July 2, 2009
Would you know what to do in an emergency?
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 13 percent of reported workplace fatalities over the past two years resulted from cardiac arrest. Caused by an abnormal heart rhythm, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming approximately 300,000 lives each year. Victims usually collapse suddenly without warning, lose consciousness, and may die if not treated immediately.
While emergency medical service teams typically respond to cardiac arrest, survival is improved with early defibrillation. In an effort to protect employees, UPMC introduced a systemwide program in 2005 to equip its facilities with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and to train staff on how they can respond more rapidly to SCA.
AEDs are portable, computerized devices that analyze heart rhythms and then advise the responder through verbal and visual prompts where to place the AED pads on the victim’s chest, when to push the flashing shock button, and when to perform CPR. The device monitors, records, and stores the entire event. This information is then downloaded and forwarded to assist physicians in the victim’s plan of care.
The goal of UPMC’s program is to place one AED in every UPMC facility not covered by the traditional code team in the hospital setting, such as physicians’ offices and administrative buildings. Headed by Vincent Mosesso, MD, emergency medicine physician, and Cheryl Rickens, RN, BSN, emergency medical services specialist with UPMC Prehospital Care, the program includes training session for all employees.
Since 2005, AEDs have been used 26 times throughout UPMC. Currently there are 198 AEDs in 129 UPMC facilities.
“Awareness is key,” says Ms. Rickens. “By attending a training session, you could learn how to save a life.”
To learn more about AEDs or to schedule training, contact Ms. Rickens at 412-647-5938 or e-mail rickensc@upmc.edu.