Dental practices across the country are experiencing an increase in elderly and medically compromised patients, significantly raising the likelihood of medical emergencies occurring within the office. Among these, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) stands as a leading cause of death, responsible for nearly half of all cardiovascular-related deaths.
When SCA occurs outside of a hospital, outcomes are grim. Survival rates to hospital discharge range from just 1% to 5%, and most survivors endure long-term complications. The most common cause — ventricular dysrhythmia(ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation) — requires immediate defibrillation to improve outcomes. Delays in treatment can result in irreversible damage or death, as untreated ventricular fibrillation quickly deteriorates into asystole, a terminal condition.
The Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a proven, accessible, and easy-to-use device that dramatically increases survival rates when used in the first few minutes of a cardiac arrest. Using an AED within minutes can increase the survival rate by up to 60%. AEDs are specifically designed to be used by nonmedical personnel and offer clear, step-by-step instructions, making them ideal for dental office settings.
Why Dental Practices Must Act: Dental health professionals are uniquely positioned to respond to cardiac emergencies due to their controlled environments and relatively small, consistent teams. With proper planning and training, dental offices can outperform many public spaces — and even some medical facilities — in early emergency response.
DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINING
Book defibrillator training (at your premises or location of your choice) for only £250 + VAT when you buy a defibrillator.Simply add the training to the basket and the discount will be applied automatically.