A real lifesaver…
If you don’t have a defibrillator in your gym yet, why not?
In years past, getting a defibrillator was a hefty outlay and had to be factored in carefully to gym startup budgets. Many gyms chose not to purchase one.
These days it is so much easier! There are AED financing companies that allow businesses to to spread the cost, giving full ownership of an AED for as little as £22-£23 per month.
There are also leasing options that come with servicing or ‘health checks’ that cost from around £29-30 per month. The downside of these packages is you never own your defibrillator this way but you do have help to keep your defib in good working order. For many gyms this will be the best option. (This is not unique to the UK – there are businesses worldwide that offer this). There are online training courses available, making it easy to ensure all your staff have a documented understanding of how the machine works (although they are largely self-operating pieces of kit, it’s always best to be able to show duty of care regarding competence). However, it is important to remember that a defibrillator needs regular care and checks regardless of financing arrangements. Weekly tests should be carried out and recorded, as well as visual checks for signs of damage. Batteries and pads need replacing periodically (every 2 years or so depending on model) and you will need to monitor product recalls in case of health and safety concerns released from the manufacturer. Warranties may also be invalid if care is not taken of the AED.
So, for less than a price of a (very cheap) cup of coffee a day, you could have a potentially life-saving device in your business, with at least a basic level of maintenance support. This is a total business no-brainer.
If you don’t have one, what’s stopping you?