Page 52 - Occupational Health & Safety, February 2017

DEFIBRILLATORS & CPR
AEDs should be easily accessible and con- tinuously monitored and maintained to ensure constant readiness.
For example, data show that escalating en- ergy is one of the keys to successful defibril- lation outcomes.
Put your AEDs where your people are.
Like a fire extinguisher, your AED de- vices must be placed in visible, accessible locations so one can be reached quickly in an emergency. In developing your plan, review the floor plan of your facility and identify locations where people are most likely to be during the day or dur- ing each shift.
Many companies place them near an emergency exit, a first aid kit, or a fire ex- tinguisher. Additionally, take into consid- eration a person’s typical behavior prior to experiencing cardiac arrest. Someone may feel ill and go to the restroom, so placement near that location makes sense. AEDs may alsobeplacedincafeteriasorloungesbe- cause those are places where large groups of people often congregate.
Encourage a culture of CPR champions.
While fully automatic AEDs are de- signed for use by anyone, AED users should be trained in CPR and AED use. Training in CPR and the use of an AED can help raise the comfort and confidence level of potential responders.
Some organizations incorporate formal certification programs to recruit and train employees as “emergency medical first re- sponders.” These people are educated in CPR, first aid, and the use of an AED and are situated across the facility in different areas and on different shifts so someone is always available to help respond to an emergency.
Shine a spotlight on lifesaving.
Your CPR and AED program is a cam-
paign for both hearts and minds. By con- tinually raising awareness of the program, you reinforce to employees and visitors that your organization is committed to their safety.
You may want to use posters, mag- nets, signage, or other means to promote your safety program and identify where the devices are located. When you add a new AED, take the opportunity to give it a name, send an email highlighting its loca- tion, and invite people to check it out “on the way to the cafeteria,” for example. The key is to continue to promote your AED program and keep it consistently top of mind across the organization, even with any turnover on your team.
Sustaining the Readiness Factor
Once you have devices and people in place, it can be tempting to call your program completed.
Not so fast. Having an AED installed is no comfort if you can’t be sure it will work when needed. One of the most important elements of a successful AED program is the understanding that devices need to be continuously monitored and maintained to ensure constant readiness.
When determining which AEDs to in- clude in your program, make sure to con- sider the devices’ need for oversight. Some models place an emphasis on ease of man- agement: The device’s battery charger and electrodes have a synchronized replace- ment cycle that makes your maintenance program efficient and affordable. You may want a device that includes advanced CPR coaching or that can withstand dam- age caused by dust or water; this is often measured by “ingress protection” or “IP.” Always confirm that your AED devices include the tools and technologies that make streamlined program management possible, no matter the number of devices on site.
Doing Nothing Risks Everything
Without a program in place to respond to sudden cardiac arrest, safety managers are accepting an inherent risk for their teams. Lawmakers are also taking notice of this. Some states have begun removing burden- some AED program regulations in an effort to encourage businesses to reconsider their approach to AEDs, especially if they do not yet provide these devices on their premises.
It’s important to understand your state’s laws regarding AEDs and what they might mean for your business—and whether any legislation may potentially increase liability risks if your business fails to adequately of- fer AEDs on property. You can learn more about your state’s AED laws by contacting your local EMS agency or state department of health.
Start Saving Lives Now
While beginning a new program or im- proving your current program can seem like a daunting task, the steps you take now aren’t difficult and are essential to empow- ering lifesaving responders at your facili- ties. Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone—anywhere, at any time—but with a program that features the right amount of people trained with the right skills and the right devices always ready in the right locations, you can help provide the greatest
MY LIFE WAS
SAVED BY AN AED
When Vaughan Lowry visited a San Diego plasma donation center, the 69-year-old Vietnam veteran hoped to learn about providing plasma. Instead,
he unexpectedly found himself on the other end of the lifesaving experience.
After Lowry suddenly col- lapsed in the center’s lobby, three employees rushed to his aid. CPR was administered while one worker grabbed a nearby LIFEPAK CR® Plus AED. A shock was delivered, and a life was saved.
Thanks to the immediate ac- tions of those around him—and quick access to an AED—Lowry survived and has since been released from the hospital. He has trouble finding the perfect words to describe his gratitude to everyone who helped him. “They’re wonder- ful people,” he says. “How do you thank someone that saves your life?”
VAUGHAN LOWRY
48 Occupational Health & Safety | FEBRUARY 2017
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