Do I need a defibrillator in my business?

Do I need a defibrillator in my business?

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) takes lives. Yet, a common question we get asked is, “Do I really need a defibrillator in my business?”

The short answer to this question: yes. The longer answer: unquestionably, yes. But, let’s take a look at the full answer as to why all businesses should have a defibrillator available on site.

Fire safety

In the UK in 2017, there were 334 fire-related fatalities in England. This is the highest level fire-deaths have been since 2010/11. It’s only logical that with so many preventable deaths, we take steps to protect innocent people in their homes, at work, and in public. At work, the people responsible for fire safety include:

• Employees
• Owners
• Landlords
• Occupiers
• Anyone with control of the premises

You are the responsible person. In business premises, you must carry out a fire risk assessment, discuss the risks you identify, provide staff fire safety instructions and training, prepare for an emergency and, most importantly, put in place and maintain appropriate fire safety measures. This includes fire extinguishers, fire blankets, fire doors, and exit signs. This helps to keep people safe and alive, and when you don’t comply with these regulations, you could be fined or even end up in prison.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)

Now, let’s take a look at sudden cardiac arrest. It’s the leading killer in the UK, amounting to 100,000 deaths. It kills more people than lung cancer, breast cancer, and AIDS combined and unlike these diseases, there are often no warning signs. Anyone is at risk and SCA can happen no matter your age, history, or any other distinguisher. Twelve seemingly fit and healthy people aged 35 and under will die from an undiagnosed cardiac condition each week. And, in the UK, a significant proportion of SCAs happen at work.

With such a high number of deaths, it seems only logical that we take steps to protect innocent people at work. Yet, there are no regulations requiring anyone in the business to purchase a life-saving defibrillator or provide CPR training to all staff.

It’s fantastic that the UK takes fire risks seriously. It helps to save lives each year, and thousands of people across the country want the same for SCA. Given the sheer number of victims, this is a higher risk to the general population than fire.

Saving lives

Treating it as the same level of importance wouldn‘t just protect those suffering from a cardiac arrest. Witnessing a preventable death, and being able to do nothing to help, can lead to extreme trauma for colleagues and you could prevent this. Families have to cope with the cutting loss of a loved one who will never be replaced. And the business will come under scrutiny from the impending financial problems from insurers.

Having a defibrillator in the workplace is the smart thing to do. It protects workers from the silent dangers of SCA when combined with accurate first aid training, so fewer families and work teams have to suffer from the preventable loss of someone they are close to.

At Defib365, we want to make it as easy as possible for businesses to get a defibrillator into their office. We offer defibrillators from as little as £1 per day and effective first aid training, meaning in the unfortunate event of an SCA at work, you’ll have the tools you need to save a life. All you need to do is call us on 0333 050 6649.