AED: A Lifeline In Our Local Community
We’ve learned that Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are essential for saving lives during sudden cardiac arrests by giving a shock to restart the heart. Convenience stores are important community spots because they’re everywhere and easy to access. This article looks at how having AEDs in convenience stores can help the community.
Convenience and retail stores in the community
In our communities, convenience stores, and local and retail stores are everywhere, making them handy during emergencies. Those little corner shops, they’re like our local heroes, open all hours for whatever we need. Snacks, band-aids, even life-saving AEDs – they’ve got it covered.
How are AEDs used to save lives?
AEDs are portable devices that analyze the heart’s rhythm and deliver a shock if needed to restore a normal heartbeat, providing clear instructions for easy use. Having AEDs in places like convenience stores is crucial because immediate access can greatly increase the chances of survival during sudden cardiac arrest.
AEDs to be placed in different local stores.
Did you know that 25,000 people suffer from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year in Australia? With doctors unable to pinpoint the cause in 30 to 40 percent of cases.
Greg Page, founder of Heart of the Nation, survived a heart attack thanks to an AED. During the Black Summer Bushfire Relief event, he experienced a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) while on stage. Fortunately, quick-thinking crew members and fans used CPR and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to save his life. This incident highlighted the importance of AEDs and awareness about cardiac arrest.
So, why should we place AEDs in public places like convenience and retail stores? Most stores are open round the clock, unlike hospitals or schools, ensuring accessibility at any hour. By having AEDs in these stores, anyone facing a sudden heart emergency can receive prompt assistance, potentially saving lives.
New Sunrise, a fast-growing retailer, is teaming up with local communities to place 400 AEDs in its stores. Managing Director Steve Cardinale highlighted the importance of this partnership. Greg Page shared his own experience with cardiac arrest and introduced the ‘Heart of the Nation’ initiative to raise awareness about AEDs. Read more about New Sunrise and Heart of the Nation partnership.
What comes next after installation? Of course, education. It is crucial to educate people on how to use an AED.
How to use an AED?
- Check the area to make sure it’s safe.
- Call for help.
- Check if the person is responsive.
- Remove any clothing from their chest.
- Turn on the AED.
- Stick the pads on the person’s chest as shown in the AED instructions.
- Let the AED analyse the heart rhythm.
- Follow the AED’s instructions – it might tell you to press a button to deliver a shock.
- If the AED says no shock is needed, continue CPR until help arrives.
- Keep following the AED’s prompts until help takes over.
Watch the video here.
Looking ahead, we must focus on making AEDs easier to access and use. This means putting them in more places and teaching people how to use them. By working together and being creative, we can save more lives during emergencies.
Teaching the public about AEDs is crucial. We can do this through campaigns with schools, community groups, and health organisations. These efforts can help people recognise when someone is having a heart emergency, know what to do, and feel confident using an AED if needed.
Safeguarding Communities with AEDs
- Store owners should prioritize placing AEDs in convenience stores to make life-saving devices easily accessible. By working with store owners, we can create safer environments and better-equipped communities for cardiac emergencies. Continued advocacy and effort can maximize the benefits of AEDs, protecting lives and promoting preparedness.
Join the chain of survival by supporting Heart of the Nation’s efforts to raise awareness about cardiac arrest and AEDs; visit Heart of the Nation website for more information.
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