title: Automatic external defibrillators in Belgian fitness centres.
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
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Cardiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Demeure
authors.forename: Jean-Benoît
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: le Polain de Waroux
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marchandise
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scavée
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control; D001530:Belgium; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control; D047548:Defibrillators / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020446:Fitness Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies