MASSDEVICE ON CALL — Surviving sudden cardiac arrest depends largely on the people around you and easy access to an automated defibrillator, or AED. It turns out that the gym is the best indoor location for cardiac arrest victims’ survival chances, likely because of the increased presence of AEDs and well-placed instruction manuals.
An American College of Cardiology study looked at 3 indoor settings: gyms, alternative athletic sites (like dance studios or bowling alleys) and nonathletic sites (like banks and shopping centers).
Because AEDs are more common in workout centers, chances of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest were higher at the gym. The study authors stressed the importance of putting AEDs in alternative athletic sites, where the rates of sudden cardiac arrest are comparable but access much more limited. For more information on the study Click Here.
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