Every day, defibrillators are used to save the lives of those who have suffered a cardiac arrest. Unlike other cardiac, medical emergencies, cardiac arrest does not discriminate who it attacks, regardless of aspects such as age, gender, current health condition or ethnicity. These aspects do not factor when determining the cause of a cardiac arrest.
Despite cardiac arrest not being widely known, it is a leading cause of death in the continent of Europe; here in the UK alone, it claims the lives of 12 young people every week. Ensuring a defibrillator is within close proximity will provide casualties with the highest chance of survival.
From a young age, we’re encouraged to take place in sports, mainly for the health benefits of exercising from a young age. However, cardiac arrests occur more often in recreational sports than in everyday life, simply because of the strain being put on the heart. It is estimated that the probability of the heart entering into a potentially fatal arrhythmia is three times higher in athletes than non-athletes.
With these facts in mind and the facts gathered over years of research, this is where Progetto Vita began…
Progetto Vita – Project Life
Progetto Vita (Project Life) evaluated the impact of AED purchases by sports centres on survival from cardiac arrest.
The study, conducted in the Piacenza region of Italy, included 252 sports centres. Data on the occurrence and outcome of sudden cardiac arrest was collected from the chosen centres over an 18-year period. Data such as resuscitation, survival rates and response times were compared between centres with AEDs and centres without.
A grand total of 207 (82%) sports centres acquired an AED during the 18-year study period whereas 45 (18%) didn’t. Over the course of the 18-year study, 26 sudden cardiac arrests occurred, of which 15 occurred in centres that were equipped with a defibrillator. It was found having an onsite defibrillator significantly reduced the time to the patient receiving the first shock.
It was calculated that 19 defibrillators were required to prevent one death or adverse neurological damage as a result of the cardiac arrest.
Diego Panela, MD and cardiologist at Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital stated, “Our results clearly show that the presence of an AED saves lives. Out of 15 patients who suffered a cardiac arrest in centers with an AED, 14 survived and had no neurological damage (93%). That compares to just one survivor without neurological damage out of 11 cardiac arrests in centers without an AED (9%).”
Chief of Progetto Vita, Daniela Aschieri, MD said: ““We also found the quicker the AED was used, the greater the chance of survival. Additionally, the probability of survival was higher when a member of the public used the AED rather than waiting for medical assistance.” And, “An AED is a safe tool, even when used by an untrained citizen. In light of our results we recommend that AEDs be acquired by amateur sports and fitness centres. Educational programs should be conducted to increase awareness about the issue of sudden death and provide basic knowledge about AED use.”
Statistics
Every year in the UK, there are approximately 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests. Approximately 80% of cardiac arrests will occur at home and the remaining 20% will occur in a public place. This could include a shopping centre, a school or a leisure centre.
In 2013, the emergency services attempted to resuscitate approximately 28,000 people after they fell victim to cardiac arrest. Of the 28,000 people that the EMS attempted to resuscitate, only 8.6% survived and were discharged from hospital.
In Scandinavia, most notably Sweden, more money is spent on healthcare than anywhere else in Europe (11% of their GDP). This means they have more money to invest in new health care technologies, cures and prevention medications. Alongside this they have more doctors per 1,000 people than the UK. Sweden has 3.3 doctors per 1,000 people, whereas the UK only has 2.
In Sweden, 70% of people who suffer a cardiac arrest are given CPR, whereas here in the UK, only 22% of people would be confident in performing CPR on a stranger. Also 35% of people in the UK believe that performing CPR on someone could worsen their condition.
It is essential that the need for defibrillators is highlighted in each and every sector. These statistics speak for themselves, and highlight the need for more education. Introducing CPR into schools was done in 2005 in Denmark and in 2011 it was reported that bystander CPR had doubled and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival tripled! Teaching in schools in the UK could have the same effect!
AEDs Needed
As stated before, AEDs save lives every day and having one close by that’s readily available will significantly increase the patient’s chance of survival.
They’re not only needed in sports centres as investigated by Progetto Vita, they’re needed in all public places to provide people with peace of mind that they’re safe and protected.
Do you believe AEDs should be a mandatory piece of kit in public places? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below, or head on over to our Twitter page, @defibshop and share your thoughts with us there.