If necessary, could you restart a worker's heart?
A long-term machine operator employee in his 60s was working in the pocketed coil department at an Atlanta, GA-based Simmons Bedding Company factory, when he suffered a sudden massive heart attack.
"He dropped to the floor without a heartbeat or a pulse, and his breathing had stopped," says Jonathan Dawe, director of safety, health, and workers' compensation. Two of his co-workers were trained emergency first responders. One immediately began giving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The other grabbed the plant's automated external defibrillator (AED), and another worker called 911.
"The employees were successful in keeping blood flowing to vital organs through a combination of using the AED and providing CPR until paramedics arrived," says Dawe. "The employee's life was saved, and there was no brain damage as a result of the event, because Simmons employees had kept circulation going."
Take leadership role
At each Simmons facility, "first responder" volunteers are trained and certified in first aid, CPR, and AED use. Most are also members of the plant's safety and health committee. Dawe recommends that all occupational health nurses be trained in the use of AEDs and be prepared to train other workers how to "calmly use the device in an emergency."
For most organizations, a team of individuals trained in CPR and AED use can meet any anticipated response needs for initial cardiac emergency care, says Bruce Sherman, MD, medical director of global services at Akron, OH-based Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Consider these items:
- Formalize the transfer process of patients from the workplace to community emergency services personnel.
"This may include mutual agreement on a specific location for patient transfer, preparation of medical documentation in advance of emergency services arrival, and a communication process to ensure that community medical responders have unhindered access to the identified patient pick-up point," says Sherman.
- Establish protocols for regularly scheduled, functional evaluation and testing of the resuscitation equipment.
- Perform periodic drills that provide a functional testing of the entire emergency response process.
"Proper equipment and training are important, but to me, periodic drills represent an equally important aspect of the emergency response process," says Sherman. "Because cardiorespiratory arrest is a rare occurrence, it is important that trained responders don't lose their skills due to disuse."
As an occupational health professional, you should take a leadership role in this. "Work closely with safety personnel, and accept primary responsibility for the medical aspects of these drills," says Sherman.
A long-term machine operator employee in his 60s was working in the pocketed coil department at an Atlanta, GA-based Simmons Bedding Company factory, when he suffered a sudden massive heart attack.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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