AEDs and Resuscitation Equipment

It has been estimated that up to 30,000 people suffer a cardiac arrest outside the hospital environment in the UK every year. With a figure such as that, it is safe to assume that many attacks are sure to occur in the workplace. If that workplace happens to have a defibrillator in place, then the survival of the cardiac arrest victim is that much more likely. You can never be too careful and although UK Health and Safety law doesn’t require defibrillators to be provided, they really are essential to ensure the health and safety of all your workers.

Choosing Life Saving CPR Equipment And Defibrillators

We have a variety of defibrillators and CPR equipment in stock. From AED signs to the defibrillators themselves, you’re sure to find what you need here. Before purchasing your own CPR Equipment and Defibrillators it is crucial you read through our Automated External Defibrillator- AED guide which will make sure you know everything about life saving equipment.

Defibrillators in the Workplace

Although the law does not require defibrillators to be fitted, they are a wise investment for offices, as well as schools, train stations and other public areas such as gyms, cinemas and theatres. Many businesses in the UK with large workforces still do not have an AED present in their premises. The case for a defibrillator being needed is increased when there are more people at a workplace.

Our Zoll AED 3 is one of the most cost effective solutions on the market and has high resolution graphics, clear audio prompts and an innovative system which monitors effectiveness of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation being administered.

The Lifepak CR Plus Automated External Defibrillator comes with very clear, easy to understand instructions that anyone can follow and has the potential to deliver up to 360 joules, which is in fact the highest possible shock available in the industry. The pack is small enough to fit anywhere and would be a great addition to any workplace.

The CardiAid Defibrillator has pre-fitted electrodes so that no time is lost when administering treatment to the patient. The device also includes metronomic signals to make using it even easier and it has a paediatric mode.

The Mediana HeartOn Defibrillator & Casualty Prep Kit can be used on children, with a feature that allows the user to switch between adult and child modes without even having to change to electrodes. It also has spoken voice prompts.

If you choose to keep a defibrillator on-site, then you will need a sign to inform employees there is one in the workplace and where it is kept. Our range of AED signs can help with that; from ‘available here’ signs to 3D signs and photoluminescent signs, we have that need fully catered for. We also have wall-mounted cabinets available that can be used to store the defibrillator, ensuring it isn’t tampered with or mishandled when not in use.

Our range of AED accessories go beyond beyond defibrillators and signs. The AED Responder Kit, for example, is easily portable and is the perfect piece of apparatus to use to prepare for defibrillation, while the Resuscitation First Aid pack is a more economical way to ensure your workplace is ready when defibrillation is needed. It comes with a clear, easy to read guide on how to resuscitate an adult, as well as a pocket mask and a face shield attached to a key fob.

Defibrillators in Dental Practices

The General Dental Council has endorsed the Resuscitation Council’s guidance that “all clinical areas should have immediate access to an automated external defibrillator". The Care Quality Commission also says that the Resuscitation Council guidelines should be followed as part of their mandatory requirements.

Resuscitation Council UK:
"All clinical dental areas should have immediate access to oxygen, resuscitation equipment for airway management including suction, and an automated external defibrillator (AED)"

This rule applies wherever patients are seen clinically by any member of the dental team, including dental hygienists, therapists and technicians. Although they can be used by anyone with minimal risk, defibrillator training is recommended to provide familiarity and confidence to anyone facing a sudden cardiac arrest emergency. It is important to ensure the AED is stored and maintained so it is ready to use at any time. There are various optional extras available when purchasing a defib such as service care packages or self-testing mechanisms. It’s also vital that this product can be located and accessed quickly and easily. Our range of AED signs can improve awareness of the defibrillator location, and our defibrillator accessories, which include storage cabinets can also help.

CPR and Defibrillator Training in Schools

First aid training in schools will be a compulsory requirement and part of the curriculum for all state funded schools in England from September 2020, and this commitment has also been made in Scotland with the 32 local authorities pledging to teach CPR to all school children.

Primary school students are expected to learn emergency guidance such as how to help someone who is choking, and how to dress head wounds. This will be done as part of existing health education lessons. Secondary school pupils will have more extensive training and will learn techniques like giving CPR and the use of defibrillators to improve the chances of cardiac arrest casualties.

Professor Huon Gray, NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Heart Disease:
“We are delighted that schoolchildren will have the opportunity of learning life-saving and first aid skills. Knowing how to react when someone suffers a cardiac arrest will truly save lives. Increasing the number of people trained in resuscitation complements the long-term plan for the NHS which will set out a strategy for the prevention and treatment of heart attack and stroke."

A training AED such as the ZOLL AED Plus® Training Defibrillator or the Prestan Ultra AED Trainer can not only help familiarise students with using a defibrillator, but can also provide other features such as CPR voice coaching and metronomes, for effective chest compressions. A CPR training manikin and Training CPR Face Shields are also recommended for training purposes.

FAQs

Cardiac Arrest vs Heart Attack - What’s the difference?

Although cardiac arrest and heart attacks are related, they are different. Cardiac arrest happens very suddenly and the heart will stop beating. However, the symptoms of a heart attack can be immediate but also can persist, lasting hours or even days. The heart does not usually stop beating during a heart attack. If a person goes into cardiac arrest this is when an Automated External Defibrillator needs to be used to restart the heart.

Do I have to include a defibrillator in my first aid kit after undertaking a health and safety assessment?

The law does not require you to provide a defibrillator on business premises, but the presence of one makes your workplace fully prepared should the worst happen and a worker or visitor suffers a cardiac arrest. Therefore, while you do not have a legal responsibility to provide one, you may think you have a responsibility to do so nonetheless.

Do users of the defibrillator have to be trained in how to use it?

No. It would almost certainly be helpful to provide training to staff if there is a defibrillator on-site in the workplace, but they are designed to be used by anyone and always include clear, easy to follow instructions, so even if you have no experience in using one, you still can. From December 2016 onward, all first aid at work courses include how to use a defibrillator.