Automatic external defibrillators in Belgian fitness centres
(2013) Acta Cardiologica : an international journal of cardiology — Vol. 68, n° 2, p. 139-143 (2013)
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- Authors
Le Polain De Waroux, Jean-Benoît 
- Abstract
- BACKGROUND: The number of fitness centres has increased in Western countries, some proposing specific training programmes (cardiac patients, weight loss or seniors).There is a real risk of cardiovascular events for individuals without cardiovascular evaluation. Fitness centres could represent a place at particularly high risk for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: In this observational study, we evaluated the number of fitness centres with automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) throughout the French-speaking part of Belgium, their geographic localization, the number of attendees, and the number of SCA reported. Details of AED and SCA were obtained by telephone survey. RESUITS: A total of 51 centres were surveyed. Only 5 (9.8%) had an AED and 68.8% (35/51) of centres had > 1 staff members specifically trained in CPR. Since the opening of these facilities, 5 SCA were reported from 3 centres (5.9%). Only 2 fitness centres had an AED present at the time of the SCA.Two SCA were unwitnessed, and for another 2 victims AED was used without success. Well-conducted CPR (no AED available) resulted in the only survivor of SCA. CONCLUSION: The rate of SCA in fitness centres in French-speaking Belgium is comparable to that reported in other countries. AED were available in less than 10% of centres and no CPR trained staff was available in almost one third of the centres.
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Citations
Demeure, F., Le Polain De Waroux, J.-B., Marchandise, S., & Scavée, C. (2013). Automatic external defibrillators in Belgian fitness centres. Acta Cardiologica : an international journal of cardiology, 68(2), 139-143. https://doi.org/10.2143/AC.68.2.2967270 (Original work published 2013)