Is Your Workplace Prepared for a Heart Emergency?
10,000 people will suffer from a Sudden Cardiac Arrest in the workplace in 2024 (in the United States alone).
Less than 1,000 will survive.
These are the unfortunate statistics we found after researching the American Heart Association. Because most victims have no previous history of a heart condition, many Sudden Cardiac Arrests happen outside of a hospital - where usually, no life-saving equipment is available. In an emergency, this can make you the first responder.
Yes, we are very passionate about heart safety. Mostly, because we know that by teaching our communities about the dangers of unpreparedness, we can encourage businesses to implement safety processes like AED and CPR training! By raising awareness, we can save lives.
Join us as we learn about Sudden Cardiac Arrest, AEDs, and recount the famous AED save of Cincinnati’s beloved NFL player, Damar Hamlin.
Let's Start with the Basics. What is a Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a condition that causes the heart to unexpectedly and abruptly quit beating. This is usually caused by an abnormal heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation. Unfortunately, the heart may also stop beating altogether.
An SCA emergency results in the victim collapsing, losing consciousness, and becoming unresponsive.
8/10 times, it also results in death.
The only defense to Sudden Cardiac Arrest is early defibrillation.
An automated external defibrillator (AED) analyzes the victim’s heart rhythm and delivers an electric shock to restore the rhythm back to normal. Without intervention, chances of survival decrease by 10% every minute that passes by. Time is key when it comes to Sudden Cardiac Arrest, and the only way to move quickly enough is if everyone knows what to do in the situation.
An AED, paired with proper CPR, nearly doubles chances of survival.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a science. It requires delivery at a certain strength and speed, which most people are not familiar with.
Did you know 70% of Americans feel helpless to act during a SCA emergency because they don’t know how to administer CPR?
Ultimately, it's why we decided to partner with ZOLL, the only AEDs with Real CPR Help Technology. Their vivid displays of visual and audio prompts keep the rescuer on track to delivering the highest CPR quality possible. By offering this technology, as well as a comprehensive CPR & AED training, we can keep your employees prepared to respond to an emergency in the critical minutes before medics arrive - or in the critical minutes before it's too late.
What does a successful Sudden Cardiac Arrest save look like?
With the proper equipment and training, the steps to handling a Sudden Cardiac Arrest emergency are straightforward.
- Recognize the SCA and dial 911
- Perform proper CPR while an AED is retrieved
- Provide early defibrillation utilizing the AED
- Care for the victim until EMS personnel arrive
However, there is one very important detail - these 4 steps are all dependent on the one before. Training employees on what a SCA looks like and ensuring they know where the AED is located are often overlooked steps in the AED process – but the most important when it comes to increasing chances of survival.
Do you know where your AED is in your facility? If you do, chances are that your peer sitting next to you does not. Unfortunately, 50% of employees don’t know where their AED is located. This renders the AED useless. Simply waiting for medics to arrive results in only 5-7% survival, as opposed to the 60% survival rate after immediate defibrillation.
Having AEDs in your workplace is important, but it is JUST as important that
- They're located in the right areas
- They're monitored by a professional to ensure working status & compliance
- Your employees know where they are located
- Your employees are trained to handle a Sudden Cardiac Arrest emergency
Did you know OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) strongly recommends AEDs as part of your workplace safety program? Especially in areas where Sudden Cardiac Arrests are more likely, such as manufacturing facilities, construction sites, and fitness centers.
The NFL's Sudden Cardiac Arrest - A Story of Success
This weekend’s Super Bowl reminded us of the game that shook America to its core – Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals. Most importantly, the game where NFL player Damar Hamlin suffered a Sudden Cardiac Arrest at just 24 years old.
After making a tackle, Damar’s heart stopped beating. Fortunately, medical workers were onsite, with an AED available and trained to perform CPR. As thousands watched from the stadium, medics were able to restore his heartbeat, giving him the time he needed to get to an ambulance for intensive care.
Just 10 months later, he was able to return to doing what he loves most – playing for Cincinnati.
Damar Hamlin was young and passionate about his career – he had no physical indicators that he would suffer a Sudden Cardiac Arrest. His emergency made many realize that SCA can happen to anybody – regardless of age, gender, or race. While this helped raise awareness, there is still work to be done when it comes to practicing AED safety – and it can start with you and I.
If you're ready to have the important conversation, reach out to us for a FREE AED inspection of your facility.
Even just one properly managed AED can give someone like Damar their life back.
READY TO PROTECT YOUR WORKPLACE?
Contact us today for a free safety assesment of your facility.
