“I didn’t know that the survival rate for SCA victims decays by 10% for every minute without proper defibrillation; after 10 minutes, survival is negligible.” When I first read this, I was shocked. I did not realize how quickly, and without warning sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can take a life. Before recently, I have never had a reason to know about heart complications, the thousands of lives SCA has taken, or the urgent need for life saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools, community centers, homes, and retirement communities. Until now, I was one of millions who had no idea what even SCA was or what an AED did. Thankfully, I am learning now, as I was recently hired by a retirement community in my area called Foxdale Village.
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The unfortunate truth is that with the survival rate of SCA dropping 10% every minute, paramedics have less than ten minutes to save the victim. With only one in ten who suffer from this condition outside of a hospital survive, the paramedics usually do not have enough time, and lives are being lost due to the lack of knowledge, and not having AEDs in important places. While SCA can affect anyone, hundreds of thousands of elderly across America are dying from this condition. That is why, with my new workplace, knowledge and concern over SCAs, I am setting up a meeting with my manager, to ensure that every one, in over 230 apartments outside the complex has an AED available, as well as in places such as inside, in the other living quarters, the cafe, bistro, dinner, rec area, gym and art gallery. You need AEDs everywhere because SCA can happen anywhere. AEDs alone would not be able to save a life, without the knowledge of the person using the AED. That is why, in addition to the acquisition of more AEDs I think it is vital that every employee get CPR certified. This way, if ever a resident were to suffer from SCA, and a nurse was unavailable to help, an employee from any department would be able to help the resident survive the attack. Every second, every minute that passes, another life of over 350,000 victims could be lost
The unfortunate truth is that with the survival rate of SCA dropping 10% every minute, paramedics have less than ten minutes to save the victim. With only one in ten who suffer from this condition outside of a hospital survive, the paramedics usually do not have enough time, and lives are being lost due to the lack of knowledge, and not having AEDs in important places. While SCA can affect anyone, hundreds of thousands of elderly across America are dying from this condition. That is why, with my new workplace, knowledge and concern over SCAs, I am setting up a meeting with my manager, to ensure that every one, in over 230 apartments outside the complex has an AED available, as well as in places such as inside, in the other living quarters, the cafe, bistro, dinner, rec area, gym and art gallery. You need AEDs everywhere because SCA can happen anywhere. AEDs alone would not be able to save a life, without the knowledge of the person using the AED. That is why, in addition to the acquisition of more AEDs I think it is vital that every employee get CPR certified. This way, if ever a resident were to suffer from SCA, and a nurse was unavailable to help, an employee from any department would be able to help the resident survive the attack. Every second, every minute that passes, another life of over 350,000 victims could be lost