I was chatting with my foreman the other day, and he collapsed out of the blue.

I was stunned and had no idea what to do.

A driver saw what happened, jumped out of his truck, and ran to the AED station. He used the defibrillator and saved that man’s life.

I had passed by that AED almost every single day and never even once thought about what it was for. Thankfully, someone did!

Heart Risks at Work

When you see a colleague fall to the ground without having been struck by a vehicle or a falling object, the likely culprit is their heart.

Sudden cardiac arrest happens when the heart suddenly starts beating at an abnormal rhythm. This prevents the heart from pumping blood to the vital organs, including the brain.

Acting quickly is essential when you see someone undergoing a cardiac arrest. That includes making use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) and performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A fast and effective response could save the victim from dying or suffering irreversible brain damage. It’s rare for someone to recover after ten minutes, so time is of the essence.

Signs Someone Is Undergoing a Cardiac Arrest

These are the major signs that someone is undergoing a cardiac arrest:

  • They’re unresponsive
  • They’re not moving
  • They’re breathing abnormally

Anyone Can Use an AED

When you see defibrillators on TV, they’re usually wielded by trained paramedics. In reality, AEDs are designed to be operated by a lay person without any prior training.

The AED does a lot of the work for you. When you apply the device to someone’s body, it will detect the type of abnormal rhythm being pumped by the heart and guide you accordingly. All you need to do is listen and follow the instructions.

If you’re ever the one who has to put the AED to use, simply:

  • Turn on the AED
  • Apply the pads to the affected person’s chest (you may have to remove some of their clothes to achieve this)
  • Place one pad on the upper righthand side of their chest, and the other on the lower left
  • Make sure no one is touching the affected person (shout “clear!” if anyone is close by)
  • Push the button to deliver a shock (if instructed to do so by the AED)
  • Perform CPR

Don’t be intimidated by the AED, even if you forget some of these steps. The device will walk you through it. Saving a life couldn’t be easier.

Be Prepared

Make the AED Accessible

AEDs should be placed in easily accessible locations.

They should also be conspicuous. If they are easily seen, they are more likely to be used in time to successfully resuscitate the affected individual.

While there are no firm requirements mandating AEDs in the workplace, it is advisable to have one (or more) on site. They are unobtrusive, require little maintenance, and could very well save a life.

Train Workers on AED and CPR

OSHA recommends that every workplace should have at least one employee who is trained and certified in CPR and first aid.

This is, of course, the minimum. Employers should consider getting more workers certified in case their one CPR-trained employee is out sick on the day someone’s heart gives out. Besides, the more people onsite who can save a life, the better.

Organizations like St. John Ambulance offer regular courses throughout North America. It is also important to note that every state has Good Samaritan laws that protect individuals from liability when they attempt to save another person’s life. There are a lot of misconceptions about these laws, so be sure to educate your employees on them. Otherwise, they may be hesitant to jump in and use the defibrillator on a colleague, a client, or a customer.

Conclusion

A cardiac arrest isn’t exactly a preventable workplace injury – there aren’t any controls you can put in place to keep employees from having one. But employers can take measures to ensure their employees are ready to respond swiftly and effectively.

On average, there will be one cardiac arrest in any given worksite or public location every five years. But that doesn’t mean five year from now. It could be tomorrow. It’s only a matter of time before it happens. And when it does, you want to make sure someone is ready to jump into action, grab the AED, and help someone live to see another day.