30/11/2024
An AED - Automated External Defibrillator - is a small investment that could one day save a life.
(At the end of this article - see you how you can win our £1,000 fully automatic AED for just £10 in our new raffle).
SCA - Sudden cardiac arrest: the facts
SCA is a leading cause of death with an estimated 60,000 cases every year in the UK. In England, the ambulance service attempts resuscitation in around 30,000 of these, but less than one person in ten survives if the condition occurs out of hospital.
Survival rates improve dramatically with early intervention and CPR can quadruple a person's chance of survival if started immediately. Most SCAs occur because of a problem developing in the heart that results in an abnormality in its electrical rhythm.
To return the heart to its normal rhythm, the patient requires defibrillation - an electric shock that will stun the heart muscle and restore the pumping function. Using a defibrillator within three minutes of a cardiac arrest can improve a person's chance of survival by as much as 70%.
However, survival rates fall by 10% for every minute the patient goes without defibrillation. Having people trained in CPR - and with ready access to an AED - can save lives. That is why Safety is the Key Ltd have installed an AED outside their office, and why we encourage all businesses to install one.
Who can use an AED?
Anyone – they are automatic and explain what to do!
Does YOUR business need an AED?
Yes – if you value your workers and want to serve your immediate local community. Morrisons has installed defibrillators in all their stores and these have already saved the lives of 21 people. And car retailer Pendragon installed 200 AEDs in its dealerships to provide safety in the servicing of electrical vehicles.
When risks are increased or time is of the essence, get a defibrillator. For rural businesses, ambulance response times are longer, so shortening the survival chances of a stricken employee or customer.
Do YOU know where the nearest defibrillator is? A five-minute walk away means a 10 minute round journey, by which time survival rates are low. If an AED is not very close by, consider investing in one for your site.
Modern AEDs provide audible instructions - some even give visual prompts to users. The AED analyses the heart's electrical activity and will charge to deliver a shock if required, making it very simple to operate.
Although anyone can use an AED without formal training, best outcomes are achieved when rescuers receive training in first aid and CPR. CPR maintains oxygen supply to the brain and other organs to make it more likely that the heart can be re-started by defibrillation. Training doesn't take long and will teach you that every minute wasted can have a big impact.
As well as providing life-saving equipment for staff, visitors and customers, businesses can use their AED to
be part of their wider community, as they can be registered with the ambulance service so dispatchers can direct callers faced with an SCA to their nearest device.
Christian Eriksen’s sudden collapse is a “stark reminder that a cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anywhere and anytime, without warning,” according to British Heart Foundation’s Associate Medical Director.
“Defibrillators should be like fire extinguishers - accessible to everyone in every building.”
FAQs
What is a defibrillator? A defibrillator is a device that can be used to shock the heart back into a normal rhythm during cardiac arrest. Those available to the public work automatically and provide instructions and will not deliver a shock unless one is necessary.
Why is a defibrillator important? 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen each year in the UK. 9 out of 10 are fatal. A defibrillator could be the difference between life and death and will help keep hearts beating for longer.
How do I know if I need one?
A defibrillator on your premises could one day save someone’s life, whether in a residential, community or workplace setting. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommend that certain businesses have defibrillators. Assess these:
• How many people may be in, near, or passing your workplace. The likelihood of SCA increases with more people.
• The age of those people – though anyone can have a SCA, the risks increase with age.
• The location - remoteness may affect emergency service response times and the availability of alternatives.
• The risks in the business i.e. use of electrical equipment, stressful environments etc.
Many businesses choose to have defibrillators on their premises regardless, as a commitment to safety.
What type of defibrillator do I need?
The cost of defibrillators vary depending on their features. Deciding on the best defibrillator for you really depends on your environment and budget - we can advise further on this.
What’s the difference between a PAD and an AED?
AED: Automated External Defibrillator. Automatically analyses the heart rhythm to provide a shock when required.
PAD: Public Access Defibrillator. Accessible to the public, ideally freely and not in a locked cabinet.
What's the difference between an automatic and a semi-automatic defibrillator?
Semi-automatic defibrillators will ask the rescuer to press a button to deliver a shock if needed and when prompted. Fully automatic defibrillators automate this process and will deliver the shock automatically if needed. And it will tell the rescuer a shock is about to be delivered so that they can make sure they aren't touching the casualty.
How many do I need?
Start with one on each site. Large sites may benefit from one on each floor or one within a comfortable 2 to 3 minute journey. We can advise you on the right number to maximise your chances of saving a life.
WANT THE CHANCE TO WIN A BRAND NEW AED?
We are launching our £10 raffle tickets to win a £1,000 AED.
Pre-register your interest and text or WhatsApp the code: "AED" to 07776140913 and add your name and email address. We will let you know when the raffle is launched and the winner will be informed on the 25th Dec 2024 - what a Christmas present!
How do I get training in First Aid or the use of an AED?
Contact: First Aid 4 Staff
Sam Jones | info@firstaid4staff.co.uk
020 3301 6604
www.firstaid4staff.co.uk
How do I buy a defibrillator?
Contact: Safety is the Key Ltd | Shabbir Halai info@safetyisthekey.co.uk
020 8406 5039
www.sitk.co.uk
