Emergency Medical Training & Consulting

The goal of an AED program is to increase the rate of survival of people who have sudden cardiac arrests.  Effective AED programs deliver a shock to a victim within 3 to 5 minutes of collapse (3 minutes is optimal, 5 is acceptable).  For every minute without immediate CPR and defibrillation, the odds of survival decrease 7% to 10%.  Because more AED's have become available, lives are saved daily.

• Secure medical direction and control of the workplace AED program.
• Ensure awareness of and compliance with federal and state regulations.
• Develop a written AED program description for each location.
• Coordinate with local emergency medical services.
• Integrate the AED program with an overall emergency response plan for the worksite.
• Ensure selection and technical consideration of the AEDs.
• Secure ancillary medical equipment and supplies for the workplace AED program.
• Assess the proper number and placement of AEDs and supplies.
• Follow scheduled maintenance and replacement of AEDs and ancillary equipment.
• Establish an AED quality assurance program.
• Conduct periodic review and verification of the workplace AED program.

(Information cited from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.)

Each year, more than 950,000 adult Americans die from cardiovascular disease, making it the No.1 cause of death in the United States.  At least 250,000 Americans die of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) before they reach the hospital.  SCA strikes people of all ages and all degrees of illness.  It usually strikes without warning.  Many of these lives can be saved if the bystanders quickly phone 911 and begin CPR, and if trained responders provide defibrillation within minutes.