The American Heart Association (AHA) reports that 10,000 sudden cardiac arrests occur annually in American workplaces. Among those 10,000, 50% of people were able to find an automated external defibrillator (AED) at their workplace. The rest have to wait for first responders to arrive or another solution.
After the SCA has occurred, there is a limited window to mitigate the effects of the arrest (See The Mayo Clinic’s Report). Brain damage and muscle damage can begin in minutes. Time is of the essence. Responders must be fast and efficient. The SCAA shows that shocking an SCA Victim within one minute brings their survival odds to 90 percent, and according to the CDC, even simple chest compressions can decrease damage. For every minute an AED is not used, chance of survival drops by 10%.
Trauma is the #1 cause of death for people between the ages of 1 and 46, accounting for 30% of all lives lost in the U.S. There is an urgent need for bystanders to be equipped to take a more active role in responding to emergency trauma situations.
