How health and safety training helped save a life

Employee suffering cardiac arrest rescued by safety-minded staff, on-site defibrillator

Jan 16, 2010

tada president

Just before Christmas, a situation occurred at my dealership that I feel compelled to share with you.

At 6:45 a.m. on Dec. 23, one of our part-time employees, Donald, suffered a heart attack and went into cardiac arrest.

He'd been resting in the customer lounge when another employee, Suz-Ann, happened to walk past and noticed him slumped over. Suz-Ann thought Donald was asleep and tried to rouse him, but he didn't respond. When she realized Donald wasn't breathing, she immediately summoned one of our service advisers, Steve, who'd arrived early that morning to finish some paperwork.

We have six employees trained in the automated external defibrillator program, and 12 who have taken the Level 3 St. John Ambulance course in first aid and CPR. As luck would have it, Steve happens to be one of those trained to use a defibrillator.

Two years ago, we purchased a defibrillator after our health and safety committee made us aware of the benefits of having one on-site.

Steve's speedy response saved Donald's life. He applied CPR on Donald and asked Suz-Ann to call 911. The dispatcher gave her detailed instructions about using the defibrillator. She relayed these to Steve, who then used the defibrillator to resuscitate Donald and restart his heart.

An ambulance showed up shortly afterward and took Donald to the hospital, where he spent several weeks recuperating. Remarkably, he is expected to make a full recovery.

Equally remarkable is the fortunate combination of circumstances that led to Donald's life being saved. If we didn't have a defibrillator on hand, if Suz-Ann hadn't been walking through the customer lounge at that moment, and if Steve hadn't come in early that morning, things could have taken a tragic turn for the worse.

Both Suz-Ann and Steve showed great poise and courage in a stressful situation. They later admitted that this was a life-altering experience for them.

I mention this story to illustrate the importance of health and safety at car dealerships. Safety is a subject that dealers take seriously – they invest a lot of time and resources to ensure that their businesses are safe for employees and customers.

Customers should know that when they visit a franchised car dealership, their health and safety are not compromised. Dealerships are safe places to do business, and systems are in place to deal with medical emergencies.

Dealerships are obligated to comply with all of the local safety bylaws.

To further prepare in the event of an accident or emergency, they invest in first aid and CPR training for their staff. Health and safety committees are formed to help dealerships respond to emergency situations.

If I could offer any advice to fellow dealers, I'd recommend that all stores be equipped with a defibrillator. Dealerships are busy places; they regularly see upward of 50 to 100 customers pass through the various departments on any given day.

Dealers do a good job ensuring that their premises are safe and free of danger. But going that extra step – and buying a defibrillator – would provide added assurance if someone were to go into cardiac arrest.

If you visit a dealership and notice something that could jeopardize someone's safety, please contact a manager.

It could even be something as innocuous as a slippery floor or a noxious smell.

When a situation arises that requires a medical response, it's reassuring to know that we are prepared to handle most emergencies.

This column represents the views of TADA. Email president@tada.ca

or visit tada.ca.

Toronto Star