Life and death cover
May 23rd 2005 The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published its fifth annual Health and Safety Offences Penalties Report in November. As well as naming companies convicted in HSE prosecution cases over the past year, it also commented on research looking at what prompts businesses to comply with health and safety legislation.
Surprisingly findings revealed that 90% of those questioned strongly agreed that health and safety is important for staff productivity and morale, 82% felt they must comply with health and safety regulations to protect their reputation and yet only 45% would be more likely to act on the regulator�s advice because of its enforcement powers.
Abe Elkinson, director of Trust Medical says he is not surprised by the findings. He comments: �There are many employers who understand the benefits of good health and safety management as well as first aid provision. It�s not necessarily fear of prosecution which forces them to offer their staff the very best safety management, but because it is the right thing to do as well as offering tangible economic benefits.
�Although employers have a duty to make first aid provision for employees, this is not just restricted to illness or injury caused by work.
�In certain workplaces, a first aid assessment might conclude that the risk of an employee suffering a cardiac arrest is actually higher than the risk of a serious workplace related injury or illness. In these circumstances the employer might conclude that the provision of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and staff members trained in how to operate it are completely justified,� he adds.
The Resuscitation Council UK recommends that AEDs should be available where it is anticipated that there is likely to be one cardiac arrest in five years or where the ambulance response is longer than five minutes - the UK government target time for ambulance crews to reach cardiac arrest victims is currently eight minutes.
An AED is a small (half briefcase size) computerised medical device used when someone goes into cardiac arrest. Two adhesive electrode pads are attached to the bare chest and a microprocessor inside the defibrillator automatically analyses the patient�s heart rhythm and advises the rescuer when a shock is needed. The AED uses voice and visual prompts together with illuminated symbols to tell the user what steps to take.
�Working with its partners� Abe explains �Trust Medical offers everything from basic lifesaving through to emergency first aid including AED training. If an �off the shelf� course is not suitable for a particular company or working environment, it�s possible to select modules from any of the syllabuses in our training portfolio to address specific needs.� Prior to commissioning a bespoke training package, a representative from Trust Medical will meet to discuss and advise customers on the most suitable offering to match their precise requirements. The company differs from many others operating in the same arena in that it offers a complete end to end solution - an initial survey to ensure a tailor-made response, state-of-the-art equipment, thorough professional training, speedy installation and ongoing maintenance.
More than 1,750 people die of cardiac arrest each week. Although cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the first stage of treating someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest, by itself, it is unlikely to restart a heart that has stopped. At best it will buy time until a defibrillator can be used on the patient. For every minute without defibrillation, the odds of survival drop by approximately 10%.
The ease of operating an AED means that anyone can be taught how to use one with as little as four hours training � the nature of the device also means it is impossible to be used inappropriately, as it will not shock anyone who does not need treatment. Trust Medical�s training is overseen by a state registered paramedic and can take place either on site, at a designated training centre or other suitable venue. The number of participants per session is restricted ensuring each trainee receives sufficient one to one attention.� Abe stresses that the maintenance and after care requirements for both equipment and trainees, although vitally important, are both simple and convenient. He says: �We usually advise that refresher training should be conducted annually as a minimum, with our recommendation that every six months would be more beneficial�. Most defibrillators require a minimal amount of maintenance (mainly the consumables) and conduct an automatic daily self-test of the battery, electrical components and subsystems. The adhesive pads last for two years and the battery for approximately four years.
�With the variety of training courses on offer at the moment, there is really no excuse for any company not to have comprehensive first aid cover,� says Abe. �It couldn�t be simpler.� More articles from Trust Medical: | 
