The types of device available on the market today for private businesses and first responders are called AED's - Automated External Defibrillators, of which there are two types, fully automatic, and semi automatic.
Both types of device are computerised, and are designed to take the protocol decision making away from the rescuer. Typically, they follow a 1-2-3 process. 1 - Switch it on, 2 - Listen to the voice prompts / on screen messages, 3 - Press a Button if applicable.
Modern defibrillators do not make mistakes, they do not 'shock' people by accident, they are perfectly safe to use - even by people who have never ever touched or seen one before.
We carried out an experiment recently on several First Aid courses where AED use was not part of the curriculum. During the CPR phase on the manikins, we handed the student the AED Training device, and told them they had to use it.
They knew what an AED was for (It was part of the curriculum), they had seen pictures of one (a different model), they had even seen a live AED that each vehicle is equipped with in the company (Again a different model from the Trainer).
Each student, without fail, was able to apply the AED to the manikin, and follow the voice guidance - delivering a simulated shock.
Why have a Defibrillator in your workplace?
Quick access to a defibrillator is key to survival of a casualty experiencing a cardiac event where defibrillation would correct the rhythm.
Without a defibrillator on site, someone undergoing good CPR still stands a chance of survival, but that chance depreciates with every passing second whilst they wait for an ambulance to arrive.
A defibrillator increases the chance of survival from 5% (without) to 50% (with). Emergency medical care and further treatment is still required. (Source http://communityheartbeat.org.uk/ )
Although the Ambulance Service is targeted to respond within a certain time frame, the logistics of the world, circumstance, and indeed that time frame itself, is too long to wait in the case of a heart attack. You can rest assured that everyone is doing everything humanly possible to get help to you as quickly as possible - but it still isn't quick enough.
By having a defibrillator on site, and having people trained to use it, the chance of long term survival is greatly increased for the casualty.
Most businesses employ an alarm system for their premises - it protects the building, and its contents at night and on weekends when no one is there. Some businesses employ security guards, have cctv, and even tag their products to prevent loss by theft.
All businesses must comply with fire safety regulations, they must have fire extinguishers, adequate means of escape, and sometimes, they need a fire detection and alarm system too.
The same with having an appointed person, and first aid qualified staff. These are things that a company must have.
Yet, each year, the mirror newspaper reported in 2013, nearly 60'000 people suffer an out of hospital cardiac arrest, with an abysmal 8% survival rate. That's 55'200 people dying. ( link to article: Mirror Defibrillator Article ) I believe the statistic to be much higher for cardiac arrests, and this statistic possibly reflects those suffering a cardiac event, where defibrillation should have been an option.
For what is a reasonably low price, compared to CCTV, Security Guards, Burglar Alarms, etc, a Defibrillator can be purchased, or even leased from companies such as The Defib Shop - who have an outstanding record of service and product choice.
How much does it cost?
The cost is relative. If I were to tell you that in 6 months you would have a heart attack, and die with no aid to save your life, you'd possibly prepare to make your exit from this mortal shell as peaceful as possible. Sorting out your personal and business affairs so that they do not burden the next generation.
But, equally, you may notice I am not 'Death', I do not carry a scythe with me, and you could up your odds by ensuring you have a qualified first aider in the company, or better still, several, all in your office, and having access to a defibrillator. To that end, how much is your life worth?
The financial cost of an AED is surprisingly affordable, with a lower maintenance cost than ever before. A company can aim to pay well below £1000 to purchase an AED, and maintain it - some battery and pad options last up to 5 years, with 2 years being the average. Replacement pads are generally around £30 - £60 (Shelf life of approximately 2 - 3 years) and batteries are approximately £90 - £140. And don't forget, The Defib Shop has options to lease a device if that is more cost effective for your business.
Someone is likely to just steal it though
A whole range of alarmed cabinets are available. These devices are serialised, and good asset tracking can prevent the resale of these devices on the open market.
No one has had a heart attack at work before, it will never happen!
I certainly hope so, but imagine a situation where it does happen. Imagine it happening to you. We go about our lives in a continual state of risk, everything carries with it a potential danger, and we mitigate that danger by making preparations, such as ensuring the car we have has airbags, and crash protection, having fire extinguishers and first aid kits, wearing cycle helmets on bikes, eating more healthily to ward off ailments, and likewise, we should prepare for the risk of SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) by having a defibrillator close at hand.
In summary...
We believe it is a great idea to have a defibrillator in the workplace (We have several). We believe defibrillators should be as commonplace as fire alarms, and wherever there are people, one should be no more than 1 minute away from them. The cost is inexpensive, there are means to obtaining a device if the initial outlay is beyond budget, and the long term investment is priceless to the person experiencing a cardiac event, and their family.
Need more information?
For Purchasing devices, we recommend www.defibshop.co.uk
For Purchasing devices, we recommend www.defibshop.co.uk
For Community Schemes for remote areas, we recommend www.communityheartbeat.org.uk
For First Aid Training, of course we recommend ourselves! www.centricuk.com
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www.centriuk.com
On Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/First.Aid.Training.Centric
On Twitter!
https://twitter.com/CentricUK
On Google!
https://plus.google.com/+Centricukfirstaid
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