Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) occurs when an electrical malfunction of the heart causes it to suddenly stop beating properly. There are no warning signs, and it can happen to anyone, anywhere. A victim’s best chance of survival is immediate treatment with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and an automated external defibrillator (AED).

As the manager of your building, facility, or office, you’re responsible for the safety of your employees. Do you have the necessary resources available in case of an emergency? Someone’s life may depend on it. Here are six compelling reasons to install an AED in your workplace:

1. SCA can happen to anyone at any time - SCA doesn’t discriminate. It can affect children and adults of all ages and isn’t exclusive to those with a history of heart problems.
2. 90% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are fatal - According to the American Heart Association (AHA), 10,000 cases of SCA happen at work each year. If employees aren’t trained to act, a victim’s chance of survival is very low. Rapid response, CPR and AED use are absolutely critical for a positive outcome.
3. 70% of bystanders feel helpless during an SCA event - Many witnesses aren’t sure what to do. Others assume a peer will step in and act. But a victim’s chance of survival drops nearly 10% every minute without intervention. After 10 minutes, their chances are practically zero.
4. Immediately performing CPR and using an AED can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival - Good CPR chest compressions are essential for moving blood throughout the body and protecting vital organs. The AHA recommends a compression depth of 2-2.4 inches at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute to deliver high-quality CPR. Only 50% of SCA victims will initially need a defibrillating shock, but all will need high-quality CPR. If treatment is administered right away, a victim’s chance of survival can increase to about 60%.
5. Many workplaces aren’t prepared to handle an SCA emergency - According to the American Heart Association, 55% of employees report that their companies don’t offer first aid, CPR or AED training. Furthermore, half said they couldn’t even locate the AED in their workplace. Training increases confidence during an SCA event, so the more your employees know ahead of time, the more they can do to help save a life.
6. SCA is a leading cause of unexpected death in the U.S. - More than 350,000 Americans were victims of SCA in 2016. The overall survival rate was just 12%. Research shows a fivefold increase in survivability — from 5% to 24% — when an AED was used. Sadly, the same research shows that an AED is only available 2% of the time.

When you’re ready to purchase, Saf-T-Gard offers a wide variety of ZOLL AED Plus® packages including semi-automatic and fully-automatic options.

Only ZOLL’s AED Plus® is equipped with Real CPR Help® technology, giving the rescuer real-time feedback on the depth and rate of chest compressions during CPR. The sensor in the pads lets the AED see each chest compression and guides the rescuer, with prompts and a real-time bar gauge, to the recommended depth and rate of compressions. The ZOLL AED Plus® is available in semi-automatic and fully-automatic versions, and each package includes a ZOLL AED Plus® with AED cover, an adult electrode pad (CPR-D-padz®), (1) sleeve of lithium 123A batteries, a medical prescription and a soft carrying case.

Additional features and benefits include the following:

• Novel electrode design delivers a five-year shelf life and fits 99% of the population’s chest anatomy
• Pull-tabs expose the conductive gel on each pad only when it is in direct contact with the skin, limiting the chance of gel contamination
• CPR-D-padz® meet applicable ANSI/AAMI/ISO DF-39-1993 requirements and offer clear anatomical placement illustrations as well as a CPR hand positioning landmark and comes complete with a rescue accessory package, including a barrier mask, razor, scissors, disposable gloves and a towelette
• Display screen presents the elapsed time and number of shocks delivered
• Back-lit display screen provides simultaneous text with every audio prompt and a circle of lighted graphical icons that show what to do

Connect with Saf-T-Gard to Learn More

SCA is unexpected and frightening, but it can be treated. Do your part to prepare your colleagues by offering CPR training and outfitting the workplace with ZOLL AEDs. All ZOLL AEDs provide rescuers with real-time feedback to ensure the best possible CPR and will deliver a shock to the victim if necessary.

In matters of life and death, you can help save a life. Industrial safety is our legacy going back 9 decades. For an overview of our ZOLL AEDs, and to order for immediate shipment, please visit ZOLL.

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