Having an on-hand Automated External Defibrillator (AED) has numerous benefits. For illustration purposes, you should know that nearly 66% of the sudden cardiac arrest victims survived because a bystander provided Automated External Defibrillation.
The benefits of having an AED on hand are innumerable – from significantly increasing the chances of survival to preventing brain damage and decreasing the chances of post-traumatic seizures. According to the American Heart Association, every institution or public organization should have AED on their premises, including public places where an SDCA (sudden cardiac arrest can occur).
Following is our brief analysis of the benefits of having an AED on hand, the various regulations, and how to acquire an AED certificate for yourself or your organization.
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The Benefits of an On-hand Automated External Defibrillation
As we’ve said, the benefits are innumerable. However, first thing first – the most crucial benefit of having an on-hand AED is the significant increase in the chances of survival. Another important benefit is the significant decrease in the risk of serious brain impairments and similar conditions related to severe cases of sudden cardiac arrest.
Following are some of the key benefits of having an on-hand Automated External Defibrillator and how to use them:
- Increasing the survival chances of SDCA victims – More than 100.000 cardiac arrest emergencies across the United States happen out of the hospital. That’s why it’s crucial to perform an AED as soon as possible because with every minute, the chances of survival drop by 7% to 10%.
- Battling heart conditions like severe arrhythmias – Sometimes, it’s necessary to provide Automated External Defibrillation to patients who suffer from Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) and Ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
- Decreasing the chances of SDCA happening – If you have an AED on hand and administer the electric shocks to patients with VF and VT, you’ll reduce the chances of a cardiac arrest happening to them.
- Preventing serious brain impairments – AED can restore the normal heart rhythm and support the disturbed heart rhythm by providing electric shocks to the sinus node. These two benefits of administering an AED can directly increase the chances of survival and restore the normal functioning of the SDCA-victim brain.
There are many other benefits of having an AED on hand. For instance, AED usage by bystanders can significantly reduce the workload and the effort of emergency response services.
However, the most crucial aspect for enabling the on-hand AED is the federal and state regulations and laws on AEDs in public places. Here’s our exhibit of the various legislatures and laws on the on-hand AED in public institutions and other organizations.
The Benefits of Having an AED On Hand: The Judiciary Aspects
Across the United States, each state imposes laws on the availability, accessibility, and training for the usage of AED by bystanders, such as ordinary citizens, students, and particular employees. Nonetheless, the federal government first recognizes the benefits of having an AED on hand and then imposes various laws and restrictions for its usage in critical sectors and organization types.
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, each state mandates the availability of AEDs at the premises and facilities of organizations, such as public schools, training centers, fitness centers, occupied facilities, or state-owned facilities, golf courses, gambling venues, etc. Following’s a brief analysis of a few state laws for supporting the proper and timely usage of AEDs for particular states:
- Florida: School employees and volunteers must enroll in AHA or American Red Cross-certified CPR classes – at organizations like Forth Worth, for example – and acquire a CRP/AED certificate.
- Texas: All health clubs must have an AED on hand. Moreover, many Texas airports, public schools, and sports arenas are encouraged to have an AED.
- New York: State officers and employees must have at least two operators per AED on each of the public building’s floors. They must hire organizations and licensed instructors to guide them through the training courses and acquire a license every two years.
- Pennsylvania: As one of the most people-oriented states, Pennsylvania has legislation on the availability of AEDs in public places such as health clubs, public schools, and long-term care facilities.
This way, each state supports the benefits of having an AED on hand through the legislation, raising awareness campaigns, and the operational and financial incentives for licensed and reliable training centers, similar to Forth Worth.
The Role of the Training Centers in Supporting the AED Availability & Benefits
It’s all in vain if there’s an AED available, but no bystander knows how to use it. In Texas, for example, numerous health organizations provide CPR and AED training courses to prepare bystanders and organizations for the worst. However, each training center must be certified and licensed for providing AED courses and diplomas by organizations like the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross.
In Texas, numerous organizations are licensed by the AHA and the ARC. Forth Worth is only one example. There are myriads of organizations providing these services and ensuring the benefits of having an AED on hand.
Following are some of the training courses in which you can enroll and learn the basics or the advanced techniques of AED and cardiopulmonary resuscitation:
- Basic First Aid CPR Courses
- Pediatric CPR & AED Courses
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
- CPR & AED Courses for Particular Workplaces, and more.
As you’ve noticed, credible and licensed Texas and other state organizations, such as Forth Worth, provide Automated External Defibrillation courses and certifications in combination with CPR.
Lastly, if you have a business or organization subject to the OSHA AED Standards, you’ll have to train a few or a group of your employees to meet the requirements. This way, you’ll guarantee the benefits of having an AED on hand, such as safety at the workplace, public reputation, organizational governance, responsibility, and reliability.
CPR & AED: A Cocktail of Benefits.
Even though you have an available AED – you first must master the CPR procedure. You may ask: “Why is CPR so important when I have an AED on hand?” The obvious answer is that, after every AED shock, you should perform a complete CPR cycle. Moreover, the AED only restores the proper heart rhythm, while cardiopulmonary resuscitation can restore proper blood and oxygen flow.
That’s why the licensed and credible organizations in Texas and every other state provide CPR as a mandatory part of the AED certification courses. On top of that, you’ll learn how to administer high-quality infant & child or hands-only CPR & AED.
This way, credible organizations like Forth Worth ensure that you know how to properly administer electric shocks to different age groups with various histories of diseases or just prepare you to be a reliable and time-efficient bystander that can save lives.
CPR/AED Renewal: The Benefits of CPR/AED Recertification
Organizations and institutions like the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross mandate a renewal process every two years to ensure the benefits of having an AED on hand. If you acquire a CPR certification from an organization like Forth Worth – according to the American Heart Association’s implementation guidelines – you’ll have to renew it every two years because of the newest scientific findings and studies in the Automated External Defibrillation field.
You can renew your certificate by applying and enrolling in these organizations’ CPR & AED and choosing your learning method. To ensure the benefits of having an AED on hand, the training centers enable three learning methods: blended, on-site, and online learning. However, you must acquire your renewed certificate through an on-site demonstration before a certified and licensed CPR & AED instructor.
Furthermore, you’ll learn about the various emergencies when you shouldn’t administer AED, how to use a fully-automated or semi-automated AED, how to defibrillate an infant or an older person, and much more. On top of that, you can realize specific discounts and financial incentives if you enroll as a group or an organization in the CPR & AED certificate renewal process.
Final Words
The benefits of having an AED on hand are innumerable. Even though AED and CPR always go hand in hand, sole AED usage can significantly increase survival chances and reduce the risk of dangerous brain impairments and subsequent cardiac arrests and arrhythmias.
You can master Automated External Defibrillation at the premises of licensed Texas organizations like Forth Worth and learn more about the benefits and obligations of an AED-giving bystander.