An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is an absolutely crucial piece of equipment for any business to have available. This revolutionary machine allows anyone to provide emergency help to a victim of sudden cardiac arrest, drastically increasing their chances of surviving. Texas law does not require most businesses to have an AED (exceptions include nursing homes and sporting facilities). However, lawmakers and healthcare professionals alike agree that having an AED is one of the best decisions any business can make.
[bctt tweet=”Does your business have an AED yet? Here are the 4 key reasons you need one as soon as possible.” via=”no”]
Why Your Business Needs an AED
Every year, sudden cardiac arrest claims more lives than breast cancer, HIV, and lung cancer combined. Your business can help increase a victim’s chance of surviving by making an AED easily available for emergency situations. Let’s look at a few reasons to get one of these lifesaving devices as quickly as possible:
- Easy use
- Low cost
- Faster than emergency responders
- High chance someone will need it
- Increase survival odds
1) Easy Use
An AED is about as close to a real paramedic as you can get while waiting for an ambulance. The machine will calmly relay instructions as soon as it is turned on, telling you exactly what to do and how to do it. Best of all, the machine will never shock anyone by mistake–the charging only begins if it detects an irregular or nonexistent heartbeat. Even if you blank during an emergency, the AED will walk you through exactly how to help the victim.
2) Low Cost
An AED typically costs between $1200-$1500. While this may seem like a high number, remember that these machines are designed to last for years with minimal maintenance work required. Additionally, it’s no exaggeration to say that access to say that an AED can save nearly 2000 lives every year. The benefits are well worth the cost!
3) Faster than Emergency Responders
Three minutes after cardiac arrest occurs, without emergency intervention, brain damage begins to occur in the victim. By nine minutes, the damage is severe and irreversible. Since the average ambulance response time can range anywhere from four minutes to fifteen minutes or more, it’s absolutely crucial to have some way to begin first aid while waiting for emergency services to arrive. Those extra few minutes could cost a life.
Pro Tip: How close is your home or business to an emergency response center? Even if you feel confident that they could reach you in time, if they’re located more than four minutes away, seriously consider buying an AED.
4) High Chance Someone Will Need It
Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the US. Chances are very high that someday, a customer or coworker will collapse with an irregular pulse and need emergency care immediately. Having an AED will significantly boost their chances of survival. Chances are, it will be used at least once, and likely multiple times while your business is operating.
An AED for Your Business
In a world where cardiac arrest occurs without warning and emergency responders can’t always make it in time, it’s absolutely critical to have a backup plan to save someone’s life. Fortunately, an easily accessible AED can be your backup plan. Add this essential device to your business today and be ready for any emergency.
Join the conversation to learn more about buying an AED and how to properly train your employees to use it.
