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With
heart disease being a major killer in this nation, non-medical individuals are
promising to be the most important factor in improves survival from sudden
cardiac arrests.
Ninety-five percent of people who suffer sudden cardiac arrest die before they
reach the hospital. But use of a defibrillator, where a jolt of electricity is
used to snap a person out of cardiac arrest and allow the heart to start beating
again, could mean the difference between life and death.
If you think you or someone else is having a heart attack, call 911 first. If
you think you or someone in your circle of family, friends or co-workers might
be a candidate for a heart attack and therefore cardiac arrest you need to know
CPR, and should consider training in defibrillators specifically devised for
non-medical personnel to use prior to organized EMS/Rescue arrival. Early use of
defibrillation has been proven to be the single most important factor in
successful resuscitation and not the level of medical expertise. And again based
on probability of cardiac emergencies the placement of a public access
defibrillator (AED) should be considered in homes, school, workplaces, and all
other public gathering locations
the following are some questions and answers to explain how AED works.
Q: What's an AED?
A: An AED is a computerized medical device that can be used to treat a
victim of cardiac arrest. The AED evaluates a cardiac arrest victim’s heart
rhythm, determines if shock is needed and delivers an electric shock through the
chest wall to the heart. Audible and/or visual prompts guide the user through
the process.
Q: How does an AED work?
A: Adhesive electrode pads are placed on the victim’s chest and cables to
the AED join them. The adhesive pads capture the victim’s heart rhythm and
transmit the rhythm to the AED. A computer inside the defibrillator analyzes the
victim's heart rhythm and advises the operator whether a shock is needed. AEDs
advise a shock only for a “shockable” rhythm, most often ventricular
fibrillation (VF).
Ventricular fibrillation is a life-threatening abnormal heart rhythm in which
the heart’s electrical impulses become chaotic, causing the heart to quiver and
stop pumping blood. The shock is delivered through the adhesive electrode pads
that are attached to the victim’s chest. If the shock is effective, it will stop
the abnormal heart rhythm, allowing the heart’s normal rhythm to resume.
Q: Why are AEDs important?
A: AEDs strengthen the chain of survival because they can reduce the time
to defibrillation for victims of sudden cardiac arrest. When a person suffers a
sudden cardiac arrest caused by ventricular fibrillation (VF), the treatment is
defibrillation within minutes. Defibrillation is the delivery of a shock that
stops VF and allows the heart’s normal rhythm to resume.
When a
victim collapses in sudden VF cardiac arrest, for each minute that passes
without CPR and defibrillation, the victim’s chances of survival decrease by 7
percent to 10 percent. AEDs can be placed throughout the community as part of
Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) programs with rescuers trained in CPR and use
of an AED. PAD programs can help sudden cardiac arrest victims receive immediate
bystander CPR and defibrillation within minutes. CPR and defibrillation can
significantly increase survival from sudden cardiac arrest.
Q: Who can use an AED?
A: AEDs can be used by anyone. May non-medical public personnel such as
police, fire service personnel, flight attendants, and security guards are now
routinely trained but any lay rescuers who have been properly trained are
qualified to safely use an AED.
Q: Can an AED make mistakes?
A: It is unlikely that an AED will make a mistake. Studies have shown
that AEDs interpret the victim’s heart rhythm more accurately and more quickly
than trained emergency professionals. If the operator has attached the AED to an
adult victim who's not responsive, not breathing normally, with no signs of
circulation (in cardiac arrest), the AED is very accurate in determining if the
victim has a “shockable” or a “non-shockable” rhythm. The manufacturer and the
state from liability indemnify a user of an approved AED who has been trained
and certified by a qualified training program.
Q: If AEDs are so easy to use, why is formal training needed?
A: Commercially available AEDs are very user-friendly and contain voice
and light prompts to guide the rescuer. In fact, school children can operate an
AED effectively. However, safe use of an AED requires more than the simple
operation of the device.
An AED operator must know how to recognize the signs of sudden cardiac arrest,
when to activate the EMS system and how to perform CPR. It's also important to
receive formal training on the AED that will be used. That way the user becomes
comfortable with the device and can successfully operate it in an emergency.
Training also teaches the user how to respond to special situations such as
placement of AED electrode pads when the victim has an implanted pacemaker, a
very hairy chest or a medication patch. Finally, training helps the rescuer be
skilled in performing CPR and efficient in delivering the shock in the shortest
time possible — these factors can improve survival from VF cardiac arrest.
Designated potential rescuers should complete training in CPR and the use of
AEDs. The American Heart Association developed a 3 1/2 - 4 hour course called
Heartsaver AED, available through EMS Training LTD 781-775-1609
or
www.emstrainingltd.com
While you were
reading this page, 2 people died
from heart attacks in the USA.