Sudden cardiac arrest is the largest cause of death in Australia, but workplace defibrillators can make a huge difference to survival rates, says Ben Cannon.
“Sudden cardiac arrest claims the lives of around 30,000 Australians each year – killing more people than all cancers combined. And yet, Australia has one of the lowest penetration rates of defibrillators in the world,” Cannon says.
“You are more than 500 times more likely to die of a sudden cardiac arrest than in a fire. While we’ve seen legislative change mandate smoke alarms and fire extinguishers, sudden cardiac arrest is yet to prompt a similar response.”
Cannon’s passion is personal: he lost his father to sudden cardiac arrest “years too early”. Today he leads Corporate AED Solutions, an organisation that provides education and advice to Australian businesses.
Sudden cardiac arrest is far more lethal and unpredictable than a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart stops, causing a section of the heart muscle to begin to die. Often a heart attack leads to sudden cardiac arrest when the heart stops beating entirely.
An automatic external defibrillator, or AED, delivers a dose of electric current to the heart which enables the heart to regain a working rhythm.
“Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone. AEDs have been repeatedly shown to increase the survival rate from cardiac arrest by two to three times,” Cannon explains.
“In Australia, if you suffer a sudden cardiac arrest, you have a 10 per cent survival rate. But if you have access to an AED within three minutes, your survival rate could be as high as 70 per cent – that’s going from a one in 10 chance of survival to a seven in 10 chance.”
Defibrillators are currently found in most public places, including shopping malls, sporting clubs, schools and community centres, as well as hospitals and ambulances. But while a growing number of office buildings have defibrillators, “it’s no good having one in the lobby if you are on the 17th floor”.
Cannon argues that the investment is an “insurance policy worth taking out” and points to the recent large-scale rollout of AEDs in Seattle, which raised the survival rate of people suffering sudden cardiac arrest from 10 per cent to 66 per cent.
“There was a six-fold increase in survival – and the vast majority of these people made a full recovery.”
The Property Council has recently installed AEDs with advanced life saving features in each of its offices around Australia and has negotiated a preferred rate for its members.
“We looked at the statistics and the difference that early defibrillation makes to survival rates, and decided this was a sensible investment,” says the Property Council’s chief executive, Ken Morrison.
As demand for defibrillators grows, so does the number of manufacturers and products on the market, and Cannon emphasises that not all defibs are equal.
“We make sure our customer purchase AEDs that are easy to use, cost less and make it easier to save lives – which is why the Property Council has teamed up with us to help its members make good decisions.”
Corporate AED Solutions can provide obligation-free advice on device selection, liability concerns and best practice training. Download a white paper or contact Ben Cannon to find out more.