Ultimate Guide To Automated External Defibrillators

Beck owned a research unit for these experiments, but it was desperation that led him to use it on a human.

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Beck was performing heart surgery on a year-old boy when the patient's heart stopped. When no other method would revive the boy, Beck quickly pulled out his research unit and administered two shocks directly to the heart with metal spoons. The patient was saved, and Beck's action sparked the research necessary to produce the first portable defibrillator in Over the years, and thanks to developments in electronics, AEDs became capable of diagnosis and administering a precisely calculated shock to a patient's heart through the use of two padded electrodes.

The first early AED models produced a severe shock of up to joules, which put the patient at risk for cardiac injury and intense burns from the shock pads. Today, an AED will measure the electrical current of the patient's heart and automatically determine the level of shock necessary.

Most versions even have step-by-step instructions, provided by a voice recording or visual insert, to walk the user through the electrical shock process.

Adult Life Support

The modern AED has been designed to allow correct usage by any untrained passer-by, but once the patient has been revived, follow-up care like CPR may be required. To become certified in AED use, an individual will need to attend a series of classes, demonstrate the skills taught in those classes, and achieve a certain score on a written exam. Once achieved, the certification is valid for a period of two years, and the course is open to any and all interested parties.

An AED is used specifically to treat ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia, both of which are forms of cardiac arrhythmia when the heart's natural rhythm is disrupted and therefore rendered unable to pump blood. By applying an electrical shock through an AED, the machine can restore the heart's natural rhythm. It is critical to apply an AED to the patient within the first three minutes of cardiac arrest, as damage to the brain can occur after that period.

Signs of cardiac arrest can include a loss of responsiveness, irregular or absent pulse, and no normal breath when the head is tilted up. If this is the case, the victim should be moved to a dry area before administering AED.

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If the AED determines defibrillation is needed, the device prepares to shock and prompts the rescuer to activate a shock, or depending on the device, administers the shock automatically. A shock from an AED is the most effective treatment for sudden cardiac arrest. What happens to the heart when someone has a sudden cardiac arrest and how does the AED help? A person who suffers a sudden cardiac arrest will collapse, stop breathing normally and become completely unresponsive. This occurs most commonly because the heart develops an abnormal rhythm called ventricular fibrillation VF during which the heart quivers and does not pump blood.

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If an AED detects a VF cardiac arrest, it can deliver an electric shock to the heart muscle, momentarily stunning the heart and stopping all activity. This gives the heart an opportunity to resume a normal rhythm and again pump blood. Can Automated External Defibrillators AEDs save the life of a child who has a sudden cardiac arrest as a result of congenital heart disease or other pre-existing cardiac causes? Children or adults who develop cardiac arrest caused by a slowing of the heart rate bradycardia or cardiac standstill asystole cannot be treated with an AED.

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These rhythms do not respond to electric shocks, so the AED will not allow a shock to be activated and standard CPR measures should be performed. No, an AED will not save every person who suffers from sudden cardiac arrest. No device is a foolproof means of survival. As indicated above, children or adults who develop cardiac arrest caused by a slowing of the heart rate bradycardia or cardiac standstill asystole cannot be treated with an AED.

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Is it possible to administer a shock from an AED to an individual who does not need such a shock? Most devices will prompt the user to stop CPR while it analyzes the rhythm. When the device prepares to shock the patient, no person should be touching the patient. CPR should be continued if no shock is advised or if the shock in unsuccessful.

The price can vary depending on the number of units purchased and features included. Schools may budget for needed medical equipment and to purchase AEDs for their program or they may seek outside corporate funding from the local community. Many schools have found success in funding their AED equipment and training through donations from local community businesses.

A guide to AEDs

There are also state and national organizations that may be able to assist with funding to purchase AEDs. AED programs are included under national Good Samaritan laws. Sudden cardiac arrest SCA , or massive heart attack as it is sometimes known, kills , people in the U. It can strike anyone: Even a seemingly healthy person can suffer cardiac arrest without warning.