A sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, at any time as they can strike the young and old, the fit and the unwell. In Australia, over 33,000 people experience an out of hospital cardiac arrest each year so it’s likely that it could happen to someone in your workplace. Fortunately, more and more Australian businesses are recognising the importance of having a defibrillator, however there are many businesses that don’t have them, and many workers are unsure if their workplace has one or not. Safety Dave is Australia’s trusted safety expert, supplying rear vision systems, tyre pressure monitoring systems, defibrillators, first aid kits and more to the Australian public. Read on to see why every business should have an AED installed.
Defibrillators Are Not Mandatory in Every Workplace
The Australian Resuscitation Council recommends an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) as best practice for every workplace, there are actually no current laws or regulations around which businesses or industries should be required to have a defibrillator – it is the responsibility of each business to assess their needs and make their own decision.
Why Every Workplace Should Install a Defibrillator
Cardiac arrest is an electrical problem of the heart with a survival rate of less than 9%. For every minute that passes after a person has a cardiac arrest, the chance of survival significantly decreases.
The key to survival is to be treated with a defibrillator within a few minutes of a sudden cardiac arrest, this increases the chances of survival by 70%. If somebody suffers a sudden cardiac arrest in the workplace, a defibrillator could be the difference between life and death.
A Few Distressing Facts About Sudden Cardiac Arrest
- More than 33,000 Australians suffer cardiac arrest every year.
- Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death amongst Australians.
- It can take, on average, 16 minutes for an ambulance to arrive within metropolitan cities, and even longer in regional areas.
- If a person has a sudden cardiac arrest and they are not treated with an AED defibrillator, they are likely to die in less than 13 minutes.
- If a person has a sudden cardiac arrest and there is no defibrillator, their chance of survival goes down by 10 per cent for every minute that goes by until help arrives.
Where Should You Install a Defibrillator?
An AED must be installed in area where it is easy to see and is easily accessible. It should not be hidden away or put in a locked cupboard. It is also a good idea to ensure you have clear signage throughout the workplace so every staff member, customer or client knows there is an AED in the premises and where it can be found. It should be in a place that is not too hot or cold, and it should also be safe from theft or damage.
An AED defibrillator is affordable, easy to operate, easy to install and a very small price to pay for the peace of mind that you could save a life if someone in your business suffers a cardiac arrest while at work. To talk to us about defibrillators, or to find a high quality defibrillator for sale, get in touch with the team at Safety Dave today. Call us on 1800 072 338 or enquire online now, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
