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DEFIBRILLATOR & CPR The Details of AEDs What you didn’t know about CPR and defibrillation could save a life. BY CINDY PAULEY Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are the perfect tools for aiding a cardiac arrest victim while awaiting emergency medical assistance. Quick action using CPR and AEDs can save the lives of the nearly 350,000 cardiac event victims each year outside of a hospital setting. But what does OSHA require employers to do? What you didn’t know about OSHA regulations regarding AEDs may be surprising. Understanding the Heart of the Matter To understand how CPR and defibrillation work, it’s best to ME Image/Shutterstock.com understand what is happening inside the body during a cardiac arrest. The cardiovascular system, made up of the heart, blood and blood vessels, transports oxygen and nutrients to body tissues and removes waste that’s eliminated by the lungs. The fist-sized heart is located between the sternum and the spine. For an average adult, it beats 60 to 80 times per minute to circulate approximately five to six liters of blood. Divided into four chambers (two atria and two ventricles), the heart is composed of sophisticated muscle tissue that generates its own electrical impulses. These impulses help contract the heart, allowing oxygen-poor blood to leave the heart and oxygen-rich 66 Occupational Health & Safety | JUNE 2023 www.ohsonline.com