AED Brands Blog

How to raise SCA awareness in your school

 

The knowledge that children learn in the years leading up to graduation is meant to prepare them for the world that lies ahead. Though there are many important skills that are learned before graduating, saving a life is the most important. Wouldn’t you think? SCA affects about 16 people under the age of 18 everyday!¹ However, only 17 states require AEDs to be present in schools! That just doesn’t add up. Kids nationwide are learning life savings skills like CPR and how to use an AED. Does your child know how to save a life? Better yet, is your child’s school prepared to answer to SCA? If you answered “no” to either of those questions we have some ways you can raise awareness in your school!

 

 

You can make a difference by doing the following to raise SCA awareness:

• Organize a class – with the help of your local EMS department a simple class on The Chain of Survival will resonate with both students and faculty

 

• Talk to administration – Adding a CPR course to health curriculum will make understanding this life saving skills necessary to pass

 

• Invite a guest speaker – An EMT or nurse will be able to explain the importance of having an AED and early CPR if a student or faculty member were to fall victim to SCA

 

• Organize a fundraising event – Most schools are hesitant about purchasing an AED because of the lack of money, but you can help mitigate this hesitation by reaching out to your community to help supply the funds

 

• Talk to safety coordinator – Even if your school has AEDs they might not be up-to-date. Find out if the proper protocol is being followed so that the AEDs are rescue ready in the event of an emergency.

 

 

If you have any questions about CPR, AEDs, or SCA give us a call at 855-873-8503, leave us a comment down below, or email us at customerservice@aedbrands.com

 

 

Sources:

• https://www.sca-aware.org/campus/sca-stats

Automated vs. Automatic

You may have already an AED, or it could be you have considered placing a lifesaving AED in your organization.  But do you know what AED stands for?  AED is an acronym for  Automated External Defibrillator. It’s a common misperception that the A stands for automatic rather than automated.  We’re going to explain the difference!

 

Automatic means a device operates without assistance. In other words, nothing is required from the operator to make the device function.

Example: A driver does not have to shift gears when using an automatic transmission in a vehicle.  Of course a driver using  a manual transmission will shift gears manually.¹

 

Automated places more emphasis on the use of a device to do the work that used to be done without that device.

Example: Fewer accountants are necessary in corporations because billing has been automated.¹

 

 

A defibrillator is automated for a few reasons:

 

1. The paddles that hospitals rub together before placing on a victim of cardiac arrest are replaced with pads that any lay person can place on a victim’s chest with the help of adhesion gel.

 

2. The different selections made before shocking a victim is replaced by the AED’s computer algorithms that detects the heart rhythm.

 

3. The paper printed out of a defibrillator taking note of the EKG is replaced with the ability to download it straight from the device onto a computer.

 

 

If you have any questions about AEDs, give us a call at 855-796-6384, leave us a comment down below, or email us at customerservice@aedbrands.com

 

Sources: https://www.englishforums.com/English/AutomaticVsAutomated/bczlkx/post.htm

 

National Nutrition Month

 

March is National Nutrition Month, and it is all about educating yourself on nutrition! The campaign focuses on the importance of healthy food choices and creating exercise habits. ₁NNM began in March 1973 as National Nutrition Week delivering education on nutrition and promoting the profession of dietetics. ₁In 1980 the week-long observance was extended to a month in response to increased public interest.

Not sure how to observe the month of national nutrition? We’re here to help! Here are some fun ideas to celebrate health!

1. Host a healthy recipe party
2. Organize a food donation for a local food pantry
3. Try a new fruit and vegetable each week of NNM
4. Plant your own garden
5. Take a trip to a local farm or farmer market
6. Give up processed foods for the month of March

If you have some fun ideas that you’d like to share, leave us a comment down below!

Sources:

1. https://www.eatright.org/food/resources/national-nutrition-month/national-nutrition-month

 

7 heart healthy meals this winter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bean Chili – Warm up with this heart healthy chili on those cold gloomy winter days

 

Beef Stew – Just like mom used to make!

 

Baked Potato – A great way to lower your blood pressure if it’s not smothered in butter

 

Curried Butternut Squash and Apple Soup – Cuddle up with this rich and warming soup!

 

Zucchini Noodle Lasagna – When you’re looking for some good comfort food – try this!

 

Carrots Muffins – Enjoy this heart healthy pick-me-up

 

Moroccan Chickpea Tagine – Try something new for dinner!

 

Find out more on heart healthy food by doing your own research and checking your facts. Enjoy snuggling up with the ones you love this winter and may your heart always be healthy!

 

Can I use an AED on a pregnant woman?

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can happen to ANYONE, at ANYTIME. Approximately 360,000 people a year die from this. That’s more 1,000 per day! This statistic includes all types of people. Yes – even pregnant women. SCA does not discriminate and you should treat a pregnant woman as any other patient that falls victim to SCA.

 

According to the American Heart Association, responders that are attempting to rescue a mother suffering from SCA should not be concerned about harming the fetus by doing chest compressions or by using an AED. However, waiting around for EMS to arrive will greatly decrease the chances for survival for both the mother and child.¹

 

After starting hands-only CPR, having someone retrieve the AED, have a fellow bystander call 911 and let them know that the victim is indeed pregnant. This will allow their team to act fast if an emergency C-section needs to be performed upon their arrival. If you do end up reviving the mother, place her on her left side to allow blood flow to the heart improving blood flow to the child.

 

Learn how to perform CPR and use an AED today! You might save someone’s life! If you have any questions about CPR or SCA give us a call at 855-873-8503, leave us a comment down below, or email us at customerservice@aedbrands.com

 

Sources:

1 https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1170/5688/files/AHA_Study.pdf?2678655071523323935

 

OSHA Regulations and AEDs

 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has the duty of assuring safe and sanitary working conditions for men and woman. As a part of the US Department of Labor, OSHA enforces standards by providing training and assistance. The main priority of the OSHA inspection is to monitor hazardous situations in which death or serious physical harm could occur. Located in OSHA 3185-09N 2003 are the ways that OSHA believes survival from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can be attained.

 

Reasons for AEDs in the workplace:

• 5% of cardiac arrests happen at work
• Waiting for the EMS results in only 5-7% survival rate
• SCA can only be cured with an electric shock
• Employees can be easily trained to save a life

 

Although OSHA standards do not specifically address Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), they do address exposures to first-aid hazards. OSHA provides information regarding occupational risk factors and the use of AEDs in the workplace in order to raise SCA awareness.

 

If you are interested in keeping your facility rescue ready and getting a site assessment  you can always leave us a comment, give us a call at 800-580-1375, or email us at customerservice@aedbrands.com

 

Can Extreme Cold Affect an AED?

 

An AED is a device with the ability to save lives! Similar to other electronic devices, an AED should not be left in temperatures below 32°F or above 122°F because of the computer-like parts it contains. Since we are in the coldest months of the year, it is very common for AED left out in the cold to start beeping because they have become too cold. Low temperatures can adversely affect the functionality of the AED pads as well as the electronic components of the device.

 

During the colder months we receive a handful of calls about a beeping device in which all accessories are up-to-date and the AED is still under warranty. In these situations, we advise our customers to bring the device indoors to thaw the accessories out. If this does not help, the manufacturers tech support will need to be called. While most AEDs are made for rough use and can withstand the elements, it’s still important to keep your device within the recommended temperature range provided by the manufacturer. To avoid your AED being unprepared for a rescue:

 

• Store your AED inside for the night
• DO NOT KEEP YOUR AED IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR!
• If you do not have a temperature-controlled environment and you are looking for a cabinet solution, AED Brands now has a line of cabinets that can keep your AED warm or cool (depending on your environment) and prepared for a rescue!

 

If you still have questions about your AED, you can always leave us a comment, give us a call at 800-580-1375, or email us at customerservice@aedbrands.com

How do you dispose of old AED supplies?

Do you find that when replacing your AED supplies you are unsure how to dispose of the old supplies? Your AED, and its accessories, should be disposed of according to state and federal guidelines, through an authorized recycling facility. We’ll break down what needs to happen to each supply…

 

• AED electrodes (or pads)

AED electrodes are made of non-hazardous material and can be simply disposed of in a trash can like regular waste.

 

• AED Batteries

AED batteries are considered hazardous waste material – they contain lithium sulfur dioxide – and need to be recycled.   When lithium batteries are mistakenly thrown away, pressure or heat can cause them to spark and start extremely dangerous fires¹. Due to this, ground transportation must be used when shipping batteries to have them recycled.

 

• AEDs

AEDs are electronic devices that contain delicate parts like circuit boards and must be properly recycled.  Give us a call at (800) 580-1375 and we can direct you to the proper place to send your AED to be recycled.

 

 

“How do I properly recycle my batteries and AED?” is a great and common question! You can contact your local emergency medical services, contact the AED manufacturer, or use national recycling programs. Here are some you can look into:

 

• Cardiac Life Recycle Program
• Call 2 Recycle
• Battery Recyclers Of America
• TerraCycle
• Recycling Organizations by State

 

 

We commend you for your effort to keep our earth clean and green! If you have any questions about AED donations, old but not expired AED supplies, or a question about the items you plan on recycling, give us a call at (800) 580-1375, leave us a comment down below, or email us at customerservice@aedbrands.com

 

Sources

1 https://www.americandisposal.com/blog/lithium-ion-batteries

 

 

 

Can my furry friend become a victim of SCA?

 

Sudden Cardiac Arrest can happen to anyone and anytime – approximately 356,000 people a year die from this¹. That’s more than 1,000 per day! Did you know that even your furry friends can also fall victim to SCA? Less than ten percent of animals ever recover from such an event, and most of these animals go into cardiac arrest when under anesthesia². To protect your pet, learn how to identify early signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest. Symptoms are similar to humans and your preparedness will be key to their survival.

 

Signs and symptoms include²:

• Sudden collapse
• Weak pulse (check by using your finger on the inside of the thigh, just above the knee)
• No reflexes of any kind

 

If you believe your pet may be experiencing Sudden Cardiac Arrest you will need to be prepared to administer CPR. It isn’t much different than CPR for a human.

 

Steps to animal CPR³:

• Clear their airway
• Begin chest compressions
  1. Give chest compressions to the beat of “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees
  2. Depth of compressions need to be one-third to one-half of the chest width, with the animal laying on its side
  3. Use one had for small animals, and two for medium to large animals.
• Give rescue breaths to their snout at a rate of 30-2 (30 compressions and then 2 rescue breaths)
• Perform CPR in 2-minute cycles (checking to see if breathing has resumed)

 

Here is a video to help demonstrate!

 

Every life is precious, even our furry friends! There is no such thing as an ambulance to pick up your beloved pet, should they ever need medical attention. YOU are their first responder. The CPR you give them can buy them more time until you make it to a vet. Educate yourself and be prepared! If you have any questions about CPR give us a call at 855-873-8503, leave us a comment down below, or email us at customerservice@aedbrands.com

 

 

Sources

1 http://www.sca-aware.org/sca-news/aha-releases-latest-statistics-on-sudden-cardiac-arrest

2 https://www.diamondbackdrugs.com/cardiac-arrest-in-dogs-what-you-need-to-know/

3 https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/120715g.aspx

 

Do unopened accessories expire?

 

If you manage an Automated External Defibrillator, you know that pads have an expiration date for the following reasons:

 

• The adhesive gel that is necessary to make good contact with the victim’s skin dries out overtime. If the gel dries out, the pads will not remain on the victim while CPR is being administered and reduces the chances that the AED will be able to provide an accurate analysis.
• The conductive material that connects the pads to their cords and is necessary to send electrical shock to the victim’s heart corrodes overtime. If the conductive material corrodes, the pads will not be able to send a shock to the victim.

 

One recurring question we get asked is, “Why do AED pads have expiration dates?” Many of our customers do not understand why these medical items should come with a use-by date. But what if the accessories are unopened? Do they still need to be replaced?

 

Let us ask you a question. Would you drink expired milk that is unopened? Of course not!  The same principle holds true for AED Pads.  If you don’t follow the date on unopened pads, you may go to use your AED during an emergency and cost someone their life. We have had customers who call with heart wrenching stories that could have easily been lifesaving stories, but they were depending on expired accessories. We hope you do not make the same mistake. Make sure that you keep your supplies up-to-date so that they can be used to perform their lifesaving abilities.

 

If you still have questions about your AED, or supplies, you can always leave us a comment, give us a call at 800-580-1375, or email us at customerservice@aedbrands.com

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