No business owner wants to consider the possibility of their employees experiencing a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest (SDA), let alone it happening in the workplace. However, being prepared for such emergencies can increase the chance of survival more than ten-fold. Below, we’re going to discuss CPR and AEDs, why they’re essential at your business, and how they can help avoid personal injury and death in your company.
What Is CPR?
CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and it’s a method used to simulate breathing and circulation in an individual whose heart has stopped beating. It involves chest compressions and assisted ventilation to supply oxygenated blood to major organs during cardiac arrest.
What Are AEDs?
An AED, which stands for Automated External Defibrillator, is a device that monitors a victim’s heartbeat or the lack of a heartbeat. It sends a powerful electric shock into the chest to stimulate the heart and resume natural beating in the event of cardiac arrest.
Importance of CPR & AED Training for Employees
CPR and AED training can equip your employees to respond appropriately in the event of cardiac arrest. Experts maintain that professional rescuers save approximately 10% of cardiac arrest victims because of a delay before treatment, whereas lay people save 40% of the same victims. Response time is everything when it comes to cardiac arrest, so having trained employees on hand at all times is crucial for survival.
Research and data show that a 90% survival rate is expected if CPR is started immediately upon collapse and an AED is used within the first three minutes. This response time is likely only possible if your employees are trained to provide these services. Every minute a victim is unconscious due to SCA and untreated, 10% of their brain, lung, and heart tissue is irreparably damaged. Proper CPR can help maintain those tissues entirely.
Unfortunately, there are more than 400,000 deaths annually in the United States directly related to cardiac arrest. Having your employees trained to respond appropriately in an emergency could easily mean the difference between life and death for others in your company. Contact one of our certified professionals for information on getting adequate training for your employees and equipment installation and maintenance in your building.
