Author: Daniel C. Shea

AEDs are becoming more and more commonly sighted and used in public areas as well as private residences where the risk of cardiac arrest (Heart Attack) is present.  Should you have one in your home or business?  What are the risks and is there liability?  With the proper training you could be prepared if an emergency were to arise saving the life of a friend or loved one.  The target market for providing training is to women in their fifties and sixties since men in their fifties and sixties are the most prone to a heart attack and will need their spouse to know what to do.

Imagine a loved one or co-worker collapsing because their heart has decided to take the day off.  Will you know what to do if this happened?  At that point you are glad you had spent a little money to have an AED installed and that class that taught you about the use of your new AED was a bit more worth your time.

With so many AEDs available now on the market your options are endless.  Many organizations and businesses are now required to have AEDs in their facility and others are deciding to invest in the equipment and proper training before they are also required to do so.  Medical Survival Consultants in North Dartmouth, a medical and safety training company is seeing a sudden increase in courses such as CPR and First Aid especially those CPR courses including the use of an AED as a result of many new requirements.  Fitness centers are now required by law in the state of Massachusetts to have an AED in their facility before January 2008.  Medical Survival Consultants instructional and office staff has been consulting local businesses and older couples as to the best AED option to fit their budget, needs and level of training.  MSC has found by providing an option of three versions of training on the AEDs they sell, allows organizations and families to fit training into their busy day as well as find the best option based on their prior knowledge and organizational needs.

When looking at AEDs and deciding which one you want to purchase there are many factors you need to consider.  How long does the selected AED take to shock after chest compressions are interrupted for the shock sequence?  What level of training do those in your facility have?  Last but of course not least on any executives mind is the budget you have to work with while not compromising the safety of your employees?  There are of course also the accessories and additional medical and safety devices that can complement the AED that should be considered.

Studies have proven better methods in performing CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) which were implemented in the new CPR guidelines that were introduced last year.  With these changes we realized the importance of uninterrupted chest compressions considering that naturally our heart does not stop, which decreases our chance of saving a life when interrupting compressions to check breathing and circulation (pulse) along with providing rescue breaths and attaching the AED.  Here is the catch; we need to perform these other steps in addition to compressions to provide the best life saving efforts.  Because of this the less time it takes for the AED from initiating the “analyzing” sequence to the end of the “shock” sequence allowing you to continue chest compressions sooner, the greater chance of survival the patient has.  When comparing the time it takes the AED to shock it was found that the Philips HeartStart OnSite and FRx models shocked on average within eight seconds and the Philips HeartStart FR2+ was usually under ten seconds.  Other AEDs were slightly higher such as Cardiac Science G3: 15.3s, Zoll AED+: 15.6s, Defibtech: 16.9s and Cardiac Science G3 auto: 23.7s.

Other considerations are the level of training those in your facility have as far as using an AED.  Some training centers such as MSC will provide training specific to the AED that you purchased as well as the standard CPR certification course.  Things to consider is whether everyone in your facility is familiar and trained to use the AED and perform CPR or are you looking to purchase an AED for a public location such as the mall or airport where the majority of individuals will be unfamiliar with the operation of an AED and proper CPR techniques.  In cases such as this you may need an AED that will talk you through CPR and AED operation more thoroughly rather than leaving it up to the operator’s training and educational background.  The last consideration is cost, you can find many AEDs that are reasonable and others that may be a bit out of your price range or so low that you would prefer considering the next level.

Since most companies are now looking at implementing an AED program and/or training, Medical Survival Consultants will be hosting an AED informational session free to the public (pre-registration is appreciated to allow for an estimated head count for materials and room set-up) on January 30th 2008, as well as periodically every so many months for those that can not attend this time around.  You can call or email the office with days and times that are best for you and the office staff will try to find days and times that work best for the majority of those interested as well as notify you when sessions become available.  The sessions will include information on how to decide which AED is best for your facility or home as well as an overview on AED use, placement, options, accessories and other products available that complement the AED and general emergency situation preparedness as well as in-expensive alternatives.  At the event I will be a keynote speaker as well as answering questions and walking around our exhibit area where you can visit our table top displays and gather information.  Information on other medical and areas of emergency care and prevention will also be available.

This column provides advice and should not be used to replace the professional recommendations from your qualified healthcare professional, campus or workplace rules and regulations or any other agency.  To better treat your conditions and or situation in a manner that is specific to your needs and medical history, you should seek the guidance of your primary physician or specialist.  For those seeking further information that does not require the knowledge of your healthcare provider may contact Medical Survival Consultants at 508-997-2500 for more information.

Medical Survival Consultants

Medical Survival Consultants (MSC); a healthcare and safety training company specializing in various areas of healthcare provider, industrial, workplace and community level certifications (CPR, First Aid, ServSafe and many more titles), training (OSHA: Workplace Safety, Hazard Communication, Lockout/Tag out, Air Quality, Blood Borne Pathogens and more titles), continuing education (Infection Control for the Dental Healthcare Provider), workshops and seminars (Child Care, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Emergency Care as well as many topics not listed).

MSC is always adding new courses and improving the current selection.  There are many departments that make up Medical Survival Consultants including healthcare continuing education, Industrial and workplace safety (OSHA), Healthcare Certifications, Nutrition and Dietary (restaurant and food service) and corporate workshops.

Providing regularly scheduled courses that are open to the general public is only one part of Medical Survival Consultants.  MSC travels and sets up at various companies and organizations to provide mandatory as well as recommended training on a regular basis and provides needed equipment and supplies through the product sales division.

Those seeking further information on the topics discussed by Medical Survival Consultants in their articles or on related topics are encouraged to call or email the MSC office.  Due to the wide variety of areas covered and variety of the MSC instructor’s specialties, if you are seeking medical or safety information all questions are welcome.  President & CEO; Dan Shea is proud to mention that the Medical Survival Consultants instructors are leaders in their areas of expertise and you will receive the most accurate information available. 

To contact Daniel C. Shea, the Medical Survival Consultants medical director, office manager or lead instructors, please use the contact information below.

Contact:
Daniel C. Shea
President & CEO
Medical Survival Consultants
86 Faunce Corner Rd, Suite 430
North Dartmouth, MA 02747
508-997-2500 (Office)
dan@dcshea.com (Dan Shea)
msc@dcshea.com (Office Main)
www.dcshea.com

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