Heart disease is the biggest killer in the world. Every year more than 400,000 people die in the USA and 700,000 across Europe, from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). A significant number die in the workplace, with co-workers and customers at risk from SCA. While cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a vital component in the management of the SCA patient, the only definitive treatment is early defibrillation. For every minute that defibrillation is delayed survival falls by ten percent.

Conclusion: The placement of automated external defibrillators (AEDS) within the workplace can increase survival rates and save lives.

This is the abstract from a report by Steve Jelf, the International Clinical Director at Cardiac Science Corporation. To see the full report, including a detailed introduction to heart disease and AEDs, see here.