Last Tuesday, I responded to a cardiac arrest at a fitness center. A 52-year-old man collapsed mid-workout. His gym had an AED—mounted on the wall, clearly marked, rescue-ready.

We shocked him twice. He walked out of the hospital four days later.

On Thursday, I responded to a cardiac arrest at a warehouse. A 48-year-old forklift operator went down. No AED on site. We arrived in 9 minutes—which in EMS terms is considered fast.

He didn't make it.

The difference between these two calls wasn't the patient's age, health, or even our response time. It was the presence of an AED.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Every year in the United States:

• Over 356,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals
• 70% happen at home or in public spaces—workplaces, gyms, schools, churches, restaurants
• Less than 10% survive without immediate intervention
• But with bystander CPR + AED within 3-5 minutes, survival rates jump to 70%+

Let me be blunt: Brain death begins in 4 minutes without oxygen. Most EMS response times exceed that.

If you're waiting for 911, you're already too late.

It's Not Just Old People

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear: "Cardiac arrest only happens to elderly people with heart disease."

Wrong.

I've shocked:

• A 17-year-old basketball player (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)
• A 32-year-old marathon runner (sudden arrhythmic death syndrome)
• A 45-year-old construction worker (no prior heart history)
• A 28-year-old woman postpartum (peripartum cardiomyopathy)

Sudden cardiac arrest doesn't discriminate by age, fitness level, or health history.

The Liability You're Ignoring

Let's talk about something uncomfortable: legal liability.

If an employee, customer, or visitor suffers cardiac arrest on your property and you don't have an AED:

• You may face wrongful death lawsuits
• Your insurance premiums will skyrocket
• OSHA may cite you for failure to provide a safe workplace
• Your reputation will be destroyed

But beyond the legal risk, there's the moral one: Could you live with yourself knowing someone died because you didn't invest $1,500 in an AED?

"But We've Never Had a Cardiac Arrest Here"

I hear this all the time. And my response is always the same:

"You've never had a cardiac arrest...yet."

Fire extinguishers aren't installed after the building burns down. Sprinkler systems aren't installed after the fire. AEDs shouldn't be purchased after someone dies.

Preparedness is proactive, not reactive.

Industries with Highest Cardiac Arrest Risk

• Fitness Centers & Gyms: Physical exertion triggers undiagnosed heart conditions
• Construction & Industrial Sites: Heavy labor, high stress, electrocution hazards
• Schools & Universities: Student athletes, aging staff, large populations
• Corporate Offices: Sedentary workers, high stress, aging workforce

How Many AEDs Do You Actually Need?

The American Heart Association recommends AED placement based on a 3-minute response guideline.

Practical Translation:

• Single-floor office (under 10,000 sq ft): 1 AED
• Multi-floor building: 1 AED per floor
• Large campus (schools, hospitals, corporate): 1 AED per building + high-risk areas
• Industrial sites/warehouses: 1 AED per 50,000 sq ft or per work zone

Stop Waiting. Start Protecting.

Every day you delay buying an AED is a day you're gambling with lives—your employees, your customers, your visitors.

The cost of an AED: $1,200 - $2,500
The cost of a wrongful death lawsuit: $500,000 - $5,000,000+
The cost of knowing you could have saved someone: Incalculable

📞 Call Now: (402) 968-3712
📧 Email: Dustin@TalackoSafetySolutions.com

Don't wait for a tragedy.