Sowerby Bridge manufacturer becomes heart safe with the introduction of an onsite AED that helps to restart the heart in the instance of sudden cardiac arrest.
Lucy Zodion Ltd, Yorkshire based manufacturer of street lighting equipment and employer of over 100 staff, has proved its dedication to the wellbeing of its growing workforce with the purchase of an on-site ZOLL fully Automated External Defibrillator (AED). The AED sits within the main offices of Lucy Zodion and will provide life-saving care to someone in the unfortunate event of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
The AED has been funded by Lucy Zodion to ensure that the organisation is well equipped to save a life in the instance of SCA. SCA is a life-threatening emergency that occurs when the heart’s rhythm is unexpectedly disrupted. If a victim of SCA doesn’t receive instant help within minutes, the results can be fatal; 90-95% of victims who don’t receive treatment die. The only known treatment for SCA is effective and immediate CPR combined with the intervention of an AED, within the crucial time period of 3-5 minutes, which increases their chance of survival from 6% to 74%.
The importance of AEDs in the workplace
Having a defibrillator on-site means that the survival rate of a SCA victim, who collapses at Lucy Zodion will greatly increase. Although AEDs can be used by any untrained person, the event of SCA can be stressful for all parties, which is why Lucy Zodion has taken further measures to train eight people on site in how to treat SCA and use the AED effectively.
It is rare that CPR alone will save a life (5% survival rate), but can maintain oxygen flow to the heart and other organs until an AED is used. For every minute that defibrillation is delayed the victim’s chance of survival decreases by 10%, which means waiting for an ambulance to arrive and give a lifesaving shock with an AED will leave the victim with a low chance of survival.
Source: CardiacSmart Northwest Ambulance Service (NHS Trust) http://www.cardiacsmart.nwas.nhs.uk/about-us/chain-of-survival/#
SCA Stats
Sudden Cardiac Arrest does not discriminate. There is no common age, demographic or health factor that determines whether a victim will experience SCA and it can happen at any time, anywhere. Approximately 60,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests take place in the UK each year, with 80% of these occurring at home and 20% in public places. Since people spend the majority of their time at work, it is important that AEDs are available in the workplace, should SCA occur.
The introduction of the Zoll AED highlights Lucy Zodion’s commitment to the care of its staff and reinforces the vital steps it is taking to ensure employees work in a safe and healthy environment; a consideration that upholds the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility.
For more information about Lucy Zodion’s commitment to CSR and heart safety head to our CSR page on the Lucy Zodion website.
