First Aid Advice: Keep an AED Machine on Hand

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If you have ever witnessed someone going into cardiac arrest and not be able to do anything, you will understand the importance of having knowledge and equipment close by to provide much needed life saving procedures. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that if someone is going into cardiac arrest, unless they happen to be in the hospital at the time, their chances of survival are not the best, especially since it can take anywhere from 7 to 15 minutes for an EMS to arrive with lifesaving equipment. It is called an AED machine, or an Automated External Defibrillator and it is designed to check the patient’s heart rhythm. This device has the capability to send an electric shock to the patient if and when they experience a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The problem with an SCA is that they arrive with almost no warning and in a matter of minutes the whole thing can be over, in fact, in many cases by the time the EMS arrives, the patient has already passed. An individual who experiences high levels of stress should consider themselves as prime candidates for SCA and if they have a less than perfect diet the chances of them experiencing such an event will only increase by that much more. One location where stress levels are usually high is on the job, especially in an office environment where the candidate does not have a lot of opportunity to walk about and stretch their legs. Patients who are candidates for SCA may not necessarily know what they should be looking for, however, if they have a history of sudden fainting spells, chest pains that can range from mild to severe, or shortness of breath, it is a good idea to let a doctor take a look at them. While these symptoms may not necessarily confirm that the patient has cardiac problems, they should be warning signs that something is amiss. There are many instances where lives were saved in the office because the owners had the good sense to keep at least one of these AED machines on hand. Every office has a first aid kit, so they should take it one step further, remember that the life you save could be your own – criticalresponsestore.com