GUIDELINE FOR DEPLOYMENT OF AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS (AED) IN A WORKPLACE
There is not a single "formula'' to determine the appropriate number or location for AED deployment in a workplace.
Essential factors to consider when placing an AED include:
- There is low risk of a heart (cardiac) event for an office population as compared to work camp population where employees live as well as work on site. The risks increase several fold because of the number of hours on site. The greater the number of exposure hours the higher the likelihood of a cardiac event.
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- The number of employees at site as well as health risks profile of the population, ethnicity and demographics are also essential factors.
- Work Areas: Facilities where strenuous work is carried out.
- Physical layout of facility: Large facilities with several separate buildings.
- Other considerations: large off-site conferences and special events such as large company social gatherings.
Criteria for AED site selection:
- A secure but easily accessible and visible publicized location away from the potential for tampering by illegitimate users or theft,
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- A nearby telephone to call backup MER and security personnel,
- Possible locations include: security guard station/posts, large office building (main reception area, walls of main corridors, cafeteria), fitness facility, and assemble points,
- Remote locations such as large warehouses, industrial complexes and camps, oil rigs, carrier vessels, ambulances, corporate aircrafts, sports facilities, and in restricted access areas,
- AEDs are not intrinsically safe devices and it may not be possible to use them in all location or it may be necessary to have procedures for their safe use (e.g. gas testing prior to use).
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