GRONINGEN - Every company should have an automatic external defibrillator (AED), argues AED consultant Jeroen Camies. Although it is not mandatory according to the Working Conditions Act, the presence of an AED is part of a safe and healthy working environment. Moreover, there is a shortage of AEDs in certain regions, according to research by the Hartstichting and HartslagNu. By placing an AED in your company you contribute to the local safety and national coverage of AEDs.

The Working Conditions Act contains rules for a safe and healthy working environment. For example, fire extinguishers, escape routes and emergency response officers must be present in the building. It is strange that the AED kopen is not on this list, because 17,000 people suffer a cardiac arrest every year. Death can be prevented by providing first aid with a defibrillator.

But then you have to know where the AED is, what it looks like and how you use it. And that is not always easy, because AEDs differ in design, color scheme and operation. That is why the Working Conditions Act should include uniform guidelines on AEDs.

You don't want to take any risks in an emergency. Therefore buy an AED with a valid quality mark. Then the device meets all legal quality and safety requirements. In the Netherlands you can choose from two quality marks: the FDA quality mark and the CE mark. Some renowned AED brands are Defibtech, Zoll, Philips and HeartSine.

In a crisis situation, training is the key to success. The knowledge helps to act adequately and to keep a cool head. In fact, without instructions you will not be able to operate an AED properly. That is why it is important to follow an AED training. Unfortunately, the same applies here: every AED is different. There is a good chance that you will use a different AED in a crisis situation than during training. So the training also requires uniform guidelines.

Having an AED is not mandatory yet, but it is very wise. This certainly applies to organizations such as (dental) doctors' practices, sports clubs and schools. With the presence of an AED you can save the life of an employee and / or customer. So don't wait for the Working Conditions Act and invest yourself in an AED with accompanying training. Register the AED in de buurt immediately on HartslagNu, then you contribute to the national coverage of AEDs.