Every year, around 95000 individuals suffer a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) outside of hospital in the UK. Medical emergencies such as SCA can be life-threatening, so it’s sensible to consider what you would do out on the open water if an employee, visitor, friend or family suffered one.
You're on the open water. What would you do?
Given the potential distance from a shore based defibrillator, having the right provision in place and immediately available could be the difference between life and death.
The Law
There is currently no legislation mandating the provision of defibrillators. Many employers provide them as best practise provision.
Guidance MGN 297 (M) Amendment 1 the carriage of defibrillators on ships published on 6 July 2022 states in point 2.1 states - … the Maritime and Coastguard Agency now recommends that operators of passenger vessels undertake a risk assessment, with external advice if necessary, to determine if AEDs should be carried.
If risk assessment indicates that there is a likelihood of using an AED more than once in five years, operators should consider carrying one as part of their medical equipment. As a general guide, vessels in regular operation carrying in excess of 100 persons, will be those which can be expected to fall within this range, especially if the average age of those carried is high. Operators of other types of ship may also wish to consider carrying defibrillators, based on risk assessment.
To read the full legislation Click Here
Sudden Cardiac Arrest – The Facts
In many ways, those out on the water can be classed as high-risk, given the location of a vessel and it’s proximity to shore or external help.
Yet regardless of industry, Sudden Cardiac Arrest does not discriminate. It can happen to any one, at any time, regardless of gender, age, health, geography or ethnicity. The only treatment for SCA is Immediate CPR and shock from a defibrillator, preferably within 3-5 minutes of collapse. For every minute that treatment is delayed, survival chances reduce by 10%.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Heart Attack should not be mistaken as the same condition. They are both different, and have different treatments.
Heart Attack is best thought of as a plumbing problem. The arteries to the heart get clogged up and reduce blood flow to the heart causing shortness of breath, pain in the chest/arms. The individual will remain conscious and breathing.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest is best thought of as an electrical problem. The electrical brain signals to the heart go wrong, and the heart goes into fibrillation and loses its regular beat. The person will become immediately unconscious and stop breathing. With no blood getting to the brain and vital organs immediate action is required.
Key Facts
- There are over 95,000 out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrests that occur every year in the UK (data from the Warwick university Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Outcomes research)
- Wiithout immediate treatment 90-95% are fatal
- If a defibrillator is used and effective CPR is performed within 3-5 minutes of collapse the chance of survival increases from 6% - 74%
- For every minute that goes by without treatment, survival chances decrease by 10%
- If defibrillation occurs within 1 minute of collapse, the survival rate increases to 90%
- The likelihood of causing harm to the patient by performing CPR or using an AED is very small
- It takes 10 minutes on average for a lifeboat to launch, then they need to reach the casualty (RNLI)
- The main reason so few people survive sudden cardiac arrest is due to defibrillation not being provided quickly enough after they have collapsed
FAQ's
What is a defibrillator?
A defibrillator is a medical device that gives a shock to someone who is in Sudden Cardiac Arrest. It is the only treatment to get the heart back into a normal beating rhythm. Defibrillators have various features depending on the make and model, but all deliver a shock if it is required. They can be used by trained, or untrained responders by turning the unit on and following the voice prompts. The defibrillator will analyse the patient and will only administer a shock if the unit finds it necessary.
How do I use a defibrillator?
A defibrillator can be used by anyone, trained or untrained. By turning the device on, the rescue process will be instructed to the responder by voice commands. Simply follow these instructions.
Do I need to be trained to use a defibrillator?
You do not need to be trained to use a defibrillator, they can be used by the trained or untrained responder simply by following the voice instructions. We recommend training where possible, so the responder is more confident in their actions should they be faced with an emergency situation. Visit our training company Imperative Training for courses available.
Can I use a defibrillator whilst in a boat on the water?
Research has been done on the performance of defibrillators whist on water
“Moderate sea states do not influence the application of an AED in rigid inflatable boats” (Wiebe de Vries a, Joost J.L.M. Bierens b, Martijn W.M. Maas). Read more
Can I use a defibrillator in the wet?
Defibrillators all have IP ratings to show their resistance to dust and water, the higher the rating, the higher the resistance. In terms of application under these circumstances it would be pertinent to get one with a high IP rating.
When dealing with the casualty, where possible they should be moved to as dry an area as possible and any excess water removed from their shoulder and chest area with a towel or absorbant item (ie clothing). This will ensure the pads adhere to the skin surface properly in order to facilitate the best shock possible. Read more
For further information on suitable defibrillators please contact our friendly and knowledgable specialists on 0161 776 7422.
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