Maitland Florida Construction Firm Reduces Liability | CPR AED First Aid Classes in Orange County

The CPR School recently taught CPR AED and First Aid Safety classes for the staff of a large construction company in Maitland Florida. Maitland is located in Central Florida (Orange County) near Orlando. This was the third class that we taught for this construction firm and the staff really enjoyed the classes. Our classes are more than your typical "press press blow" CPR class. During the class we discussed many medical emergencies that are present in the construction industry.

What medical emergencies does your CPR AED First Aid Safety class cover? Our CPR AED and First Aid classes cover emergency medical care for a variety of different emergencies and life saving techniques including:

Legal/Ethical Concerns, Bloodborne Pathogens, Calling 911 and Emergency Medical Services, Scene Management and Patient Assessment, Bleeding, Cuts and Shock, Burns, Falls, Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Heart Attack, Drowning, Eye Injuries, Head and Face Injuries, Injuries to Muscles, Bones and Joints, Allergic Reactions and Respiratory Emergencies, Diabetic Emergencies, Seizures and Strokes, Heat Exhaustion and Hypothermia, Poisonings and Overdoses and a variety of other medical emergencies.

In addition to first aid treatment for medical emergencies what else do you cover? Our classes are student driven. By this I mean no 2 classes are alike. We encourage the students to talk about medical emergencies that they have seen either on the job or at home. We discuss proper treatment for these emergencies, what to do, and what not to do. We go through many different scenarios and we also stress accident prevention. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Often we discover safety concerns that management was unaware of. Through our classroom discussions, management is then able to take action to correct any safety issues.

How often should CPR and First Aid training occur? The old expression use it or lose it comes to mind. The American Heart Association CPR AED and First Aid certification cards are valid for a period of 2 years. Every 2 years may be sufficient for the actual training classes but safety drills, similar to the fire drills we had in school should be conducted on a regular basis. These drills apply what was learned in the classroom to real life scenarios that can occur on the job site.

What about a first aid kit? A good first aid kit is very important however it does not necessarily mean signing an expensive service contract to fill your first aid kit or wall mounted first aid cabinet with overpriced bandages and aspirin. In fact, I discourage having OTC medications in the company first aid kit. Keeping your first aid kit simple is often best. In addition to your PPE listed above you will want bandages, medical tape, burn gel, eye wash and an assortment of band aids in various sizes. The items you include in your first aid kit may vary depending on the size and number of job sites, what special hazards may be present and the number of construction workers at each site.

Should my company purchase an AED – Automated External Defibrillator? My answer is always "Yes". According to OSHA 13% of all workplace fatalities result from sudden cardiac arrest. According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac arrest claims about 340,000 lives each year – or around 1,000 every day in the United States. Sudden cardiac arrest, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Cardiac arrest kills more people than breast cancer, lung cancer, and AIDS combined. Currently 95 percent of all cardiac arrest victims die.

Simply put, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) save lives. Would you spend $2,000 if it saved an employee? The answer is obviously yes. You have smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, security cameras and other systems to save property why not put something in place that saves lives. Think about this, how many fire extinguishers does your company own? How many AEDs? Fire extinguishers are designed to save property whereas an AED saves lives. Life safety is far more important than saving property.

How much does an Automated External Defibrillator cost? This week I am delivering an AED in a waterproof carry case to a customer, the cost of the AED and waterproof case, delivered was just under $1,900. There are cheaper options but this customer wanted a good quality AED and did not want to cut corners on safety.

What does OSHA indicate about AEDs? "Because the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) can save the lives of workers who experience cardiac arrest while on the job, OSHA today encouraged employers to consider making this equipment available in their workplace." US Department of Labor, Office of Public Affairs, Dec. 17, 2001

What about Federal Laws regarding the use of AEDs? The Cardiac Arrest Survival Act (CASA) of 2000 is our nation's first legislation recognizing the lifesaving role played by automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The law highlights the need to make AEDs accessible to anyone who has had proper training, not just professional medical personnel. The law protects trained AED users from liability, and also protects any person who has maintained the device, provided training, tested the device or acquired it. The law also augments existing state "Good Samaritan" laws by ensuring federal liability protection for trained users and purchasers of AEDs.

What type of training is required to use an AED? AEDs are designed to be very simple to use. However, this is a race against time. For every minute we delay shocking our victim their chance of survival drops 10%. Training increases speed, confidence and efficiency. I suggest working with a professional trainer that has real life experience using CPR and AEDs on real people. An instructor that can work with your staff to answer any and all questions. Someone that can create realistic training scenarios to use during class and most importantly someone that can make your staff comfortable using their new skills. You don´t want an instructor that scares or confuses them. Look for a full time, insured professional that knows AEDs, CPR and First Aid.

What are the odds of my company using an AED? In August of 2003, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) conducted a survey. Of the 400 members surveyed 34% that implemented an AED program used the AED at least once to help save a life. Of those people in cardiac arrest, 66% were revived by the AED.

What else can I do to improve the safety of my staff? Quick access to the proper PPE – Personal Protective Equipment is a must for your staff. Your PPE should include medical exam gloves, a CPR Mask, eye protection, biohazard bag and a face mask. These are relatively inexpensive and should be placed in an easy to reach location to allow quick retrieval for use in the event of a medical emergency.

Keith Murray, the owner of The CPR School, LLC is a licensed Florida Firefighter EMT as well as a Florida licensed insurance agent who consults with Florida business owners and safety managers regarding safety and risk management issues. The CPR School is a mobile training company that provides CPR, AED First Aid Safety training classes for businesses, clubs and schools throughout Florida. In addition to safety training The CPR School sells and services AEDs - automated external defibrillators as well as provides AED Program Management & AED Maintenance. Contact The CPR School at 561-762-0500 or Keith@TheCPRschool.com or on the web at http://www.TheCPRSchool.com