A new study published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine looked at what happens when automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are placed in everyday places—specifically, a large supermarket chain operating more than 1,300 stores across multiple states. Employees of each store's respective internal departments were trained in CPR and AED use. Over nearly eight years, store employees retrieved and used AEDs 396 times when someone collapsed with a possible cardiac emergency. In 294 cases, CPR and/or AED shocks were delivered and in 112incidents, the AED delivered life-saving electric shocks. In most cases, a store employee was the responder.
Cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, to anyone, and survival depends on fast action. This study adds strong evidence that businesses, workplaces, and other public spaces can play a powerful role in saving lives by making AEDs visible, accessible, and supported by regular CPR/AED training.
Read the full article here.
SOURCE: American Journal of Emergency Medicine