Industry Buzz: Chance of Surviving Cardiac Arrest Greatest at Gyms

Gym members received some good news this week — a study recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology revealed that if a member were to experience cardiac arrest, being in a health club may be the safest place.

The study analyzed traditional sites (gyms, health clubs), alternative exercise sites (indoor ice arenas, tennis facilities, bowling alleys) and sites not associated with exercise (such as malls or airports). According to the study, “Survival to hospital discharge was greater at exercise sites (56% at traditional and 45% at alternative) than at other public indoor locations (34%; p=0.001).”

The increased survival rate, according to the study, is in part, likely due to increased access to an automated external defibrillator (AED) and staff that are trained in CPR.

This study hammers home what most of you already know — how important it is to not only have an AED in the club, but also to have every employee trained in its proper use.

The study loses its validity if your club doesn’t have an AED, or if your staff doesn’t know how to use one. If you are a club lagging behind when it comes to AED access, the time to remedy this was yesterday.

Rachel Zabonick is the assistant editor for Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@clubsolutionsmagazine.com. Reach out to her about exciting events or programs your club has implemented, or to share the amazing accomplishments of a member.