We know you understand the importance of incorporating sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) preparedness in your workplace safety programs. The latest statistics available from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reveal around 10,000 incidents of SCA occur in the workplace each year. 

Research studies show the quick use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) by bystanders increases a person’s chance of survival after SCA from 43% up to 67%. In public settings, a bystander uses an AED in almost 11% of SCA incidents, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) citing a 2018 study. Data suggest bystanders save around 1,700 lives each year when they respond to SCA with an AED before emergency medical teams arrive.

Locating AEDs in the Workplace

SCA preparedness in the workplace means employees have immediate access to an AED while waiting for emergency medical services (EMS) to arrive. Even though almost 19% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in a public place, only 50% of employees know where to find an AED in their workplace, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

Employees are not the only ones who need to know where to find AEDs in their workplace—911 emergency dispatchers must also know the locations of AEDs in public buildings. Visitors, vendors and others unfamiliar with your facility may rely on EMS dispatchers for help to find an AED. If your AED locations are registered, the dispatcher can guide callers to the closest AED and defibrillation can begin while EMS is on the way.

Why Register AEDs with the National AED Registry™

In most states, it is a legal requirement to register AEDs with local emergency service agencies. State AED registry laws vary in their guidance about what AED information is required, and reporting your AED information to a local EMS agency does not automatically add your information to a national registry.

The National AED Registry™ ensures your compliance with state registration laws by exceeding most state reporting requirements. The National Registry includes information about:

•   The make, model, and serial number of the AED
•   The physical location of the AED
•   Days and times that the AED is accessible
•   The expiration dates of the AED electrodes and batteries
•   The party responsible for maintaining the facility’s AED program

Ideally, your AED locations are integrated into the local EMS dispatch system so the needed information quickly pops up on the dispatcher’s screen. The National AED Registry™ seamlessly integrates with the websites of participating EMS communication centers to provide dispatchers with all the information they need to locate your AEDs.

The National AED Registry™  also supports workplace safety with cloud-based online management of AED maintenance information. This benefit includes monthly email reminders about AED inspections, battery and electrode expirations and AED expirations. It’s another way to ensure all the AEDs in your facility stay ready to use in case of an emergency.

Registering your AEDs is easy and free. To learn more about the National AED Registry™ and to stay informed about workplace safety, subscribe to the National AED Registry blog.