3 Tips for AED Program Success
According to OSHA, about 10,000 sudden cardiac arrests (SCA) occur at work annually. Make sure your workplace is equipped with the right tools and resources should this unfortunate occurrence happen in your facility. To start here are 3 tips for making your AED program successful in your workplace:
- Educate/Train: Designate a person or group to in your facility to help promote and educate your workers about your AED program and what defibrillators are. Ensure employees know how to use your AED and how to recognize when the device is in need of service, as well as how to recognize SCA and how to set your company’s emergency response plan in motion.
- Inspect: Integrate defibrillator inspections into your safety program schedule. When checking fire alarms, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, etc, include an inspection of your defibrillators’ consumables, such as batteries and pads.
- Placement: When deciding where to place your AED station, OSHA offers a list of optimal places to consider when installing an AED:
- Areas that allow response within three to five minutes
- Areas where people work closely together (ie. assembly lines and warehouses)
- Areas close to a confined space
- Areas where electric-powered devices are used
- Outdoor worksites where lightning may occur
- Health units where workers may seek treatment for heart attack symptoms
- Company fitness units and cafeterias
- Remote sites, such as off-shore drilling rigs, construction projects and power transmission lines
We’d love to hear from you. Let us know how your AED program is working and provide any tips you may have in the comments below.
Have questions? Feel free to give us a call. We’d be happy to help.