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What Are They?
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) look like colorful, overly
inflated laptop computers. They can be used by lay people who have gone
through minimal training to revive people who suffer cardiac arrest. The
AED consists of the actual device which has only one or two control
buttons and a pair of self-stick pads called electrodes that are placed on
the victim’s bare chest. One is placed about halfway between the right
nipple and the right collarbone and the other is placed on the left side
about two inches below the left armpit.
As soon
as the pads are placed, the AED begins analyzing the victim’s heart
rhythm. This takes only a matter of seconds. If the AED senses that
cardiac arrest is occurring, it will advise you to push a button to
deliver a shock.
From the
moment it is turned on, the AED begins giving you directions. All of them
provide spoken directions and most of them give text directions via a
faceplate on the AED. Thus, as long as you turn the AED on, it will tell
you what to do next. And it won’t go to the next step until you have
completed the last step. Because its sequence is so logical, well defined,
and well illustrated it has a calming effect on rescuers who are
inexperienced in responding to cardiac emergencies.
AEDs will
not allow a shock to be administered unless the person is really in
cardiac arrest. You cannot shock a person who doesn’t need to be shocked
making AEDs the next thing to foolproof. The only mistake you can make is
to forget to turn the AED on.
People
are familiar with defibrillators from the many hospital and rescue shows
on television. Usually, a handsome or beautiful physician calls out a
setting, makes sure no one is touching the unconscious victim, and holds a
set of paddles on the victim’s chest while someone else presses the shock
button. AEDs do the same thing except the machine determines how strong a
shock is given, the sticky pads take the place of the paddles, and you
press the ‘Shock’ button after making sure no one is touching the victim.
The important decisions are made by the AED differentiating them from the
manual defibrillators used by paramedics and physicians.
Following the Cardiac Chain of Survival
will lead to dramatic increases in the survival rates of cardiac arrest
victims.
The first step is to summon skilled help
by calling 911 as soon as a cardiac arrest is suspected. The second step
is to begin CPR to get oxygen-rich blood circulating through the victim’s
body. Early defibrillation is the third step while the fourth step is to
relinquish care of the victim to EMTs and paramedics once they arrive.
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