Norwegian shipping company Wilson Ship Management AS have invested in 80 LIFEFORCE™ Marine AEDs for their entire fleet of cargo vessels operating in the European short sea sector.

Wilson state that their main aim is to ensure safe operations for all of their seafarers and have set themselves the goal of having ‘zero accidents related to Health, Safety and Environment’. This commitment to their crews’ wellbeing was the main driving force behind their decision to give every vessel access to a defibrillator in case any of their crew should suffer a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)whilst at sea.

Sudden cardiac arrest is the world’s biggest killer, being responsible for the deaths of over 3 million people worldwide every year. Even on land emergency services often fail to reach victims in time, so the chances of surviving SCA at sea are nil.

The only proven way to treat SCA is by delivering an electrical shock to the heart to restore a normal heart rhythm. This shock is called defibrillation and if a victim receives it within the vital first 3 minutes, the chances of survival are increased by up to 70%.

The unit is designed to be as simple and unintimidating to use as possible with just 2 oversized buttons and clear voice prompts that mean any crew member can become a lifesaver. In an independent study, LIFEFORCE™ was found to be quicker and more successful to use than any of the other leading AEDs tested.

Speaking of their decision to purchase the LIFEFORCE™ Marine Defibrillator, Thorbjørn Dalsøren, Wilson’s Maritime Personnel Manager commented:

“At Wilson Ship Management, the safety of our crew is always given the highest priority. As part of this crew welfare commitment, we recognised the value of investing in the Lifeforce specialist marine defibrillator for our entire fleet of owned vessels.

Lifeforce reassures us that, in the unfortunate event of an emergency life saving situation, it is guaranteed to perform. The simplicity and ease of use offered by Lifeforce was another key factor in our decision, along with the total support provided by Martek Marine, a dedicated marine company that understands the demands of our shipping operations.”