Every time a natural disaster hits, we learn of at least one
person who tragically died of a heart attack when placed in a
stressful or unusual situation. Sadly, we hear little about the
hundreds of thousands of other deaths related to cardiac arrest
that occur every year. The American Heart Association estimates
there will be 350,000 sudden cardiac arrests this year, but that
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) could prevent 50,000 lost
lives.
Some would argue, then, that maintaining one or more AEDs at the
workplace is a no-brainer. Yet, while some local laws require AEDs
in certain settings – including health clubs, swimming pools,
athletic fields, daycare facilities, schools, and places of public
assembly – employers are mostly left to do as they please, as
relatively few legal requirements exist in this area for the
average employer. For example, the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) strongly encourages AEDs and provides a page
dedicated
