New Guidelines Suggest Wide Use of Defibrillators

Aug. 17, 2000
Companies, communities and major public venues should consider\r\npurchasing automated external defibrillators (AEDs), suggests new\r\ninternational guidelines on the treatment of cardiac arrest.

Companies, communities and major public venues should consider purchasing automated external defibrillators (AEDs), suggests new international guidelines on the treatment of cardiac arrest.

The survival rate for cardiac arrest -- currently only 5 percent -- could increase 10-fold if defibrillators were widely available and used accurately and quickly, said Dr. Graham Nichol, a spokesman for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC) and one of the drafters of the guidelines.

"They''re simple enough that a Grade 6 student can figure out how to use it," said Nichol.

Many employers are investing in the life-saving machines, which cost about $3,000 to $4,000C.

For instance, Air Canada announced last month that it was putting defibrillators on all its jets.

The guidelines, published Tuesday, were drawn up by the American Heart Association in partnership with HSFC and other international resuscitation councils.

They say that arrested hearts should be shocked back into action within five minutes to minimize the risk of brain damage and maximize the chance of survival.

Every year, 35,000 to 40,000 Canadians die of sudden cardiac arrest, according to HSFC.

Studies show that in large urban areas, it takes about nine minutes for a defibrillator to arrive on the scene after a 911 call.

That''s too long, the guidelines say. The possibility of successful resuscitation declines at a rate of between 7 to 10 percent with each minute that passes without defibrillation.

The guidelines suggest that if there is a reasonable chance that one person will suffer from a cardiac arrest over a period of five years, then a site or venue ought to consider purchasing one of the devices.

What constitutes a reasonable chance? The guidelines recommend a formula that works like this: If 1,000 people were to spend a year in one place, statistics project that at least one would have a heart attack. Applying the five-year criteria means that out of a population of 200, one person would have a cardiac arrest.

The guidelines also contain a simplified protocol for cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

People helping someone in cardiac arrest shouldn''t bother to check for a pulse -- too many people get it wrong.

Instead, they should check for signs of circulation such as whether the person is breathing, moving or responding to a stimulus such as a gentle shaking.

Another change involves the treatment of people who have lost consciousness as a consequence of choking.

The new guidelines recommend that people skip the Heimlich maneuver -- used to dislodge an object from the respiratory passages -- and go directly to chest compressions.

For more information go to the HSFC Web site at www.hsf.ca or the American Heart Associations'' homepage at www.americanheart.org.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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