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Heart Disease: America's Most Efficient Killer

Posted by Joshua Fleishman on Wed, Feb 18, 2015 @ 01:30 PM

February is American Heart Month and this year, I wanted to not only bring up awareness of issues surrounding this, but also discuss how to be proactive and how to react to these situations, as some can come abrupt and with little to no warning.

The American Heart Month tradition began in 1964. In a Proclamation by Lyndon B. Johnson, he stated that "it is essential to the health and well-being of our nation that our citizens be made aware of the medical, social, and economic aspects of the problem of cardiovascular diseases, and the measure being taken to combat them."


"I urge the people of the United States to give heed to the nationwide problem of the heart and blood vessel diseases, and to support the programs required to bring about its solution."


In an interest to follow this tradition, I will first and foremost discuss heart attacks and suddensafety training chicago, first aid training, aed training chicago, safety training illinois, american heart month, what is a heart attack, what is sudden cardiac arrest, heart disease, cpr training cardiac arrest, as well as decipher the differences between them. As I stated earlier, in addition to bringing up awareness of the two, we will also discuss the symptoms, signs, and how to help others during an incident involving these heart problems.

Well, the difference between a heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest begins with the human circulatory system. As you are surely aware, the heart pumps oxygen-rich blood to the body via electrical impulses from the brain. This knowledge helps to understand this difference; a heart attack is when the flow of blood to the heart is blocked and sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart stops beating unexpectedly.

Heart Attack - Circulation Problem

Sudden Cardiac Arrest - Electrical Problem

Sudden cardiac arrest and heart attack are, in fact, linked. A heart attack can lead into sudden cardiac arrest, as heart attacks are a common cause. Other heart conditions can also lead to sudden cardiac arrest, including cardiomyopathy or ventricular fibrillation. Remember, time is of the essence, and fast responses mean better survival rates. Knowing the signs and symptoms of these heart issues will help be proactive and ready if and when you find yourself in one of these situations.

Generally, heart attack symptoms start slowly and can gradually continue for hours, days, even weeks, but can also (with less frequency) be both immediate and intense. The heart usually does not stop beating during a heart attack.

  • Chest pain

  • Radiating pain

  • Difficulty breathing

  • Stomach pain, nausea, dizziness, cold sweats

    • (These are more common in women, but can occur in men as well)

safety training chicago, first aid training, aed training chicago, safety training illinois, american heart month, what is a heart attack, what is sudden cardiac arrest, heart disease, cpr trainingIf you are in a situation in which someone around you is experiencing what you believe to be a heart attack, you have about five minutes to call 911 (or other local emergency response number). This is because every minute is important for a heart attack victim. Having emergency services show with an ambulance is one of the best ways to handle the situation, the emergency responders and can give treatment as soon as they arrive, and treatment can continue in the ambulance rather than if you drove them to the hospital yourself.

As opposed to the generally gradual continuance of heart attack symptoms, sudden cardiac arrest occurs suddenly and often without warning. As I stated earlier, this is an electrical malfunction in the heart which causes irregular heartbeats. This malfunction causes the heart to cease pumping blood to the main organs (brain, lungs, etc.). Within seconds, a person can lose their pulse and consciousness. Again, time is of the upmost importance, as there is only a two minute window to treat the victim before death can (and most likely will) occur.

  • Sudden loss of responsiveness

  • No response to tapping on shoulders

  • Does nothing when you ask if they're ok

  • No normal breathing


If you experience these (above) signs in a potential cardiac arrest victim,

1. You must first shout for help and have them call 911 (or your local emergency response number).

2. Have said help grab you an automated external defibrillator (AED)(if one is available).

3. Check breathing; give CPR if necessary.

4. Use AED as soon as it arrives (turn it on and follow the prompts).

5. Follow the prompts for CPR & AED usage until an emergency responder or more advanced help arrives.


The good news is that sudden cardiac arrest is reversible in most cases. If it is treated within asafety training chicago, first aid training, aed training chicago, safety training illinois, american heart month, what is a heart attack, what is sudden cardiac arrest, heart disease, cpr training
few minutes with CPR and an AED, the survival rate of the victim increases exponentially.

  • Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more than 350,000 lives each year.
  • An estimated 382,800 people experience sudden cardiac arrest in the United States each year.
  • Approximately 92% of those who experience sudden cardiac arrest do not survive.
  • It is estimated that 95% of victims who experience sudden cardiac arrest die before they reach a hospital or some other source of emergency help.
  • If a sudden cardiac arrest victim receives defibrillation through an AED within the first minute, the survival rate is 90%.
  • For every minute that passes without defibrillation, survival decreases by 7-10%.
  • 30-50% of sudden cardiac arrest victims would survive if AEDs were used within five minutes.
  • If defibrillation is delayed more than ten minutes, the survival rate is less than 5%.

It is easy to see how important it is to have ready access to an AED. It is essentially a necessity as a proactive solution to these unexpected heart issues. There are plenty of places to get your hands on an AED and some training to supplement it. Safety Training Services is a one stop shop for AED training, sales and rentals.

Tags: sudden cardiac arrest, aed training, heart attack, February Heart Awareness, American Heart Month, cpr training, heart disease

Office Safety Series, Part 5: Know First Aid, Know Workplace Safety!

Posted by Joshua Fleishman on Mon, Jul 08, 2013 @ 12:15 PM

To have or not have....that is the question.

Oh wait--no its not! When it comes to workplace first aid kits, the answer is HAVE! In fact, the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a First Aid standard (29 CFR 1910.151) that requires trained first-aid providers at all workplaces of any size if there is no "infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the workplace which is used for the treatment of all injured employees." And what is a band without its instruments? A first aid kit is a necessity for ANY workplace!

Before we jump too far into specifics of standards, first aid kits, and contents of, let us take a moment to discuss the full purpose of these items and how they fit into a workplace first aid program.

What is First Aid?

first aid training, office safety, workplace first aid kitsAs stated by OSHA, first aid is emergency care provided for injury or sudden illness before emergency medical treatment is available. The first aid provider in the workplace is someone who is trained in the delivery of initial medical emergency procedures, using a limited amount of equipment to perform a primary assessment and intervention while awaiting arrival of emergency medical services (EMS) personnel.

A workplace first aid program is part of a comprehensive safety and health management system that includes the following four essential elements.

  1. Management Leadership and Employee Involvement
  2. Worksite Analysis
  3. Hazard Prevention and Control
  4. Safety and Health Training

When designing and implementing a workplace first aid program remember to:

  • Aim to minimize the outcome of accidents or exposures.
  • Comply with OSHA requirements relating to first aid.
  • Include sufficient quantities of appropriate and readily accessible first aid supplies and first aid equipment (*cough* automated external defibrillators or 'AEDs' *cough*)
  • Assign and train first aid providers who:
    • receive first aid training suitable to the specific workplace.
    • receive periodic refresher courses on first aid skills and knowledge.

What's the Risk?

Let's talk numbers for a moment. In 2004, the private industry had 5,703 work-relatedworkplace first aid kits, office safety, supplies for first aid kits fatalities. That same year had 4.3 million total workplace injuries and illnesses, with 1.3 million resulting in days away from work.

Occupational illnesses, injuries and fatalities in 2004 cost the United States’ economy $142.2 billion, according to National Safety Council estimates. The average cost per occupational fatality in 2004 exceeded one million dollars.

To cover the costs to employers from workplace injuries, it has been calculated that each and every employee in this country would have had to generate $1,010 in revenue.

OSHA Requirements

In addition to first aid requirements of 29 CFR 1910.151, several OSHA standards also require training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) because sudden cardiac arrest from asphyxiation, electrocution, or exertion may occur. CPR may keep the victim alive until EMS arrives to provide the next level of medical care.

If an employee is expected to render first aid as part of his or her job duties, the employee is covered by the requirements of the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens standard (29 CFR 1910.1030). This standard includes specific training requirements.

Automated External Defibrillators

aed training, workplace safety, office first aid kits

As we are in 2013, AEDs are no longer just a tool used by non-medical personnel such as police, fire service personnel, flight attendants or security guards; these are potentially life-saving devices used by anyone trained to used them (and even then, there are some that ANYONE can use with no prior knowledge). The best part, these devices are now widely available, safe, effective, portable and just plain easy to use! Using AEDs as soon as possible after sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), within 3-4 minutes, can lead to a 60% survival rate. CPR is of value because it supports the circulation and ventilation of the victim until an electric shock delivered by an AED can restore the fibrillating heart to normal. Do not neglect to include AEDs in your workplace safety program, they can and WILL save lives!

What Goes in my Workplace First Aid Kit?

At this point, we should discuss what actual items should be included in a first aid kit. For this, we will reference the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard (ANSI Z308.1-2009) which was revised in 2009. This standard is the minimum fill for workplace first aid kits. The new changes in the standard brought two new items and eliminated latex from first aid kits altogether. Here are the ten items for a minimum workplace first aid kit fill.

  • (1) First Aid Guide
  • (1) Absorbent Compress 4"x8" minimum
  • (16) 1"x3" Adhesive Bandages
  • (1) Adhesive Tape 2.5 yard roll
  • (10) Antiseptic Treatment 0.9 grams
  • (6) Burn Treatment 0.9 grams
  • (4) 3"x3" Sterile Gauze Pads
  • (2) Pair Medical Exam Gloves
  • (1) Triangular Bandage 40"x40"x56" minimum
  • (6) Antibiotic Ointment 0.5 grams

The following are not required, but recommended items:

  • Analgesic (oral, non-drowsy formula)
  • Bandage Compress 2"x2" minimum
  • Breathing Barrier (single-use)
  • Burn Dressing 12 sq. in.
  • Cold Pack 4"x5" minimum
  • Eye Covering 1/4" thick minimum
  • Eye/Face Wash (Sterile) 4 oz. minimum
  • Roller Bandage 2"x4" yards minimum
  • Hand Sanitizer

The above required kits may be suitable for your company. However, keep in mind, that more adequate means may be necessary for certain hazards of individual work environments. This may be evaluated by a competent person in your workplace, or by another safety professional. Safety Training services, Inc. is available for said service and our safety professionals provide free "walkthroughs" of your workplace and will help prescribe a first aid kits modeled to your workplaces' individual hazards and/or needs.

Training

OSHA recommends 5 key elements in a first aid training program for the workplace. 

  1. AED training, aed training chicago, first aid kit training, first aid training services"Hands-on," skill based teaching methods.
  2. Instruction and discussion in preparing to respond to a health emergency with an emphasis on prevention as a strategy.
  3. Including logical and well-informed assessment of the scene and victims.
  4. Designed and adapted for the specific workplace in responding to life-threatening emergencies.
  5. Designed and adapted for the specific workplace in responding to non-life-threatening emergencies including management of wounds, burns, bites/stings, and bodily injuries.

Always make sure to keep updated on proper first aid requirements and trainings. The first aid program should be reviewed periodically to determine if it continues to address the needs of the specific workplace. The first aid training program should be kept up-to-date with current first aid techniques and knowledge. Outdated training and reference materials should be replaced or removed. If you do not have an adequate first aid training program, or feel that your hands are full with other workplace duties, allow Safety Training Services, Inc. to be your first aid training provider! Your facility or ours, we provide "Real Training" in hands-on scenarios with state-of-the-art equipment. CPR and AED can be included in the training program to be certain you and your employees will be ready and able to respond immediately and correctly in the event of a workplace emergency!

Tell me more about your First Aid Training!

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