By Simon Rogals

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) accounts for more than 97,000 deaths in America’s workplace – it can happen to anyone, any place, at any time.

But it doesn’t have to be fatal — in fact, the faster the response to a SCA event, the better the chances of survival.

Defibrillation within three minutes can increase the chances of survival to 70 percent, compared to only 5 percent to 10 percent without it. Health and safety managers can deploy portable, easy-to-use cardiac defibrillators to save lives in the workplace and limit corporate liability in the process.

Each year, more than 425,000 Americans are affected by SCA with 23 percent of these incidents occurring at work. According to the OSHA, 13 percent of all workplace fatalities result from SCA. Despite these statistics, many businesses have not taken any steps to reduce the risk of fatalities from SCA.

Furthermore, the availability of suitable treatment intervention can also reduce the threat of litigation in the workplace.

Faster response times can help keep a cardiac victim alive in the crucial minutes after the onset of SCA while you wait for the emergency medical services (EMS) to arrive.

Over the past decade a new class of portable defibrillator, called an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), has been developed. An AED is used to deliver electric energy to the heart of a cardiac arrest victim, helping to restore an effective heart rhythm. AEDs enable non-medical specialists to take effective action at the scene of a sudden cardiac arrest.

The responder uses the AED to administer a controlled shock to the victim, helping to restore normal heart activity and keeping the victim alive.

As such, an AED program should be a key component of a facility’s safety management plan. They’re easy to use and easy to maintain, and having one available during a SCA event can make the difference between life and death.

Organizations with health & safety programs for its workforce and/or customers using its premises should have AEDs.

How easy are Automated External Defibrillators to use and maintain?

Most facility managers want to know if AEDs are easy to use and easy to maintain. The short answer is, yes they are. Good Samaritan Laws have spurred huge investment in the AED industry resulting in the availability of highly advanced devices that are specifically designed for use anywhere and by anyone. Market-leading AEDs will take a responder through a step-by-step process of administering a shock, often with visual and audio prompts.

AED manufacturers, have worked closely with industry to address the critical issue of timely response and improving an individual’s chances of survival. Their unique approach is in providing innovative yet intuitive technology, critical employee education and training, and simplified device maintenance. An aware and properly trained workforce that’s equipped with these solutions will save lives.

Another common question is whether there are potential liability issues for the facility owner. The Cardiac Arrest Survival Act (Federal Law 106-505) encourages placement of AEDs and provides AED users and acquirers with liability protection. All 50 states have now created “Good Samaritan” laws that exempt anyone from liability who renders emergency treatment with a defibrillator to save someone’s life.

Good Samaritan laws typically require organizations with AED programs to meet three types of requirements - medical direction, user training, and record keeping/ tracking. This is to ensure the company’s AED program is properly managed and that the company’s employees can make effective use of the defibrillators when needed. Comprehensive AED programs containing these mission critical components are available from companies like HeartSine Technologies, Inc. and select distributors.

These legislative developments protect responders from liability issues. The liability now rests with those corporate facilities that do not provide AEDs. In fact, recent years have seen landmark cases in proving corporate liability for not having an AED. Two of these cases stand out.

One involving a 13-year old child in Busch Gardens Theme Park resulted in a judgment of $500,000, and another involving a 42-year-old man in The “Q Sports Club” fitness center, in Florida, ended up in a $2.25 million settlement. Businesses must take this shift in liability seriously and plan to reduce it through compliant AED programs.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest kills close to half a million people each year and nearly 100,000 in the workplace. Survival rates today are obviously not, where they should be, but they can be improved dramatically. It’s time to start thinking about how you can address this risk.

Committing to a comprehensive solution to sudden cardiac arrest, including the Installation of AEDs at your facility, could literally mean the difference between life and death.

Simon Rogals is a director with Bayberry Consulting. For more information on AEDs and SCA, go to www.heartsine.com.

FSM