Why Is It Crucial to Have Personnel with CPR & AED Training?

According to recent statistics, almost 3,000 people have a sudden cardiac arrest in Singapore every year. Cardiac arrest has also been the cause of more fatalities compared to cancer, stroke, or trauma. This indicates that it can happen to anyone anywhere, even in the workplace.

In reference to the updated Fire Safety Act 1993, all establishments in Singapore with Fire Safety Managers are required to have a Company Emergency Response Team (CERT). The CERT is composed of employees who will act as first responders to prevent any emergency from escalating, including sudden cardiac arrests.

Aside from basic first aid skills, your company emergency response team should undergo cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automatic external defibrillators (AED) training in Singapore.

CPR is a technique that’s used in emergencies in which someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped. The technique can keep oxygen-rich blood flowing to the brain and other organs until emergency medical treatment can restore the person’s heart rhythm. An AED, on the other hand, is a medical device that’s used to analyse the heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock to victims of sudden cardiac arrest to restore the heart rhythm to normal. Typically, it is only used when someone is unconscious and not breathing normally following a cardiac arrest.

So, why is it essential that you should invest in CPR and AED training in Singapore for your personnel?

1. When a sudden cardiac arrest happens, time is critical

In the event of a sudden cardiac arrest, often, it will take time for the emergency medical team to arrive at your location. With every minute the sudden cardiac arrest victim does not receive proper emergency care, their vital organs begin to weaken.

Therefore, while waiting for emergency medical service (EMS) to arrive, your CERT must be able to readily perform CPR and use an AED to resuscitate the victim. The quick and proper response to such instances of sudden cardiac arrest while waiting for the arrival of EMS can increase the patient’s survival and prevent the likelihood of them being in critical condition.

2. It increases the chances of the person’s survival

Overall, learning CPR alone has its benefits. The personnel can perform the appropriate procedures to ensure that the person’s vital organs receive the oxygen required to maintain necessary bodily functions, especially if it’s in a place that may not have its own AED kit. However, learning how to use an AED machine, in establishments that have one, can make a significant difference in the victim’s survival rate.

According to the European Resuscitation Council, when CPR is performed along with the use of AED within 3 to 5 minutes of collapse or before EMS arrives, the victim’s chances of survival increase by up to 75%. This means that employers in Singapore should consider investing in CPR + AED Certification courses for their company’s emergency response team to promote better workplace safety.

3. It prevents the chances of brain death or other conditions

Aside from the life-threatening risk of a sudden cardiac arrest, the prolonged lack of oxygen in the brain can cause serious lifelong damage to the victim. When a cardiac arrest happens, the heart will stop beating and the victim’s vital organs would not have the oxygen it needs. As a result, the brain, specifically, will be unable to deliver the electrical signals that it needs to breathe and function.

Therefore, it’s imperative that within the first 2 minutes of the cardiac arrest, CPR is performed to keep oxygen-rich blood flowing. If after 3 minutes no one has performed CPR, and there is a lack of blood flow, it may lead to brain injury, which can progressively get worse as every minute ticks by.

If the victim still is not attended to within 9 minutes of waiting for emergency medical services, brain damage is more than likely to occur. Even if the person is resuscitated once the healthcare professionals arrive, 8 out of every 10 victims will be in a coma or sustain a level of brain damage. Decrease the likelihood of disabilities in victims of sudden cardiac arrest in the workforce by ensuring personnel are capable of performing CPR and using defibrillators with high-quality training.

Have Your Personnel Join Our CPR + AED Certification Course

At HTM Medico, we have a CPR + AED Certification course that combines the CPR practice and the use of AED simultaneously. Our trainer will guide you through the technique of executing proper CPR and how to use a defibrillator when a sudden cardiac arrest happens in the workplace. This course lasts for 3 to 4 hours and is accredited by the Singapore Resuscitation and First Aid Council (SRFAC). By the end of this course, members of your emergency response team will receive a certification valid for 2 years. You can also get our AED trainer and accessories, so you can practise your skills in using an AED machine.

If you’re looking for a high-quality defibrillator for sale in Singapore, get yours at HTM Medico as well. We are a reputable supplier of defibrillators in Singapore that has partnered with numerous organisations in the country. Our AED machines will ensure your peace of mind as your personnel will have the right equipment should any cardiac arrest happen at any time. Choose the HeartSine AED and the LifePak CR2 defibrillator for your workplace today.

Feel free to contact us at (65) 6744-5911 or sales@htmmedico.com.sg to learn more about our CPR + AED Certification course in Singapore and AED machines.