Automated external defibrillators in the community

Automated external defibrillators in the community-how to use

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in the community

When I was at my grandchildren’s school, I saw an AED on the wall and decided it was something that needed to be blogged about to remind the public of their availability and use.

Sudden cardiac death and the occurrence

 

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is abrupt loss of heart function leading to sudden cardiac death (SCD).  An electrical shock provided by an AED can restore normal electrical activity.  SCD is a leading cause of death in many countries. In Europe, about 275,000 suffer from cardiac arrest annually, while in the US, it is between 180,000 and 250,000 annually occurring out of the hospital. About 70-80% occur at home. If no action is take, the chance of survival is zero.  Early access is the action taken from the time of collapse until the ambulance arrives. As soon as the emergency is recognized the bystander, must call 911. Recognition of early warning signs such as chest pain, shortness of breath and quickness of calling 911, increase the chance of survival.  Survival is higher in those that receive CPR and early defibrillation.

 

Why use the automated external defibrillator

At the time of collapse, many victims develop an abnormal heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation (VF), which causes the heart to quiver so that it does not pump effectively.  Treatment of VF requires a delivery of a shock with a defibrillator. The shock can stop the VF and allow the normal rhythm to be restored. The victim needs CPR until the defibrillator is available and often requires CPR after defibrillation for a few minutes until the heart is able to pump blood effectively. Two things impact survival: the time from collapse to defibrillation and the time from collapse to CPR.

Automated external defibrillators

 

Early defibrillation is necessary to restore normal cardiac activity.  The survival rate for SCA is poor if the victim does not receive defibrillation with an AED to restore electrical activity.  Research shows that early defibrillation is critical in improving survival.  Survival rates can rise as high as 90% when immediate defibrillation is administered.  Defibrillation works best when CPR is provided until the shock is applied.

 

Use of automated external defibrillators

 

The current automated external defibrillators are safe, effective and lightweight. They require only 4 steps:

1.     Turn on the device

2.     Attach 2 electrodes

3.     Press the button for rhythm analysis

4.     Press another button to administer the shocks.

5.     The machine verbally tells you what to do

Where    Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) should be placed

 

AEDs should be in public places where large numbers of people may be such as airports, planes, schools, sports arenas, golf courses, hotels, concert halls, shopping malls, high rise buildings, casinos and manufacturing plants.  The FDA also approved AEDs for home use.  Public law was passed in 2002 to make AEDs widely available.  It is always best to notice where they are in your workplace or anywhere you may be.  It is best that the AED be placed near a phone so the call to emergency services can be placed at the same time that the AED is grabbed for use.

Education

Programs should be held in the community to help train the public. The American Heart Association is a great place to start to gather information.

Data obtained from the American Heart Association and College of Pharmacy at Southwestern Oklahoma State University

 

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