Preventing Cardiac Arrest in the Workplace

Around 30,000 people have a cardiac arrest each year and the survival rate is extremely low. A large number of these occur in the workplace. If you are feeling drained from your job, it may be time to take a break. The amount of stress you are under at work can contribute to the health of your heart.

For the benefit of both your physical and mental well-being, you must make your health a priority.

Since stress plays such a big part in heart health and for many, the main source of their stress is caused by work, let’s take a look at the correlation between the two:

Stress and The Heart

Stress has a negative impact on health in various ways, for a lot of people, it can have a flow-on effect, that only impacts their time at work but many carry this stress around with them. In turn, this can lead to poor choices to cope with the stress such as overeating, indulging in alcohol excessively and not getting active every day. Headaches and back pain are common symptoms of stress and these are usually masked with pain relief medication rather than working on the root cause. Over time, this stress and the lifestyle choices made to cope can have a profound effect on the heart, and it can lead to life-threatening and even fatal medical issues such as heart disease, strokes, heart attacks and cardiac arrests.

Here’s How to Manage Your Stress and Prevent a Cardiac Arrest in the Workplace

As mentioned, cardiac arrests affect thousands of people every year and with the survival rate so low, it’s worth knowing how to prevent them. Here’s how:

  • Get active and make healthier food choices
  • Take time to do things you enjoy
  • Take holidays
  • Book regular checkups and screenings appropriate for your age group
  • If you smoke, quit
  • Limit your alcohol consumption
  • Make time to spend time outside
  • Ensure you are getting enough sleep every night

Ways You Can Help Other People in Your Workplace From Having a Cardiac Arrest

Early invention is integral and knowing what to do can be the difference between life and death. The more people that know how to respond and the more equipment your workplace has on hand, the better the chances of survival are for the patient. Here are some ways you can help someone who is having a cardiac arrest at your workplace:

Take a First Aid and CPR Course

The best way you can help someone who is in a life-or-death situation like this is by completing a nationally accredited first aid gold coast and CPR course. This will provide you with the skills you need to know how to recognise the signs of cardiac arrest. This enables you to act quickly as well as provides you with comprehensive training on how to use a defibrillator machine.

Ensure the Workplace Has an Automated External Eefibrillator (AED) on Hand

Having an AED on hand at your workplace can increase the chances of survival significantly. Intervening with an AED within the first 3 to 5 minutes can increase the rate of survival from 5% to 70% which is massive and can make a huge difference in whether someone survives a cardiac arrest or not. Every workplace can benefit from having a defibrillator on the premises and staff that are competent in how to use one.

Regular Training and Education on Stress Management

If you are an employer, regular training and stress management strategies are something you can implement to improve the stress and well-being of your employees. If you are an employee, recommend integrating wellbeing-based programs in your workplace to the employer.

Encourage a Work-Life Balance

Whether you are an employer or an employee, we can all be proactive in aiming for a work-life balance. While we need to work to pay the bills and buy the things we like, your health is much more important than money. You can’t do much with money if you’re not here. If you are a worker and your employer is simply unwilling to make your work life more balanced, maybe it’s time to look for a new job. If you are an employer, encouraging a work-life balance with your staff will improve their overall happiness and will likely lead to long-lasting staff retention.

Make Space for More Fun in Your Life

Many of us are guilty of getting caught up in mundane everyday responsibilities that we forget to have fun. Make space for more fun in your life and encourage those around you to have more fun too. This could be catching up with friends, staying at a nice hotel for the weekend, or booking tickets to your favourite musician or band. The more fun you have, the less stressed you are likely to be.

Remember, There is More to Life Than Work!

The happiness of a worker will affect their overall productivity and the quality of their work. Numerous studies demonstrate a clear relationship between pleasure and productivity. Therefore, prioritising happiness will lower stress and boost workplace efficiency which is beneficial not only to the workers but the employers also. Your work should never come at the expense of your happiness and if it is, it may be time to re-evaluate – for the sake of your health. Too many people just put up with it and compromise their health and happiness in doing so – life is too short and it’s meant to be enjoyed!

Actively managing your stress levels can not only boost your productivity at work but it can help you to avoid a potentially fatal cardiac arrest. Prevention is always better than a cure. The smallest of changes can make the hugest of differences and can all add up. Taking regular breaks and going outside for fresh air can make the world of difference to your well-being and can help to minimise stress.

If you are interested in learning more about first aid or CPR courses that can be used in the workplace to save lives, reach out to the friendly team at Paradise First Aid. We run nationally accredited first aid courses, CPR courses and so much more right across the Gold Coast multiple times a week for convenience. Contact us today to learn more.