use when it’s needed.
Providing an AED in your workplace can reduce the amount of time a victim goes without defibrillation. For every minute that this is delayed, survival decreases by 10%. AEDs play a vital role in saving lives during sudden cardiac arrests- and they can be used by anyone. Just because it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t in the future. Be prepared to save lives!
Code 3 Safety and Training offers comprehensive CPR/AED/First Aid classes to train your staff to respond to medical emergencies effectively. We offer Safety Consulting to build a Worksite Medical Response plan. We also provide a selection of new, high-quality AEDs for your workplace, all of which come with a complimentary 30-minute training session for you and your employees at your business.
More Resources (OSHA)
- Saving Sudden Cardiac Arrest Victims in the Workplace: Automated External Defibrillators. OSHA Publication 3185, (2003). Provides information on the importance of readily-available AEDs, and encourages the installation of the devices in workplaces. Also includes a list of resources for more detailed guidance on the use of AEDs as well as how to obtain qualified training.
- Best Practices Guide: Fundamentals of a Workplace First-Aid Program. OSHA Publication 3317, (2006). Presents a summary of the basic elements for a first-aid program at the workplace and includes information on automated external defibrillators and programs.
- Automated External Defibrillation in the Occupational Setting. American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) Position Statement, J Occup Environ Med. Volume 54, Number 9, (September 2012). Provides position statement of ACOEM written by Larry M. Starr, PhD, and guidance for the use of AEDs in occupational settings.
- Learn About Automated External Defibrillators. American Red Cross. Includes information on AED training programs, and the benefits of having an AED at your facility.
- Cardiovascular Disease and Occupational Factor. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Workplace Safety and Health Topic. Addresses many of the hazards associated with occupational risks of coronary heart disease.
Sources
AEDs in the Workplace: Placement and Management Tips. Health and Safety Institute (HSI). https://hsi.com/blog/aeds-in-the-workplace-placement-and-management-tips?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_4fvRvHnESZlAjjWNyq_Cp0TjcLGPNvSsooAGGhiz63ioUoa58zZKxSrdPQRmklaH6tU0JJxQa6NVHzqpJQafEdyPBfg&_hsmi=319491081&utm_content=319491081&utm_source=hs_email
OSHA AED Laws and Requirements. AED.com. https://www.aed.com/osha-aed-laws-and-requirements#:~:text=Occupational%20Safety%20and%20Health%20Administration%20(OSHA)%20does%20not%20have%20specific,Manufacturing%20facilities
Automated external Defibrillators (AEDs). OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/aed/workplace
