Despite the fact that the Australian Resuscitation Council advises that every workplace have an Automated External Defibrillator as best practice, there are no rules or regulations governing which firms or sectors should be obliged to have a workplace defibrillator.
In order to assist more individuals to survive cardiac arrest, companies should include a defibrillator in their workplace and teach their employees CPR.
As a bonus, you’ll be able to show your colleagues and the local community that your company takes safety seriously.
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Why Every Workplace Should Install a Defibrillator
There is a 9 percent survival rate for cardiac arrest, which is an electrical abnormality with the heart. Every minute that passes after a cardiac arrest drastically diminishes the likelihood of survival.
Sudden cardiac arrest patients who are given defibrillator treatment within minutes after going into cardiac arrest had a 70% probability of surviving.
A defibrillator might be the difference between life and death in the event of a cardiac arrest at work. Some reports that 6,434 cardiac arrest victims were treated in Victoria in 2017/18 the highest number ever!
There was a 7.6 minute average response time by Ambulance Victoria to these medical crises, which is a substantial amount of time to be without medical care.
Early Defibrillation is described as the third important link in the Chain of Survival, a globally recognized project aiming at optimizing survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Facts that should scare you about sudden cardiac death:
- The number of Australians who have a cardiac arrest each year stands at more than 33,000.
- One of the most common causes of mortality for Australians is sudden cardiac arrest.
- In urban regions, it may take an average of 16 minutes for an ambulance to arrive; in rural areas, it can take considerably longer.
- An untreated cardiac arrest may lead to death in less than 13 minutes, according to the American Heart Association.
- An individual’s probability of survival drops by 10% for each minute that passes without the use of an automated external defibrillator.
Where Should You Install a Defibrillator?
An AED must be placed in a location where it can be seen and used immediately in the event of an emergency. It shouldn’t be tucked away in a drawer or locked in a cabinet.
To make sure that everyone on the team, as well as customers and clients, is aware of the facility’s AED’s location, it’s a good idea to have it clearly marked everywhere.
It must be kept in a temperature-controlled environment and protected from vandalism and theft. A workplace defibrillator is recommended by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for certain organizations, while a requirements assessment is recommended for others. As a result of doing this study:
- As many individuals as possible may be traveling through or near your business at any one time (as the likelihood of cardiac arrest increases with more people).
- People of a certain age (as cardiac arrest is more likely with age).
- The setting’s characteristics (as remoteness may affect emergency service response times).
- To show their dedication to the safety of its employees and the surrounding community, several companies install defibrillators regardless of whether they think they need them.
What are the benefits of having a defibrillator in my workplace?
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is fatal for less than one in ten Britons. Businesses are in a unique position to address each of these criteria.
- In the event of a cardiac arrest, there aren’t enough trained individuals available to do CPR.
- There are not enough defibrillators.
- To assist more individuals to survive cardiac arrest, companies should have a defibrillator on hand and teach their employees to do CPR. That shows your colleagues and the community that you care about people’s safety.
CAN YOU BE HELD LIABLE FOR A DEFIBRILLATOR?
Those who use a defibrillator are not liable for anything. Defibrillators are meant to provide a precise, non-harmful shock to a patient in need of assistance. In the event that a victim does not survive, the First Aid responder will not be held liable.
It is impossible for an AED to inflict more harm than the one the victim currently have since it will not ‘shock’ a person who does not require it.
As Defibrillators are meant for public usage by common people, businesses don’t have to worry about them accidentally shocking someone or delivering a bigger charge than necessary.
The ‘Good Samaritan Act’ applies when a Defibrillator is used in an emergency. An acknowledgment is made that the First Aid responder did everything they could to save the victim’s life and the loss of life is not their responsibility.
SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT OWNING DEFIBRILLATORS IN THE WORKPLACE
In order to save more lives, there are a few things you should know about owning an AED, which include:
- Location
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- Signage should be prominently displayed in an area that is easily accessible and visible. Avoid putting the device in a closed cabinet in a room that isn’t accessible to the general public.Â
- Initiate
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- Make sure it’s set up correctly. You will not be able to use your Defibrillator immediately after you get it. Pull a tab and push a button on your Defibrillator as instructed by the manufacturer. Avoiding this step could cause your Defibrillator to stop performing self-tests, which might cost you valuable seconds in an emergency situation.Â
- Training
A video on how to use a defibrillator should be shown to as many individuals as possible in the workplace. AED usage does not need any special training but knowing how easy it is makes people more inclined to step in and help if an emergency arises.
HOW TO ENSURE THAT YOUR WORKPLACE IS PROPERLY PREPARED BEFORE INSTALLING A DEFIBRILLATOR
Certain things must be in place before you may install a defibrillator in your workplace:
- As required by Safe Work Australia First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice, the proper number of employees are First Aid trained.
- Able to carry out basic inspections on the Defibrillator if necessary.
- Acceptable with the idea of replacing pads and batteries on an annual basis if necessary.
- Every 12 months, all employees are required to take a CPR refresher course.
