WORKPLACE GUIDE FOR SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST
2021 Update
This workplace guide for Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is designed for people in every kind of workplace – it’s kept simple and presented in a way that you can understand all the essential points which will lead to lives being saved regardless of your level of first aid knowledge.
A quick ‘about us’ at Response For Life: We are a registered non-profit organisation with the goal to make Australia heart prepared, ultimately meaning reducing the number of Sudden Cardiac Death victims. Our brand purpose is to give Australians the equipment and confidence to help each other in emergency situations.
The purpose of this page is to give you actionable, effective information and access to the resources that make it easy to be better prepared to save a Sudden Cardiac Arrest victims life. Our goal is to have you well informed within about 5-10 minutes, we even have a section that answers common questions and concerns.
Keeping it simple, the key factors to having a workplace better prepared for a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) are:
- Ability to recognise an EMERGENCY (Heart Attack vs Cardiac Arrest)
- CPR confident staff members
- Defibrillator on site/ The workplace having a defibrillator
If you can read the 3 points above and confidently say, yes, your workplace is prepared. Job done, but read and refresh anyway 🙂
Like many people and workplaces, there are probably some things to get on top of. We are giving you more information about each topic right now, so scroll down.
As A Workplace, Guide Me…What Should I do? What Should I know? What Can I Do To Help Save More Lives From Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
What Is A Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)?
- An emergency life and death condition in which an ‘electrical malfunction’ stops the heart beating.
- Signs of a SCA include; sudden collapse, non-responsiveness and no normal breathing.
- A SCA victim will LOSE 10% chance of survival every MINUTE.
- 30,000+ Australian lives are affected EACH YEAR because of it.
- All ages are at RISK! It does not discriminate.
- Prompt, high quality CPR and Defibrillation offer the best chance of survival.
3 Crucial Points Guide You Need to Know To Improve Sudden Cardiac Arrest Victim’s Chance of Survival!
1. Time is Everything! Are you and your team confident to act quick?
Identifying there is an emergency situation quickly is essential to giving the victim the best possible chance of survival. DRSABCD is the best guide for this process, ask us and we will send you a copy.
2. Think Emergency Services can help Everyone? Think again!
Our emergency services are absolutely awesome, but they need our help especially when it comes to SCA. Time is critical and bystander help is needed to save a victims life with good quality CPR and prompt Defibrillation until the ambulance arrives.
3. Don't want to Break any Ribs with CPR? It's OK if you do!
Good quality CPR means you need to PUSH HARD & FAST. 100 – 120 compressions per minute and pushing down a third of a persons chest until emergency services arrives or the Defibrillator tells you to take your hands off. Performing CPR means oxygenated blood is circulating and keeping vital organs like the brain alive.
Ribs are there to protect and may break during CPR but it’s ok! I’d forgive you if it meant you saved my life.
What Is The Difference Between A ‘Heart Attack’ and a ‘Cardiac Arrest?’
What Should I do?
HEART ATTACK
Caused by a blocked artery
The person will be conscious and breathing
Call 000
CARDIAC ARREST
Electrical problem of the heart
The person will be UNCONSCIOUS and NOT BREATHING
CALL 000 and START CPR
CPR Confident Staff Members In The Workplace
You don’t need make this complicated or expensive. Any knowledge is better than none! Good quality CPR means you need to PUSH HARD & FAST:
- 100 – 120 chest compressions per minute
- Pushing down a third (1/3) of a persons chest (about 5cm-6cm/2 inches)
- Let the chest rise after each compression
- Keep going until emergency services arrives or until the defibrillator tells you to take your hands off.
At a bare minimum, ensure as many people as possible know the above. Here’s some short, easy to understand, funny, information loaded videos about hands only CPR. There is no real excuse to have no idea these days thanks to the internet.
Obviously, keeping up your obligations with Certified CPR training every year and your First Aid Certificate every 3 years is the best outcome and we strongly encourage this even if it is only for a handful of staff at a time to avoid disruption.
Over the years people have found our hands on CPR/Defibrillator Confidence session extremely valuable. Going through the DRSABCD in an easy to understand way, bringing a real defibrillator and a manikin – we show people how straightforward it is to help in an emergency situation.
We can help get you certified training or with a CPR/Defib Confidence session. Just reach out to at info@responseforlife.org.au, call directly 0421752152 or fill in the contact form at the bottom of the page and we will contact you.
Defibrillator On Site
By having a workplace Automated External Defibrillator (AED) it can significantly reduce the chance of a fatality from a Cardiac Arrest.
Remember, a SCA victim loses 10% chance of survival every minute.
Think about what that means… you want to be getting that defibrillator on the victim as soon as possible. What every professional will recommend to a workplace; have an Automated External Defibrillator readily available (at worst case within minutes). Do you know where the closest defibrillator is to you right now?
It is an essential addition to the First Aid Kit that many workplaces don’t have and therefore aren’t best prepared for a workplace sudden cardiac arrest.
Pricing Guide across the marketplace for a top quality Workplace Defibrillator is very reasonable at about $2k – $3k depending on what features and preferences are wanted.
AED’s are designed to be used by trained or untrained persons. Many of them will guide you through the entire rescue process.
In saying this, the more knowledge people have about cardiac arrest and being familiar with a defibrillator unit … the faster and more effective people can be for saving the victims life.
Below is a few key points on our favourite workplace defibrillators priced roughly within the $2k – $3k zone – remember price shouldn’t be the only reason to make a decision, but we know it plays a part. Let us know more about your organisation and we can help you choose the most appropriate unit for your workplace and talk about better value package deals.
You can click on each unit for in depth product specific details. We have more details/information if you require it just reach out and contact us.
Cardiac Science PowerHeart G5
– Rugged Casing
– CPR Coaching w/Metronome
– Audio Prompts w/Aussie Accent
– High Quality Accessories
– Huge 8 Year Warranty
Physio Control Lifepak CR2 Fully Automatic
– Best Looking Defib with it’s Sleek Design
– Universal Adult & Child Pads For Ease of Use
– WiFi Options Available
– Semi Auto/Auto Options Available
– Huge 8 Year Warranty
Heartsine Samaritan 350P/360P
– CURRENT PACKAGE SALE ON THIS. GREAT PRICE! * ASK
– Semi Auto/Auto Options
– Lightweight & Easy
– Cost Effective Purchase
– Metronome for CPR Guidance
– Single Battery/ Electrode Cartridge for Easy Maintenance
– Huge 8 Year Warranty
ZOLL AED Plus
– Semi/Auto Options
– Low Cost of Ownership
– Real CPR Help (Audio & Visual Prompts on Depth/Force)
– CPR Metronome Guide
– Clear & Easy To Use
– Promotes Confidence Through The Rescue
– 7 Year Warranty
Heartsine Samaritan 500P
– Provides realtime CPR visual & verbal feedback on force
– Top of the HeartSine Samaritan Range
– Semi Auto (press button to shock)
– Lightweight & Easy to Use
– Single Battery/ Electrode Cartridge for Easy Maintenance
– Huge 8 Year Warranty
Make Sure You Stay Workplace Compliant With A Current First Aid Kit & Certified First Aid/CPR Training!
- Every company has an obligation under Safework, are you meeting yours?
- Have you got a WHS Audit coming up? First Aid Kit & Training is something that has to be ticked off.
- Enquire about Certified Training; We understand it can be hard to find time so we make it easy, even coming out to YOU if thats preferable.
What are some of the most common concerns/questions about having an AED/Defibrillator:
Shouldn't I just wait for emergency services to arrive?
Our emergency services are awesome but they need our help especially when it comes to Cardiac Arrest as a victim will lose about 10% chance of survival every minute that goes by. Let’s say from the phone call to 000 emergency services take between 10 – 20 minutes to arrive, that means, chances are the victim will not survive.
With Cardiac Arrest, if the persons life will be saved it is up to bystanders taking prompt action. Remember, Good Quality CPR & Prompt Defibrillation are a victims only chance of survival.
Defibrillation is most effective when carried out in the first few minutes after a cardiac arrest.
What if the person doesn’t need to be shocked?
Don’t worry, the Defibrillator Pads can be attached but it won’t deliver a shock unless a ‘shockable heart rhythm’ is identified. The AED will state ‘No Shock Advised’ and will not deliver an electric shock.
Can I be liable for using providing or using this device?
No, in NSW (and most Australian States) ‘Good Samaritan Laws’ offer legal protection to people who try and give reasonable assistance to those who are in need or danger. These have been put in place to reduce hesitation from bystanders trying to help give the victim the best chance of receiving some level of assistance.
NSW Civil Liability Act 2002 – Section 57
Do I need to a be a trained professional to use an AED?
No. An AED can be used by anybody – trained or untrained. Most units will guide you through the entire process with either visual prompts, audio prompts and some will do both.
However, like anything – training will make you more familiar and confident.
How do we know when to bring out the AED or start CPR?
Follow DRSABC:
Where can I get training with a Defibrillator/AED?
Response For Life is part of a National Registered Training Organisation (RTO). We can organise the training for you – purely for AED training you can do the CPR Certified Course (Refresher recommended every year), First Aid Course (recommended every 3 years) or we can provide a Hands-On Defib Confidence Session (Have a go with a REAL defib unit).
Enquire by:
– Email info@responseforlife.org.au
– Phone 0421752152
Isn't there a lot of work involved to maintain an AED?
No. AED’s are very easy to maintain.
Keeping up to date with consumables; defibrillator pads and batteries. For most defibrillators that will fall in the range of every 2 – 5 years (depending on brand and model). A simple email or phone call and we can organise this for you very quickly.
Most will perform a ‘self-check’ or ‘self maintenance’ on a regular basis (the frequency will vary) to ensure it is ready for use. If something is wrong, they will typically have a visual prompt (a cross, a flashing red light etc) and make sounds to make this obvious. We do recommend that someone sight the unit regularly to ensure the visual prompts are picked up and can be solved by contacting us/defib provider.
Can I hurt the person with an AED?
Unfortuantely if a victim has suffered a cardiac arrest and their heart is no longer beating regularly then someone performing CPR & using a Defib offers them the best chance of survival. The AED will decide whether to administer a shock or not.
When doing CPR what if I break the persons ribs?
Good quality CPR means you need to PUSH HARD & FAST. 100 – 120 compressions per minute and pushing down a third of a persons chest until emergency services arrvives or the defibrillator tells you to stop.
Performing CPR means oxygenated blood is circulating and keeping vital organs like the brain alive. Ribs are there to protect and may break during CPR but it’s ok! I’d forgive you if it meant you saved my life.
Get in touch
Enquire by filling in this contact form and we'll be in touch.
0421 752 152
info@responseforlife.org.au
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Google Reviews
Daniel De Jesus10. November, 2023.Great Course, Julia is a great instructor with excellent communication skills. Highly recommend
Ops mngr Mngr1. September, 2023.Julia from Response For Life attended our workplace to provide first aid training to my team and I. I can confidently say that we are well placed to help with first aid needs in our workplace should we ever come across the need to. Julia provided us with great training and instilled confidence in us to trust and believe in the process. Thank you, Julia and the Response For Life team!
Amal Jaouhara31. August, 2023.The class was amazing and the trainer was awesome.
Kentley Lou Erlandsson21. July, 2023.I had a very amazing experienced with my training! Julia is so professional and very friendly 😊
Carlos Garcia14. July, 2023.Great service and courses easy to access and understand
Lynne Adema14. July, 2023.Julia was wonderful- excellent trainer and very knowledgeable and approachable!!!!!
Miranda Pattison14. July, 2023.Amazing, friendly and professional training. I recommend getting your first aid course here. :)
Penny Howarth22. June, 2023.Julia Zuza from Response for Life gave members of Sutherland Croquet Club a demonstration of resuscitation and how to use the AED. Julia is a fabulous instructor. She is enthusiastic, outgoing and demonstrates clearly with detailed instructions. Julia makes it seems intuitive and not too frightening to do. I think everyone there came away hoping that they never will have to use their new knowledge but confident that they could. Many thanks to Zuza. Penny Howarth
david batten22. June, 2023.brilliant service, great price and speedy delivery, rfl are very easy to deal with, we look forward to long association