Public Access Defibrillation

Cardiac arrest is the sudden "electrical short-circuit" that causes the heart to stop beating, often with little warning.

Sudden cardiac arrest remains one of the leading causes of death among adults annually in North America. Each year, it claims the lives of 20 to 30 thousand people in Canada alone. Once every one to two minutes, another victim succumbs suddenly, often without warning.

The only known effective treatment of sudden cardiac arrest is defibrillation. Many victims of cardiac arrest can have a heartbeat restored with an electrical shock from a defibrillator device. Following incidence, each minute that passes without defibrillation reduces chances of survival by 10%, with virtually no chance for survival after 10 minutes. Therefore early access to a defibrillator is essential.

Why it Makes Sense for Your Organization

to Have Defibrillators in the Workplace

With early defibrillation, many cardiac arrest patients survive to remain productive contributors to our society. The earlier the shock, the more likely a victim will survive. That is why we need defibrillators in the workplace.

The benefits of this program can be looked at from several different angles.

First, let's look at the numbers. Cardiac arrest occurs at the rate of 1 per 1000 of population per year. However, the workforce in industry is predominantly male, over the age of 25. The older, the more likely to arrest. Therefore, in Niagara, 3-4 per 1000 cardiac arrests per year in industry is more likely. Studies show that 70% of cardiac arrest survivors go back to the same job they were doing before the arrest. PAD studies show between 10-50% survival - the quicker the shock, the better the save rate. Those saved will continue to be productive employees for your organization.

Secondly, consider if the person saved is an executive of the corporation. The cost of replacing a senior executive is considerable, so a "save" in the front office is a major cost savings as well. Cost savings include: cost of executive search, payment of benefits, cost to have the new executive learn the new role etc.

Lastly there is the intangible savings in the demonstration by management that they care about the employee on the floor. By instituting a "defib" program management shows a commitment to the well being of their workers, in making the workplace "Heart Safe". Public access defibrillation… we all save in many ways.

Frequently Asked Questions