Cpr Training And Aed Programs Save Lives

Medical emergencies can and do happen quickly and without warning to people of all ages. Heart attacks are among the most common of such emergencies though other causes of cardiac arrest can result from asthma attacks, anaphylactic shock, drowning, electric shock and other causes. Action taken within the first three to five minutes is vital to survival with the application of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation or CPR. Though CPR training has been energetically promoted and understood in the general population of the United States for some forty years, only a fraction of those who suffer cardiac arrest are assisted by CPR resulting in many unnecessary deaths.

CPR certification training is now a requirement for those working in a number of employment fields such as healthcare, education, and daycare employees. Many companies now are instituting programs in which a percentage of employees are certified in CPR with the addition of AED (Automated External Defibrillator) programs in order to help save lives. According to the American Heart Association, if there were more AEDs available in emergency situations, as many as 50,000 lives per year could be saved. The state of Oregon requires the presence of workplace AEDs along with trained personnel for companies of a certain size and other states have passed legislation requiring or encouraging AED programs in schools, government buildings, and fitness centers. It is likely that this trend will continue to grow.

Any company can launch an effective, live-saving CPR/AED program to ensure that there are staff members onsite at all times during business hours to come to the aid of fellow employees or customers in crisis. With every business being different, there is no one rule fits all, though a good rule of thumb would be ten percent of the staff with both CPR and AED certification. An adequate number of AED devices should be placed strategically for ready access within three minutes from anywhere in building. Portable AEDs can be used on remote job sites or on trucks with workers.

CPR training and AED certification programs are cost-effective to implement. Employee certification programs can be taught at the company site and equipment programs ensure that AED devices are available and working when needed. Remember, there are only a very few minutes between life and death if one of your employees should suffer a sudden cardiac arrest. Give that employee the very best chance of survival with trained employees and readily available AED devices.