Training to Prepare Staff for Cardiac Emergencies
How Florida-based Westgate Resorts focuses on AED training to ensure all staff are prepared when an incident occurs.
- By Jessica McQuay
- Sep 08, 2025
If a co-worker or customer collapsed in your facility, was unresponsive, and stopped breathing, would you or your employees know how to respond beyond simply calling 911?
At Westgate Resorts, a timeshare conglomerate employing more than 10,000 people in 22 resorts across the United States, team members are trained on how to correctly deliver CPR and use an AED in the event of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) at all properties. This specialized training is a cornerstone of their commitment to safety, evident in their motto: “Safety All Day, Safety Every Day.”
Sudden Cardiac Arrest & Automated External Defibrillators
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is when the heart suddenly stops beating. A person becomes unresponsive and stops breathing normally. It can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time—to children, teens, or adults, regardless of age, physical fitness, or health history.
In the US, statistics show that an average of 1,000 people die outside of hospitals every day from a sudden cardiac arrest. It is classified as one of the most lethal public health problems, according to the American Heart Association.
However, studies have shown that the use of CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED) within 3-4 minutes of collapse can increase the chance of sudden cardiac arrest survival by more than 60 percent. For each additional minute that passes without defibrillation, the chance of survival decreases by 10 percent.1 That’s why it’s so important to understand where the AEDs are in the places you spend the most amounts of time.
Preparing Staff for How to Use an Aed
In his role at Westgate Resorts, Thomas Aleck, Corporate Director Loss Prevention, Safety and Compliance, concentrates on safety, compliance, and training for various departments. Training encompasses basic first aid, CPR, and AED usage. Westgate Resorts currently has two certified CPR trainers and eight instructors in charge of training and support across all locations.
“Preceding my 12 years with Westgate Resorts, I was employed as a paramedic for a large city Public Safety Department and was a flight paramedic for over 20 years. I am acutely aware of the importance of early defibrillation,” Aleck explains.
“In our training, we specifically discuss signs of cardiac events and what to look for. Some examples include chest pains and shortness of breath. These are some of the reasons I recommend trainees take the AED device with them when responding to any routine medical call. I don’t want anyone caught with their guard down in an unknown situation. I tell them it’s always best to be overprepared: ‘Think the worst, hope for the best’.”
Reinforcing the Importance of Early Defibrillation and AEDs
According to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, chances of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest decrease by about 10% for every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation. Aleck sees this as a particularly important focus in training his facility staff. “Regular training on when and how to defibrillate remains important. And one of the first things discussed with trainees in my course is the use of the defibrillator and why early defibrillation is the key.”
Ensuring that AEDs are easy to use and helpful during moments of high stress are also key in situations where every minute counts. “The first consideration for me when purchasing an AED is its ease of use,” Aleck says. “Even if you are fully trained to use an AED, you may forget something in a panic. This is something you don’t do every day, so having voice command prompts is a huge support.”
To help support better facility safety across your organization for responding to cardiac emergencies:
- Get CPR and AED certified. Provide training and certification for facility staff. A quick internet search can help you find a local training organization that can provide training in a variety of formats, such as on-site, virtual, group, or individual.
- Install AEDs within each of your facility locations. It is recommended to have one AED within 1-2 minutes of any location within a building.2 AEDs should be prominently displayed and visible to all employees, customers, and visitors in case of an emergency.
- Ensure everyone within your organization understands that when they see someone become unresponsive and stop breathing normally, they need to call 911, start CPR, and tell someone to get an AED.
REFERENCES:
- Goyal A, Chhabra L, Sciammarella JC, et al. Defibrillation. StatPearls [Internet]; 2022, August 10. Available from: https://tinyurl.com/49umkvpd
- U.S. Department of Labor: Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Best Practices Guide: Fundamentals of a Workplace First-Aid Program. OSHA Publication 3317, page 10 (2006). Available from: https://tinyurl.com/52swru99
This article originally appeared in the September 2025 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.