There are real benefits to being prepared. When it comes to emergency situations, ensuring homes and offices have the necessary equipment on hand will drastically improve the outcome of any health-related emergencies.
Equipment will vary by the type of home or business, but a first aid kit and AED machine are two of the most common and important.
- First-aid kits can either be assembled by individuals or purchased complete from organizations such as the Cayman Islands Red Cross. See page 121 for the Red Cross advice on first aid kits content, and the CI Veterinary Medical Association’s advice on pet first aid kit content.
- Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are portable devices used to treat sudden
cardiac arrest, in which the heart stops beating suddenly, starving the brain and other vital organs of blood. The AED checks heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to the heart to try to restore a normal rhythm. The Cayman Heart Fund sells AEDs for use in private and public homes and businesses. In 2016 they donated 20 AEDS to the RCIPS which are now situated in each district police station and some police cars. For more information contact CHF on [email protected] or 345-916-6324.
Emergency procedures
Companies should ensure they have at least one member of staff trained in CPR and another in first aid, as well as members of staff trained in AED use if a machine is on-site. Companies should keep up-to-date databases of staff medical conditions, if known, and next of kin and ensure evacuation routes and meeting spots are established.
For homeowners, a Medic Alert Pack, developed and distributed by Hazard Management Cayman Islands, can make a difference in an emergency. The pack provides first responders with quick and ready access to information about your medical history, medications and allergies. Simply fill out the two-sided information sheet, insert it into the Fridge Alert Envelope which sticks to your fridge door, and attach a fridge alert sticker to a front window in your home so that Paramedics know that potentially life-saving information will be readily available on the fridge. For more information, contact Simon Boxall at [email protected] or 926-2027.
