The 1st to the 7th of June marks Heart Rhythm Week, which is a global event to raise awareness of the issues surrounding arrhythmia (heart rhythm problems). The Defib Pad is proud to join Arrhythmia Alliance in their effort to raise awareness of AEDs (automatic external defibrillators) and how they can save lives.
The NHS reports that over one million people a year experience arrhythmias in the UK alone. The report also states that sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) kills at least 100,000 people every year. Whilst these statistics may be shocking, they serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of raising awareness of arrhythmia, and more importantly the ways in which prompt and appropriate first aid can make a huge difference to the chances of survival.
Chances of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest is just 9% where CPR alone is administered to the patient. In cases where CPR is administered and an AED is used alongside this the chances of survival shoots up to 50%. As SCA happens without any warning to people of all ages there is a great need for the presence of AEDs in community places. More and more schools and shopping centres are installing AEDs in an attempt to reduce the number of people dying from sudden cardiac arrest each year.
Fully Automatic AEDs are designed to be used by a layperson, so the user does not need to have had extensive training. These units will only give the patient a shock if it is required. To increase the accessibility of an AED many communities are placing them in weatherproof cabinets.
If you are looking to purchase an AED read our information page for help and guidance. For every minute a cardiac arrest victim goes untreated, their chances of survival fall by 10%.