Isn’t it time to make defibrillators in public buildings compulsory?
Like fire extinguishers, shouldn’t defibrillators in public buildings be mandatory?
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the major cause of death in Australia. You might not realise it but this fatality tragically occurs to around 70 people a day, and is more lethal than all the different cancers, as well as death by fire and the risk of drowning.
According to statistics, this adds up to at least 25,000 sudden cardiac arrest deaths each year in Australia. Sadly only around 9% of us survive a SCA and even within this small band of lucky survivors, there can be long term brain damage if the brain is starved of oxygen for more than four minutes.
A defibrillator (AED) is the only thing that can restart the heart
With access to a defibrillator, also known as an AED (Automated External Defibrillator), the chances of survival can increase by as much as 75% as it’s the only thing that can restart a heart after a SCA.
In Seattle in the USA for example, where King County has invested in providing defibrillators in public spaces (along with increased community CPR training), your chances of surviving a SCA is increased to 62%, so defibrillators are something certainly worth investing in.
Building a community of mandatory public access defibrillators save lives
Recently Frank Pangallo, member of the South Australian Legislative Council, introduced a Private Members Bill to make defibrillators (AED) mandatory in all public buildings whether they are privately owned or state run. The aim is to make defibrillators as compulsory and commonplace as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and swimming pool fences.
The bill covers all types of spaces including shopping malls, care homes, gyms, swimming pools, commercial properties of over 600 square metres and private residential blocks such as apartment buildings with shared access. It will also apply to tour buses that see a high percentage of volume in peak tourist season.
Everywhere legally required to have a fire extinguisher should have an AED
The private members bill suggests that a maximum $20,000 fine should be enforced with failure to comply with this legislation.
The bill has met with some resistance from landlords and business owners because of the added expense. However as Frank says:
“What value do we put on a life? Automated external defibrillators cost from about $1,700 each – a small price for government and the private sector to pay to potentially save our biggest killer.”
In short, everywhere that is legally required to have a fire extinguisher should now have an AED as well.
The figures speak for themselves
More than 25,000 people suffer cardiac arrest in Australia each year - but less than one in 10 survives, according to the Council of Ambulance Authorities.
The goal should be to ensure that all Australians are never more than three minutes away from an AED when in a populated area.
AED’s arguably could save more lives than fire extinguishers
The undeniable truth is that AEDs save lives. According to statistics, with every minute that passes after a sudden cardiac arrest, the chances of survival decrease by 10 %. And in areas where public access defibrillators are made compulsory, survival rates increase through the roof.
More than 1400 defibrillators were provided to community organisations over the past few years in Victoria, saving on average 2 lives a week. And across the world where similar initiatives have been implemented it has had an obvious positive affect upon SCA survival rates.
Home grown life saving
Allura Homes in Sydney, NSW have recently announced that every new home they build will have its very own defibrillator, because as General Manager Andrew Strachan says:
“It’s our job to keep raising the awareness of defibrillators in the community as they truly saving lives!”
Shouldn’t saving lives be law?
Australia is a rich civilized country that is seen by many to be lagging behind with this issue of public access defibrillators, something it could help solve our nations No.1 killer like Seattle has.
So isn’t it time we looked after our fellow Australian’s and make defibrillators or AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) mandatory in public buildings and spaces and turn it into law like fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, swimming pool fences and car phone usage?
What value do we put on a life? A life saving defibrillators costs as little as $1,700 each – a small price to pay to potentially save our biggest killer.
In short, everywhere that is legally required to have a fire extinguisher should also have an AED.