An employee is suffering cardiac arrest and the ambulance is on its way. But the clock is ticking and you
know that a maximum of 10 valuable minutes could mean the difference between life and death. A
first aid course held at your company included Automated External Defibrillation (AED) training and
fortunately, you recognized that having a defibrillator on site just might save a life. That training and the
simplicity of the unit is now paying off, allowing you to remain calm and able to deal with a difficult
situation until the paramedics arrive and take over.
Is your workplace prepared for such an event?
Cardiac arrests are likely to happen with increasing frequency due to Ontario’s aging workforce
population. The outcome can depend on the workplace’s investment in their health and safety
program.
As soon as a person hits the floor, the clock starts. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada,
every minute that passes without medical assistance reduces an individual’s chances of survival by 10
per cent. Early administration of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External
Defibrillation (AED) can drastically increase their chance of surviving until they reach the hospital. In
almost every instance of collapse an individual’s survival is in the hands of surrounding bystanders.
Should you invest in an AED for your workplace? Consider how long it would take a paramedic to arrive
to your address and get to an employee who is in the most distant area of your facility. How many
minutes have elapsed? Automated External Defibrillation is most effective if applied to the casualty
within the first ten minutes.
AEDs have become simple and economical. Most AEDs are lightweight, compact, easy to use and
include visual and voice prompts which guide the user through the operation of the machine. AEDs
have dropped considerably in price. At one time a unit may have cost as much as $10,000, but today
they are much closer to $1,000. A small investment with a potentially very large return.
The Ontario government passed the Chase McEachern Act in 2007 which protects people from liability if
they assist someone using a defibrillator in good faith. With this protection in place, public access
defibrillation programs have expanded. Mississauga is a Public Access Defibrillation community with
AEDs in community centres, arenas, transit stations and libraries. More and more companies are now
adding AEDs to their workplaces.
It’s a good time to check if employee first aid & CPR training is up-to-date and consider adding an AED to
the health and safety budget.
First aid kits and supplies for the workplace can be found at www.shopfirstaid.ca. St. John Ambulance
will provide on-site company assessments and AED quotes upon request. Call 905-568-1905.
Byline:
Submitted by Dianne Rende, Executive Director of St. John Ambulance, Peel Dufferin
Branch. As Canada’s leading authority in first aid, St. John Ambulance is dedicated to
improving health and safety at work, at home and at play. Dianne can be reached by email at
[email protected] or for more information visit www.sja.ca.
