November 7, 2008
Did you know...?
AED's more than double a victim's chance of survival from sudden cardiac arrest
More than 350,000 people die from sudden cardiac arrest each year. Cardiac arrest is defined as cessation of cardiac mechanical activity, and confirmed by the absence of signs of circulation. Approximately 166,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually. The average nationwide survival rate from cardiac arrest is estimated at 6%.
Brain death and permanent death start to occur in just 4 to 6 minutes after someone experiences cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest can be reversed if it's treated within a few minutes of onset with an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat. This process is called defibrillation. A victim's chances of survival are reduced by 7 to 10 percent with every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation.
It's estimated that more than 95 percent of cardiac arrest victims die before reaching the hospital. The average number of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests that receive bystander CPR is 27%. The incidence of lay rescuer defibrillation is 2% and increasing. In cities where defibrillation is provided within 5 to 7 minutes, the survival rate from sudden cardiac arrest is as high as 30–45%. CPR alone will not bring most victims back to life. The addition of the automated external defibrillator (AED) has increased survival rates significantly.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that 15 percent of workplace fatalities - more than 400 per year - are caused by sudden cardiac arrest. Of these victims, it is estimated that 160 - 40 percent - could have been saved by defibrillation within 5-7 minutes of collapse. Therefore, the development of training and use of automated external defibrillators is a reasonable and appropriate way to manage this important cause of workplace morbidity and mortality among working age adults. The benefits, including lives saved and costs reduced, can be applied to a diverse range of workplaces.
In establishing a workplace AED program, it is important to obtain support for the program from the organization’s leadership, including agreement about the goals, implementation requirements and costs of the program. It is recommended that employer-sponsored programs for the use of AEDs in workplaces and public settings include all of the following elements:
1. Establishment of a centralized management system for the AED program
2. Medical direction and control of the workplace AED program
3. Awareness of and compliance with federal and state regulations
4. Development of written AED program description for each location
5. .Coordination with local emergency medical services
6. Integration with an overall emergency response plan for the worksite
7. Selection and technical consideration of AEDs
8. Ancillary medical equipment and supplies for the workplace AED program
9. Assessment of the proper number and placement of AEDs and supplies
10. Scheduled maintenance and replacement of AED and ancillary equipment
11. Establishment of an AED quality assurance program
12. Periodic review and
modification of the Workplace AED program protocols
Implementation of an AED program in the workplace, which should be a component of a more general worksite emergency response plan, requires clearly defined medical direction and medical control.
AEDs are highly accurate, user-friendly computerized devices with voice and audio prompts that guide the user through the critical steps of operation. AEDs were designed for use by lay rescuers and first responders to reduce time to defibrillation for victims of sudden cardiac arrest. The rescuer turns the AED on and attaches it to the victim with adhesive electrodes or pads. The AED records and analyzes the victim’s cardiac rhythm. If a shock is indicated, the AED charges to the appropriate energy level and prompts the rescuer to deliver a shock. If the device is fully automated and a shock is indicated, the AED can deliver a shock without further action by the rescuer. AEDs require little maintenance and are relatively inexpensive (average price less than $2000).
Successful lay rescuer AED programs increase the survival rate of victims of witnessed sudden cardiac arrest.
To learn more about the Automated External Defibrillation in the Occupational Setting visit the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine's web page at: http://www.acoem.org.
OHS-COMPCARE can help your company establish their AED program. To learn more please contact our Client Services Team at 816-561-2105 (option 1) or by email at customerservice@ohscompcare.com.
*Please feel free to forward this information to any member of management in your company who would benefit from it.*
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To learn more about
services OHS-COMPCARE has to offer, contact our Client Services
Team at (816) 561-2105 option 1 or by e-mail at customerservice@ohscompcare.com. You can also visit us at www.ohscompcare.com.
Why choose us? Because OHS-COMPCARE offers a Certified Drug and Alcohol Collector who will perform collections at the clinical facility, the employers worksite or at the designated Hospital Emergency Department.
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Blue Springs Clinical Facility |
Independence Clinical Facility |
Johnson County Clinical Facility |
St. Joseph Clinical Facility |
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Consolidated with Independence Clinical facility effective 10/17/08 |
19000 E. Eastland Center Crt, St. 200 |
10415 Lackman Road |
904 Edmond Street |
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Independence, MO 64055 |
Lenexa, KS 66219 |
St. Joseph, MO 64501 |
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816-478-9299 |
913-495-9905 |
816-233-7702 |
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After Hours Available |
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Wyandotte County Clinical Facility |
Grandview Clinical Facility |
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1650 Broadway |
6501 East Commerce, Suite 110 |
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13830 S Us Highway 71 |
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Kansas City, MO 64108 |
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816-842-2020 |
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913-596-2774 |
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